Life in Texas

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

4th of July, Trip to Austin, House Update

Happy 4th of July!!

This past week we made an offer on a house and almost put our house up for sale. Then after the counter offers took place and we all agreed on a sale price, we decided to back out and not sign the papers. We have been looking for a home with more land and this house was nice, on one acre, and pretty. However, I REALLY LOVE our current house. I love the layout, I like our neighbors, and I like the price. After realizing the taxes were going to be over 10K a year, we thought they'd be a little over 7K, we decided it wasn't worth moving at this time. We'd rather travel with our kids and have more money to give, save, and help our kids with college later. We would have had to finance with a 30 year note, rather than 15 or 20 year. We still would have put 20% down but our monthly expenses would have been $700-$900 more a month. To us, that wasn't worth the expense and pain to move. Not to mention, our current house fits us great and I love my kitchen and gas stove. This other house did not have a gas stove, it had a double oven, but not as gas stove top, which Collin and I both like. Basically, we'd be spending a lot of money for a house that was a compromise of what we both really want.

We have been looking at houses for the past year off and on. We'd love to live closer to church and have more land. However, we have worked too hard to put ourselves in a financial bind. Also, as our kids continue to get a little older, it will be easier to take them on vacations and we both LOVE to travel. One huge benefit we had when we lived in Germany was being able to travel to lots of places. Since moving back to the States, dealing with pregnancy issues, losses, and adding two more kids to our family, we haven't been able to do as much traveling.

With all of that being said, when we thought we were going to put our house on the market, we decided we'd head to Austin to get out of town. Collin and had also taken a few days off last week. Our realtor was pretty certain we would get at least one offer this past weekend. The kids were disappointed that we decided not to buy the country house and so we decided to go ahead and go to Austin and see our friends there. This was Jackson's first vacation, or time to get away from home that was not visiting family. Although it was kind of like visiting family, except we stayed in a hotel. We spent most of the weekend with our friends, the Lillards. Caden even had his first sleepover and had a great time. He didn't sleep much but enjoyed getting to spend the night with his friends. We went to church with them Sunday, ate lunch, then headed home. Saturday we took the kids to a big indoor playscape. There was also a little area for kids 3 and under that Grace and Jackson loved playing in. Overall we had a great time seeing them and look forward to getting together again. In fact, just getting out of town for a weekend trip, reminded us how much we enjoy doing things like that.

On the way down we stopped in Waco at the Magnolia Market at the Silos. It was a neat little place but too hot to be outside and the kids didn't really enjoy it. I think it's a place to go for adults more than taking kids.

For the 4th of July we went to my brother's and sister-in-law's house. They cooked out and the kids swam and played. We didn't go see any fireworks since it's so late and our kids were tired from the long weekend.

Last week on one of Collin's days off we drove to Lake Granbury and took the kids to a delicious German restaurant for lunch and then to the sandy beach area to swim in the lake. Yesterday, Caden started 2nd grade. We've been very busy but having a wonderful summer! I'm so excited about school starting again and being able to school year-round, so we can take different breaks during the year.

I wish we would have gotten more pictures, but we were all having too much fun!

My American girl!

Fun in the pool!

Jackson and Avery

Avery and Grace

3 handsome guys!

Kids 1st monogrammed clothing. They were so cute!

My Jack in a box!

They are so cute!

Fighting over putting sticky decals on the window

My pretty girl!

My three cute kids!

Handsome Jackson

Picture from hotel. We put Jackson pj's on Grace and hers on him. It was a cold hotel and she had long sleeved pjs.

Cute pie!

German biergarten

Fun at the lake

Yummy German food!

Having fun in the sand!

At the lake

At Magnolia Silos in Waco

Jackson and Aunt Kelly

Handsome husband!

Eating sand

Friday, July 1, 2016

Jackson is 10 months old!

