11 years..

Today Richard and I celebrated our eleven year wedding anniversary.  Another year we didn't really get to celebrate we had big plans to go to this resort in Canyon TX this past weekend but instead we packed up the house.  Last year we wanted to go to Hawaii to celebrated the big 10 years but we had a newborn.  Maybe next year we will actually get to celebrate.  As for this year we were able to send the big kids to a friends house.  Richard grilled steaks.  We watched a movie and at cake, while Beckett took a nap.  Richard even surprised me with flowers, I told him not to buy any since we are moving in like a week!  But this morning when I woke up I saw these beautiful flowers and a very sweet card.  All I have to say is 11 years of marriage is not enough time, I cant wait and see what the next 11 years bring us!

Here is a little flash back to 2002, I found our wedding album while packing and thought it would be fun to load a few of these pictures.

My birthday

This was the first birthday in my life that I wasn't surrounded by my mom and sisters.  I knew I would be bummed about it so I decided to plan a fun day trip to Carlsbad.  We started out on the road early so we could fit all the things we had planned into one day.  As we pulled into town we stopped by a park.  There is basically an entire two story structure made of wood and covered.  It was very cool inside the structure, its almost like a maze inside.  We lost track of time there the kids had so much fun.  We even walked across the bridge which crosses the Pecos river.  It warmed up fast so we decided to go into Carlsbad and have lunch before we went to the Caverns!  After we spoiled are selves at lunch eating our meals and each of us enjoying a milkshake, we drove about 20 minutes to the Carlsbad Caverns. 

 

The Carlsbad Cavers was so beautiful.  I had so much fun walking down into the Caverns.  We made so many memories and learned so much about the different type of stalagmites, bats, limestone etc.  One of my favorite parts was when we entered the twilight zone and we learned that with out man made light from that point on it would be completely dark.  I walked the entire way down holding hands with Cooper.  Listening to the things we talked about will forever stay with me.  Once he told me "Mom I am holding your hand so you wont be scared."  We talked a lot about what Cooper thought the stalagmites looked like bat ears, popcorn, a finger.  Cooper thought that the path ways looked like a race car track.  He told me that he thought it would be fun to bring a remote control car down the path ways.  Richard wore Beckett the whole time and waked ahead of Cooper and I with Allison.  Allison was so interested in the Caverns and was full of questions, Richard and Allison literally talked the entire hour down.  If it were up to her we would have walked back up the trail!  I  had such a wonderful time and we definitely plan to go back!

We ended our time at the Carlsbad beach!  The kids and I have been a few times but Richard had never been.  It was perfect weather!  Not to hot but warm enough to swim.  The kids enjoyed Richard taking them out to the deep part of the river.  Beckett and I enjoyed playing in the sand.  Beckett loved putting sand in the bucket over and over again.  Richard and Allison had fun burying B's legs.  Hours seemed to fly by there!  We also rented a paddle boat and paddled down the river, such beautiful views.  I am determined to make my birthday every year similar to this one, I really enjoyed spending the day with my lil family doing something we had never down before.  My birthday this year definitely hits on my list of top birthdays!  I even got a new Nikon camera that comes in the mail next week!!!

Inspection, sleepovers, and packing!

 

This past weekend was CRAZY!  Thursday night we drove into Midland.  Friday we had the inspection on the house and a meeting with Lowe's to pick out the new flooring for the house.  We also dropped the big kids off with my sister.  We meet her half way between Midland and San Angelo, the big kids would stay with my sister until Sunday night.  Also we left Beckett with my mother/father in law.  Friday night we had our selves a little date night and went to the movies and out to dinner.  It was so nice to get away from kids and making decision about the house.  Plus the food at Osaka's was amazing, and the movie Wolverine was decent.  After dinner we even went for an hour walk around a park, the weather was so nice with a light breeze.  Then we drove back to Hobbs for the next couple of days to pack the house up.  Saturday flew by as we worked on the yard, packed the garage, packed each kids room, and our bedroom closet.  We literally only left a few toys and beds in the kids room.  I cant get over how much junk my kids had, we haven't filtered there toys since we moved to Hobbs.  We even made a few trips to the Salvation Army to donate a bunch of things!  Richard and I had three 30 gallon bags each of clothes we got rid of.  We also deep cleaned the house bathrooms and bath tubs.  I still need to pack the kitchen, hall closet, and all the décor but I still have two weeks tell we close.  While we did all the packing we still enjoyed each others company with out kiddos ordered pizza and watch the new GI Joe movie. 












