Goodbye Texas, Hello Cali

You know the saying that all good things must come to end. Well, we have loved living in Houston and we are very sad that it came to an end. Although we loved the food, family, friends, and all the amazing things to do in Houston, when an opportunity came for Jeff to work in California and be close to both of our parents we had to take it. It was a really tough decision for us. Jeff enjoyed his job and the people he worked with at his firm in Houston, so it was really hard on him to tell them that he was leaving to pursue another opportunity. Jeff got a job with the Deloitte & Touche LLP working in the central coastal California area. He will be working with clients in the Monterey area and the Fresno area, which is great because his parents live in Monterey and my parents live in Fresno, so we will be able to see them a lot more. Although we love being in California, a little piece of Texas will always be in our heart.

I'm going to miss my Girls nights out in Houston! Love you girls!

Our friends Mike and Julia Nixon were SO nice and threw us a going away party before we left at their place, and invited a lot of our ward friends to say goodbye. Thanks Mike and Julia!!!

The adorable Texas themed food table that Julia made. Julia is my inspiration for all things cute and crafty!

Julia, Kalina, Me, Courtney and Jess

Jane and I - we served together in Young Women's when we first moved into the ward. She is from Australia and such an amazing person, friend and example to me.

Heidi (with Ethan), Andrea and I. We had our babies within 6 weeks of each other and got together often for "baby play group" aka "mom needs to talk to adults" group ;)
The Groesbeck family. Karene was the YW President and I served with her as first Counselor. We had a lot of fun planning activities together and we love their family

My boss's wife Suzette where I used to work. She and I became great friends and I miss her so much. She was like a second mother to me after I had Jamisen, always coaching me and giving me advice. I don't know what I would have done without her!

Saying goodbye to the Stewart family and our neice Courtney. We are so grateful for the time we had to live by Jeff's two sisters and their families. They taught us so much, looked after us, and showed us all that Texas had to offer. We will have great memories of our time with them!

Cute Story - we went to eat BBQ one last time at Rudy's with the Stewarts and Jamisen was sitting by his cousin Abby. We took our eyes off of them and then we turned around and suddenly Jamisen had Abby's bright pink binky in his mouth. We snapped this photo and as you can tell he is pretty proud of himself. Not long after this he tried to go after her headband too! Jamo definitely liked to harrass her!

So, Jamisen absolutely HATES his car seat and screams most times we put him in it, so the thought of driving 3 days in the car to California did not sound appealing at all. Luckily Jeff's best friend Chris had never been to Texas before so he flew out here and we showed him Houston, and then he drove our car to California behind Jeff who drove the moving truck while Jamisen and I flew to Fresno. Needless to say he was a lifesaver, and we had the best time showing him around and Jeff and him had such a fun time taking a road trip half way across the country. Here is Jeff and him at the "Waterwall" in Houston. The best way to beat the humidity in Houston.

We had a fun time in Kemah riding the rollercoasters and walking the boardwalk.

Chris in front of the Alamo

Jeff and Chris with some catcus in Arizona.

Yay they made it!

Here is a picture of our house we bought in Fresno. It was a foreclosure so we got an amazing deal on it, but it is in really good condition inside for being a foreclosure, since it was built in 2006. We are excited to do home projects, landscape, and make it our own. I will post more pictures of the inside when I get a chance!

The late post

So the last half of the summer has been crazy...to say the least. Since the last post we bought a house in California, went to Newport Beach, said goodbye to Houston and all of our friends there, got amazing family photos taken by a friend in downtown Houston, moved to California, and took a two week vacation in New Zealand and Australia. So it is a little overwhelming to think that we haven't documented any of this. So since things have settled down a little...we will try to update everything to make our blog current. So here we go...Newport Beach...and more to come.

We had another great reunion in Newport. So great to see family and show them how much Jamisen has grown up.

Took some family pics at the lifeguard tower.... Although everyone was complaining about how early it was and which family should go where, everybody was able to put on a smile in the end.

Jamisen eating sand with his cousin Kate

The whole extended fam...the Parkers

The 4th of July on the 5th

We spent a hot 4th of July (actually 5th of July since Jeff had work off) . Our ward had a morning breakfast and a fourth of July bike ride for the kids in the morning and Jeff played soccer and baseball.

Jamo's "girlfriend" Kate Nixon giving him a push on her bike. They are so cute.

We saw fireworks with Rich and Beck and kids...Jamisen was loving all the explosions...such a boy!

Dinkey Creek with the Jolleys

The week before Independence Day, we flew out to California for a family reunion for my dad's side of the family. Ever since he was little, my dad has been coming up with his to Dinkey Creek near Sequioa National Park. Now that they are all grown, it has been tradition that every 3 years they all come back together with their families for a family reunion. This has been the first one that I have been to since I got married, so it was nice to introduce Jeff and Jamisen to my extended family.
Jamisen and his cousins for a "4th of July" t-shirt shot

Hiking in the mountains with Dad. He liked to hit Jeff in the back of the head the most though.

Me and cousin Devanie. We have been really close ever since we were little. Love you Dev!

The immediate fam pic...on a huge fallen redwood tree that my dad carved his name into when he was little.

We took the boat out to Shaver Lake...the boys wakeboarded and I went on the tube even though the water was freezing.

Dad (far left) with 10 of his 11 brothers and sisters

Summer Drive-In Movie!

Last month we invited some friends from our ward to an old fashioned Drive-in movie up out in the country above Houston to see Toy Story 3. It is pretty much THE only way to watch a movie in the theater when you have kids, because if they scream...who cares...you are in your car.

Jamo the party animal...watching Toy Story 3

Such a good way to spend a summer night!

Before the movie we ate and did some fishing at Jeff's sisters house. Giff and Maddox showing off the fish they caught.

Some events in the month of June...

We witnessed quite the event last month as our friends John and Bonnie blessed their triplet boys Sam, Will, and Andrew. It was impressive to see John give three baby blessings in a row!

Enjoying a relaxing Saturday with friends at Pirate Beach in Galveston. Our friends Giff and Jenna Nielsen taught us a game "Ladder Ball" and we have become obessed with it since.

Jamisen continues to grow up and he is a goofball...

Visit Daddy at work day! We are so lucky Jeff's firm is at an office building really close to our place so we get to meet up for lunch!

How did we get a morning baby??

Jeff and I have always been night owls. Throughout our marriage we have always perpetuated each other to stay up late each night...to the point where it is often 1 or sometimes 2 a.m. when we finally go to bed. Both of us agree as well that the sound of the alarms on our cell phones in the morning is one of the most horrible sounds in the world. So how in the world did we create Jamisen who looks like these pictures at 6 a.m. every morning?? He is always so happy when we wakes up and is always laughing and smiling. Sometimes we will take him out of his crib and put him in bed with us in the morning (like these photos taken a couple months ago) and he thinks it is funny to slap us in the face while we sleep to get us to wake up and then laugh about it, and then climb on Jeff and tackle him because he wants to wrestle. This is his subtle way of telling us to get up and it is time to play. We both have to admit it is pretty cute, and definitely a better way to start the day than listening to our annoying cell alarms.