Dear Jackson,

You are now 10 months old! I know I am late writing this month's letter. We have been busy, busy! You are learning so much and continue to grow and develop beautifully. On July 2, 2016, you said, "Mama" for the first time! I was so proud of you and excited to hear you say my name! You had been calling me "Nana." Words that start with "d" are easy for you to say. "Dad," "dog," "dada," etc. You also make a lot of other sounds and noises and can squeal very high like your older brother used to do.

You continue to love to cruise holding onto something or someone's hand. You can stand a few seconds without holding onto anything.

You are a super fast crawler. You love crawling and pushing a ball around the house.

You enjoy feeding yourself and recently started grabbing the pouch of baby food to feed yourself with it. You can also pick up little pieces of food and put them in your mouth.

You still don't like going to the nursery at church, but we're working on it. I'm not attending a ladies' Bible study again, so you get to go twice a week to the nursery.

You love playing with Caden and Grace. You enjoy short books that have texture.

Sleep: You sleep 11-12 hours at night and have been taking 1 nap a day that averages between 1.5-2.5 hours.

You don't like laying down to get your diaper changed and constantly want to roll over.

You like climbing and can now climb up our stairs.

You love swinging and being outside.

You enjoy music and tend to dance and "sing" to the rhythm of the beats.

You love the water and enjoy taking baths and going swimming.

You like the sandbox and have no problem getting covered in sand. :)

Jackson, we love you so much! This year is going by too fast!

Love,
Mom

At a German Biergarten

You enjoyed going to the lake

Caden made you a hat!

Having fun with your siblings

You really do love the water, it doesn't look like you do here, though.

Church VBS

10 months old today!

Climbing the stairs

He loves playing in the sandbox and sometimes eating the sand. :0

Friday, June 24, 2016

Caden is 7!!

Dear Caden,

You are now 7 years old! These past 7 years have gone by way too fast! I am enjoying watching you grow, learn, and change. You had a wonderful 1st grade year and we're looking forward to starting 2nd grade.

This year you wanted to have a tennis birthday party. The club had never done a tennis birthday party before and thankfully we were able to have one for you. You and your friends had a great time! On your actual birthday we met one of your best friends, Patrick, at Chuck E Cheese for lunch. Then in the afternoon, we had two of your other best friends, Olivia and Neil, over to play. You are excited to be 7!

So far this summer you have enjoyed going to tennis camp, basketball camp, VBS, swimming, and playing with friends. We've gone to the zoo once and will go many more times. You've also had several birthday parties to attend, which is always fun. We're also planning a visit to see our good friends in Austin and maybe head to the coast for a few days.

Your 7 year check-up went great. Here are your stats!

57.5 lbs (80%) - weight

51.5 inches (90%) - height

We got your test scores back from this past year. To be honest, I don't think they should test young kids. You scored on age level for reading and scored 5th grade in math! Math is definitely one of your strengths and you love it. You scored 99% out of the whole nation in 1st graders. The tests were done through Abeka, which is known to be a rigorous curriculum. The really cool thing is, is that you taught yourself division and fractions. We'll practice them but your actual math work this past year was grade level. You are smart and gifted.

Some other things about you that I love include, your willingness to include others. You don't like to see anyone left out. Your friends appreciate how kind you are and giving. You want to please God and do what the Bible says. I can see your faith forming and it makes Dad and I happy. You say really nice prayers before meals and bed. You are kind to your siblings and they both look up to you. You are helpful around the house and are learning and growing great.

Favorite Things:

Age: 7

Color: red

Book: Charlie and the Glass Elevator

Song: Whom Shall I Fear? (God of Angel Armies)

Best Friend: Patrick (you also love many of your other friends, including Olivia and Neil)

Subject: Math

Game: Angry Birds Fight

Restaurant: Chuck E Cheese (I think you like Texas de Brazil more, but we decided to take you to Chuck E Cheese for lunch, we don't go often)

Food: Cheese Pizza

Dessert: Chocolate Cake

Toy: Zoobs