Life in Texas Continues...

Well half the year is past already. We've been here a year come next week. I don't have much to say other than I enjoying my job (minus lack of parking space), Savannah has finished her Freshman year with outstanding grades and Staar testing scores, and Charlie changed jobs (this still under construction...to be continued). Having some family time here and there has been good too - especially when there are more the merrier. Growing up with a household of 7 kids, I thoroughly enjoy it.

Texas doesn't feel like home yet though. Will it ever? I felt so at home in WI so why is this so different? I am still trying to find the beauty in living here - there is a lot of traffic and people which equals a lot of rubbish and pavement. What I like most here is the amount of sunshine. My being NEEDS sunshine. Always has. I don't like big cities yet here I am. But in the beauty I do find I try to relish in it. Here are some memories of the year so far.

Savannah turned 15. I know. Already? 

At the diner, waiting on breakfast with the "Grands"

We took a tour on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad  as something new to try. I don't believe we will do it again however. We sat in the train a good while waiting for other trains who had priority above the tourist train. Kind of felt like the usual 5:00 traffic. It took us a lot longer to get into Fort Worth than it should have, but it was an adventure for all of us. 

Me - sitting on a bull at the Fort Worth Stockyards. Unfortunately we came to the stockyards by way of the aforementioned train so we missed the daily schedule of the cattle drive. We stopped for a cold brew at the Cattlemen's Steakhouse where Charlie and I had "calf fries" (I won't tell you what these are) - and the atmosphere reminded me of what a saloon would be like. It was a lot of fun but I want to go back and spend more time so I can see the armadillo races and visit all the shops. Note to self - next time we bring our own transportation. 

We found out that Garfield has hyperthyroidism. He has to take medication twice a day forever. He is feeling better now.

We re-stained our deck. Look how pretty it is when the rain comes. 

Savannah all ready for the 9th Grade Banquet Dance - isn't she lovely?

Goodbye 2018

Soooo...Thanksgiving and Christmas were very different for us this year. We spent the holidays with much more family than we have in a long time.

Thanksgiving was so warm and the fall here lasts a long time so it really felt nice. We were invited to dinner at Valerie's (Brittany's mom) house in Eagle Mountain. Funny how you find the same names of cities in new states when you move. We even joked about possibly moving there just for old time's sake. Their house is right on a lake and it was just lovely. It was great to get to know them.

Next day I spent shopping with Sue (Charlie's mom) for Black Friday (not early of course!) and really had a good time. In preparation for Christmas Savannah and I baked a few dozen Christmas cookies and though there wasn't any snow it really helped to bring in the holiday spirit. It was fun to see the two together making memories.

My mom flew out to spend Christmas with us from Utah. We always have an open door for her so it really feels like she is here more often than not (being that she just visited in September). Again no snow but the drive we took to see lights on Christmas eve and the carol singing in the car was so fun and I'll never forget it.

Christmas day was so warm not just the weather but the family getting together at Sue's for dinner and gift exchanging.

For me it has always been emotionally hard to say good bye to all the gatherings when they are over but plans are in the mix for new ones to come. So now that my blues have passed I will look forward to what 2019 has to bring.

We bought a house...

Crazy to think of how fast you can move in life - yet other days it is soooo slow. Like today for example. Not a lot going on at work, at home, or anywhere. People say to enjoy it while it lasts but I don't. I enjoy being busy at work (not so much at home) but because if I am not I have too much time to think about things I could be doing or that I'd rather be doing.

Anyway now that I rambled...we bought a house. I didn't put an explanation mark on the end of that statement like I normally would have.

Charlie and I discussed this observation. That after already having bought a house - new and old - it just isn't exciting. I mean it is but not like it used to be. After all you still have a mortgage, cleaning, and of course taking care of it. But it sure is nice to have a house to call home! Now this I did use an exclamation for. Renting is not our gig, that is for sure.

We only moved a block away from where we were renting - the house had a great floor plan, was already updated, and enough space. Even Savannah has her own full bathroom!! We just felt at home there when we walked in. A little more than we wanted to pay of course, but we also didn't want to have to move Savannah out of the school district once she started and I heard pricing was going up both on houses and financing programs.

So far so good. We are learning a lot about Texas soil and how it affects your house foundation. That it moves when getting moist and drying. That we have to keep it watered. Very odd to us. Here are a few photos and we are still settling in so it doesn't show everything but you get the picture.

Master Bath "Hers"

Master Bath "His" - btw you can't see it but the shower is HUGE

Back patio

Kitchen minus the new fridge (on the left you can't see) that is being delivered

Guest / Main Bath

Front door

Not much to look at on the outside (like why are the front windows so dern small?) but it has all the upgrades we wanted and at the best price before the market and rates went up.