We've Moved!! (and we're finally online...)

I'm 10 months old! (picture was taken about a week and a half later, though...)

At the BBQ given for us by our new neighbors! The kids had a great time.
Lots of fun to be had!

At our going-away BBQ in our former neighborhood in Katy. Such love!
We will miss our neighbors so much!
The BIG moving van...we filled it up!!
Hayden playing with Madison to keep her busy!

Resting on Daddy's leg
Some of our friends at our going-away dinner after-party.
What great girlfriends!
Jenna is such a great babysitter! :)

Hi everyone!! Wow, it's been a little over two weeks that we've been without the Internet...so I'm so sorry for the delay in keeping you updated! So much has happened and our life has been extremely hectic...but hey, it's part of our every-two-year adventure, right?!

On Saturday (4/19), our friends threw us a wonderful dinner at a fabulous Italian restaurant, Azzarrelli's. Over 20 of us gathered in a private room and had a great meal and great conversation. They gave us the sweetest gifts, too! On Sunday, our neighborhood friends gave us a fantastic going-away cookout. We are going to miss them tremendously!

Our movers arrived two weeks ago Monday to start packing up everything in our house. Mark was already down in Beaumont, so it was just Madison and I at the house. The movers were so nice and respectful and very conscientious about having a baby in the house. So many people came in and out of the house that week - the new buyers, our friends, other workers, movers, etc. It was a zoo. The worst part?? I got THE FLU. It was awful. I would never wish that on anyone...taking care of a baby by yourself, coordinating a move by yourself...and having the flu? ugh. On Wednesday, the movers finished loading everything onto the truck. That afternoon a cleaning crew came in and cleaned our house, getting it finally ready for the buyers. Tana was my saving grace!!! She took Madison for me, so I could finish doing things at the house. She is so wonderful to us. That morning, Madison woke up...sick. She was so lethargic, she slept almost all day long, bless her heart. That evening, we were in a hotel down in Beaumont. The next day, Thursday, we closed on our new house in the morning. Afterward, Madison was feeling so much better, she didn't even want to take a nap. So, we went to our new fitness center - The Wellness Center, which is connected to a hospital and fabulouse - and signed up for Mommy and Tot swim classes! (for July)

Friday (4/25) was the big move-in date. The movers unloaded all of our stuff and unpacked most everything. Since this house is 1000 square feet smaller than our last house (but same price, can you believe?), we have A LOT of stuff to sell and donate...our garage is packed. However, we love the house. It's a custom home and the craftmanship inside is really nice. Since the move-in, we've been up to our ears getting everything in its place...we have a LONG way to go. Our house is again a zoo, with everyone coming in and out...all the utility workers, satalite people, audio installers, security system installers, etc. Soon, I hope, it will all be over. Needless to say, I'm really looking forward to Mark's folks coming down to help us at the end of this month.

We've met most of our neighbors...and God has blessed us again so much! They are wonderful! Our friends from N.C. State, Jamie and Brian Jones (they were Chemical Engineering and Paper Science majors with Mark) with Avery (4 months), live about 7 houses down from us. They threw us a BBQ this weekend to get to know everyone. It was so nice of them. Mark is really liking his new position here, but it is greatly challenging. He still has a lot to learn about this division, but it's a challenge he looks forward to.

On Friday, we are flying to Raleigh for a whirl-wind trip to attend Mark's brother's graduation! He is graduating from N.C. State with his PhD. We are SO excited for him!!! We'll be in Raleigh only overnight, then going to Mark's parents' house for Saturday night. We leave to fly back on Sunday!

So until then, everyone have a great weekend and I'll post when we return from N.C.!!