After all the packing was done we drove back to Midland and had an early birthday celebration for me at dinner with Richards family at Olive Garden.  It was a delicious dinner with wonderful conversations, I even got to hold my sweet great nephew.  Plus I got some fun new fall décor for the new house.  We picked up the big kids and got to hear about there many adventures in San Angelo.  The kids went to a fair and got there faces painted, climbed a rock wall, saw fish.  They went swimming, enjoy jumping on the trampoline, and playing with there cousins.  That night when we were back in Hobbs I couldn't sleep I was just so happy to have all my kiddos back!  Its funny how much I missed them, I guess I was just meant to be a busy mommy with a full house!

Piano Camp

Allison's piano teacher approached us about a month ago and asked if we would be interested in signing up Allison for a piano camp.  Allison was totally on board so we agreed.  She goes in the mornings for a little over two hours.  Every single time I pick her up she is so happy and excitedly tells me all she did.   Allison finished piano came yesterday, the boys and I got to go to a little end of piano camp celebration.  The parents where able to watch the kids answer questions over what they learned and the children accompanied a song together.  Afterwards Mrs. G had refreshments for everyone.  I have really loved Allison piano teacher and know that we will really miss her when we move.  I have been on the hunt for a new piano teacher for her in Midland.

Swimming with Friends!

This past Friday we went to the pool in Eunice with a bunch of our friends.  The pools here in Hobbs close early before school starts.  On Wednesday one of the pools closed and the other pool in town will only be open on Saturdays until Labor day.  The pool in Eunice closes on Sunday.  So we just had to make a trip to Eunice which is only 12 minutes away from Hobbs.  It was a very hot day!  Beckett loved the water, I rarely saw Allison, and Cooper thought because he was 5 he could swim with out a life vest (which didn't last long)!!  Also one of our friends watched all the babies so all the moms could go down the big water slide, boy was I soaked!  On  Monday we drove to Lovington to swim at the pool there.  A lot of our friends showed up and once again we stayed until closing!  I have to add how often Cooper and Beckett take snack breaks in between swimming!  Those boys sure can eat, I cant imagine how much food we will go through when there older!!  I cant believe our summer of swimming is over!!

Busy

I have a feeling I wont be blogging very much these next few weeks, just a heads up to my handful of readers.  Ever since finding out about Richard's transfer I have been going crazy trying to prepare for the move.  Having older kids this move has been a little harder as far as planning wise goes.  Trying to get two kids registered for school, having their paper work for Hobbs transferred, signing two kids up for soccer (that was awful scanning documents/emailing/phone calls), finding a new piano teacher.  That's the easy stuff, packing up the house with a my new walker constantly around me is tough!  You can only get so much done during nap time!!  I also need to set up cable/internet, water, electricity for our new home.  Plus constant phone calls from the mortgage lender and the realtor has kept my head spinning this week!  Plus I've managed to take the kids to the pool in-between all these things this week.  Although I am happy to be in the middle of this wonderful chaos!  

Pizza, Swiming, and Smurfs 2!!

I love birthdays!  I admit I spoil my kids on their special day.  I actually have money that I allocate during the year to their birthday parties and presents.  I know its silly but what can I say I love celebrating my children's birthdays.  We usually have a party for the children and when their birthday doesn't fall on the party day then on there actual birthday I try to fill that day with fun activities.

Yesterday on Cooper's birthday we had many fun activities planed.  My sister Heather and her kiddos drove into Hobbs to have lunch with us at this pizza joint here (similar to chucky cheese).  After lunch we went swimming with some of our friends.  Then after dinner Richard took the big kids to the movies to see Smurf 2.  After wards Cooper opened his big present, a bike!