Welcome to Montana

Oh my goodness...it was a dream come true!  When I was a kid we used to rifle through couches to find lose change so we could make the walk to the fruit stand where we would buy surprise bags and penny candy.  Our fruit stand trips and playing in the irrigation ditches while catching water bugs are some of my favorite memories.  Walking to the fruit stand with money in hand was the greatest feeling.  It took the whole walk there for me to decide what I wanted to buy.  

I have the same feelings of excitement when I get a call from one of my family members about coming to visit me.  I felt truly grateful and almost bad that Phillip and Katrina were willing to make such a long drive to spend time with me.  This little town is definitely not a tourist destination but the summers have all that any small town would have to offer, I'll miss it when we go.  

We were all so excited to have Phillip's family here.  His kids can truly brighten anyone's day.  I love Hazel and her love of all things princess and girly.  She has gift to weave incredible stories from her imagination that you almost believe are true.  She can talk forever which makes me smile.  She reminds me a lot of my sister Lisa who has saved me so many times with her gift to talk me through the most difficult moments.  

Justin is the mini version of Phillip and I love it. I still smile when someone asks me a question and I have the urge to answer "wah" instead of yeah.  It's much cuter coming out of his mouth so I'll leave that to him.  As I was editing these photos I was laughing so hard about our balloon fight.  Justin went around using his little balloon as a squirt gun the whole time.  At one point he got Audrey in the face and the shear delight on his face made me laugh.  

Ryder is such an animal lover.  I love the way he pretends to be them.  He loved Poppy right away and that warmed my heart.  She's not an easy one to love because she can be crazy sometimes but he didn't care.  I bought these huge animal books from Costco for Audrey's schooling.  When I bought them I thought of Ryder and hoped that one day I could show them to him.  One of the days he was here he spent reading through them and I was so happy I could share something with him that he loved.  Ryder has a taste for the best foods.  Someday I'm sure he'll become a chef just like his parents (I truly aspire to be like them) and he'll make the best husband a girl could ask for.  

Lydia gets along with Audrey so well.  I love that she and Audrey love a lot of the same things.  They did art together, read together, and picked wild flowers together. Lydia is so polite. I can't count how many times she thanked me for the things that we did together.  I walked in on her reading to herself one day, she used voices as if she was reading to someone just the way Audrey does.  I tried to listen a little more but she caught me. 

Travis is the worlds most smiley baby at his age.  He's the sweetest.  I can't believe Katrina took the trip up here so soon after having him.  She's amazing!  I was so happy to meet him and add another favorite to my list of nephews.   

While they were here we enjoyed hiking.  Phillip's kids are so good at it.  Not a peep of complaint.  Paul and I have decided we should do more hiking.  

We also went to the Zoo, rode the Ferris wheel, shot fake guns at Scheels and played at the lake where we paddled around on the kayak and some floats.  Lydia and Ryder wanted to go out a touch the buoy over and over again. Hazel, Justin, and Audrey played in the sand. And Phillip took our kayak out on it's maiden voyage.

 The last day they were here I sent Phillip and Katrina on a date and I got to play with the kids.  We painted, had a water balloon fight, made smores, and went to the store to buy them something to take with them.  I will remember their visit forever.  Thanks for making the sacrifice and coming to see me.  We miss you!  Hopefully we'll get to come to you soon!  

 Justin

 Ryder

 Lydia

 Audrey

 Hazel

Home Again

I was really nervous to go back to Houston.  We're pretty sure moving back is in the near future so naturally I felt like this trip was going to determine my feelings about moving back.  I was worried I was going to leave with the same feelings and then Paul would have to drag me back to Houston kicking and screaming.  

As we neared the runway at the airport in Houston I turned to Audrey and said, "It looks like we're home.".  I had to catch myself.  In that moment it felt like Montana had never existed, we were just taking the same flight home like we had so many times before.

As we headed toward the exit in our rental car a sweet southern woman waved us over to her booth to check out.  She had a Texas accent and called us honey.  I smiled remembering all of the people I so dearly loved while living here.  

We arrived at our friend's home and they welcomed us with hugs as I wiped back tears, I missed my friends.  Over the next few days we talked late into the night, our kids played together, and we ate Gigi's famous home cooked meals.  Everyday felt like a celebration of our time together.  I can't say I was surprised but I was in awe over the kids that flocked to Melissa's house.  I can't say I blame them.  They probably come for the same reason I do.  No one else I know loves people the way these people do.  

Audrey enjoyed building forts, playing with Levi, and getting love from her Texas grandparents.  She loved sleeping in a bunk bed for the first time and made sure to draw and cut out stars to tape to the ceiling to make the space her own.  She arrived a little apprehensive and left with tears in her eyes because she didn't want to leave.  

I left wanting to adopt as many babies as I can and hoping that someday I can be as loving and accepting of strangers as my friends are.  Once a stranger, I now feel like a part of their family.  I'm an Auntie Em and I couldn't be happier about it.  

Our next stop was James and Jenny's house.  We were all excited to see them.  It's been at least a year since we last saw them and we felt like it was about time.  Paul needs his brother sometimes, I was looking forward to reconnecting with Jenny and seeing how much the kids have grown, and Audrey was so excited to see her long lost Texas cousins.  We arrived to Jane's birthday party and spent some time outside reminding ourselves of how hot and humid Houston can be.  I think Paul mentioned several times that he was not looking forward to coming back to the heat. That evening we talked about what we wanted to do and made plans.  I'm convinced that James and Jenny know how to plan and execute fun.  Each morning Jenny would put together lunches and then we'd head off to a new destination.  We went to the Museum of Natural Science, spent sometime poolside, and went to a water park.  James spent so much time going over the map of his neighborhood and driving us around to look at houses for the upcoming move.  It was that evening after driving around that I felt so much more peace about moving back.  I hope it works out that we can be closer to them. 

 I made a little friend while I was there.  When we left Mary was a baby and now she's a little girl. She plopped right down in my lap several times causing my heart to melt.  I spend so much time trying to get my nieces and nephews to love me and with Mary it was easy.  She is the sweetest. When we were at the water park I was able to spend some time with Jane and Audrey together.  I enjoyed being with both of them and I'm so glad that they have each other.  Audrey loves Jane so much, it's been hard for her to be away these last couple years. I'm was so happy that they were able to reconnect and enjoy being together.  

Paul obviously couldn't say enough about how much he enjoyed being with James and I was so grateful that He and Jenny were willing to take care of us while we were there.  We had many evening conversations and as I talked about the possibility of adopting,  I so appreciated their excitement and support....heaven knows I'll need as much of that as I can get.  I love them!  

Leaving was harder than I expected.  I felt like I was leaving home.  I guess apart of my heart will always be in Texas.  In the end I had a conversation with Paul about moving back and we both came to the same conclusion.  It was always the people in Houston that made us love living there.  In the end I was so grateful we took the push from James and made the trip.  Thank you for helping us come, and thank you for making our decision a little easier!   

Once again I'm fired from taking pictures.  I was so busy having fun at James and Jenny's that I didn't take my camera out of the bag.  Next time I'll be better.