We'll get there fast and then we'll take it slow...

Ben has been on the road every week for the last several months so when he told me that he had some strategy meetings in Palm Beach, FL and that I was invited, I quickly made arrangements for our little getaway! We made the three hour drive to Houston on Sunday and left Belle and our car with Aunt Alee and Uncle Nick to find Grammie and Grandpa later. Isabelle was not the least bit sad for us to leave and kept telling me I'm in good hands mom! Ben and I then returned quickly home before boarding the private-jet first thing the next morning. The plane ride was lovely as it was just the 10 of us going together from San Antonio and we skipped all of the usual airport baggage-screening, etc. Once in Palm Beach we took a car to The Breakers Resort where we enjoyed a quick lunch before Ben headed to meetings for the afternoon. I stayed busy myself enjoying a manicure and pedicure at the spa and ironing clothes for our dinner reservation that evening. After a yummy dinner we were surprised how tired we were and slept heavenly in our ocean-view room.



The next morning we had free time together and we spent a few hours at the beach. I also relaxed with a prenatal-massage while Ben rented some ocean-sport equipment and braved the wide open water. It was incredibly hot and I think we both could have laid under the cabana for several more hours but a dinner-cruise was on the itinerary so off we went. It was fun to see some of the spots Ben and I had toured 8 years prior on our honeymoon on Singer Island and again we were full and tired when we returned back to the resort. After another quiet day for me and a few more meetings for Ben, it was finally time to return back to reality. I boarded a flight to Houston and Ben was off to Washington DC to continue working.

I was thrilled when I was greeted by a happy Isabelle and Grammie at the airport with a welcome home balloon and flower. Isabelle had had a wonderful vacation of her own playing with Aunt Alee and Grammie. They had shopped, made crafts, baked, decorated for Halloween, visited friends, etc. We were able to continue the fun a bit longer as Belle and I enjoyed another couple days playing in Houston. Two of Belle's most favorite activities were chasing and playing with Alee's cat Koshka and going on a date to McDonald's for dinner with Grandpa.

After visiting three more states for work, Ben then flew into Houston as well and he and I took one more opportunity to have a little fun together listening to U2 Live! I had bought the tickets back in April and had no idea what October would bring but knew that I could never let Bono get this close and not get Ben tickets. We have actually enjoyed several awesome concerts this year and this was no exception. Ben indulged me with yet another Gary Allan concert in February, we had sung along to Billy Joel/Elton John in their Dueling Piano Tour in the Spring and rocked out to Coldplay in the summer. U2 was the icing on the cake and after Bono's third encore and another very late night, we barely made it back to my parents before we were fast asleep.

Finally after 12 days it was time to really return to reality and make the drive back to San Antonio. Isabelle cried and said Can't we stay too long? She can never get enough of Houston and of playing with her most favorite people. It was a very nice break for all of us and we are so grateful for our family and for all of their help in making it possible. Now it's time for Halloween and although Ben is yet again on the road, Belle and I plan on being in San Antonio for at least a few weeks!

Room to grow...and shop!

When Ben and I accepted the job offer in San Antonio we never would have thought that five years later we would still reside here. Neither one of us had any intention in ever really calling the Alamo City "home." We built a house while it was just the two of us and planned to stay a year or two and then make our way somewhere north. However, 5 years later we still hang our hat in San Antonio and have no quick-departure plan in sight.

Once Isabelle joined our family it didn't take us long to feel crammed in our little house. Seeing no immediate reason to leave San Antonio and Ben continuing to flourish in his role at Harland Clarke, we began looking for more space. We quickly narrowed our search between two different parts of town and spent several weekends looking at model homes and eliminating neighborhoods. At one point we even put earnest money on a lot and "built" the home on paper with the salesman. However, the lot we had requested was on hold from the developer and even with the housing market in a bit of a crisis, they never would sell us the house we requested. So our search continued for another few months.

We finally found a house built last year that sparked our interest in a neighborhood we were big fans of. The house was nothing like the one we had eagerly been searching for but it grew on us to the point that we finally began a bidding war to purchase it. After a few weeks and multiple offers, we officially bought our next San Antonio home. Ben and I both liked the color of the bricks and stone on the exterior and the colors, counters, cabinets and tile inside was just what we would have picked ourselves. It has an office and media room for Ben, a playroom for Belle and a guest room and large laundry room for me, so everyone is happy! It has plenty of yard and is complete with the hill country feel with oak trees and lots of natural stone in the back. The backyard was actually something we were unsure about at first but we have the landscapers starting this week and in roughly 14 days we will have nice new grass and a vegetable garden for Belle to plant and watch grow!

Like all things in our life, we were blessed to sell our current home in just 3 days but taxed by both Ben and I traveling throughout the close process and move. Thankfully through the power-of-attorney and some good friends and family who lightened our load, we made it from house A to house B and are getting more comfortable in our new little nest.

Of course it has taken some adjusting to as well and we may be sitting in a few rooms empty for several more months, but it will take some time to get things just as we wish and for now we are in a live-able state. We have already christened the new abode with guests, parties and sleepovers and we are greatly enjoying our room to wiggle!

On a side note, Belle made the big move not only from the only home she has ever known, but also out of her crib into a "Big Girl" bed. She was excited until it was bedtime and then changed her tune and wished to be back in her first bedroom and in her comfy little bed. We compromised by her sleeping on her trundle, which was much closer to the ground and less scary. After several days and nights of fear she finally asked if I could put "bars" on her new bed. I was heartsick thinking of her being nervous to go to bed at night and rushed to Walmart to purchase net-rails for both sides of her new bed. Since, she has finally started sleeping a little more soundly and now only falls out when she actually sleeps on the trundle. It was a big change for a little girl and she has taken it all in stride. (I have enjoyed her trundle too since most nights it is just the two of us and we both feel better when we sleep together in this big foreign house!)

For now, we will continue to call San Antonio home and will start to make new memories...with room to grow!

Welcome to Salem, City of Peace

The last few years Isabelle, my mom and I have traveled to the little town of Salem, Utah to visit with my grandparents and to participate in the annual Salem Days celebration. It is always the first week in August which is perfect timing for us as we are usually ready to head north for a little break from the constant south Texas summer heat. Isabelle thoroughly enjoys this vacation with the soft green grass, cool mountain air and all of the perks of small town living.

The trip started a little rough when our flight was late getting to DFW and our connecting flight left without us. Luckily we were meeting my mom, Grammie, in DFW so she arranged for the three of us to board the next flight to SLC. Once we finally landed in the Rocky Mountains, the fun began.

We were happy to get a chance to visit some of the headstones of my paternal grandparents, my great grandparents (Isabelle's namesake) and my mom's baby sister throughout the week and my mom even tried her own resting place on for size!

We enjoyed BBQing with family, walking around the park with Grandma, playing with cousins and 4-wheeling with Grandpa. Isabelle also adored picking fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and apples in plenty all in Grandpa's garden each night for dinner. I think one night over a few hands of cards I ate an entire cucumber myself.

The highlight of the trip was the annual Salem Days Race. Isabelle remembered waiting on the sidelines for us to cross the finish line last year and decided weeks before we left that she herself would also be a participant this year. She began "training" and ran a half or 3/4 of a mile a few mornings a week at home in preparation.

When the big day came, she was up and ready for the 1 mile Fun Run at 7:00am. It was a cloudy and chilly mountain morning and it took a while for us to all get our numbers and registration packets but finally it was race time. Isabelle was thrilled when Grandma Joan's neighbor, and Police Chief James, began the race and off her little legs went running around the Salem pond. Grandma Joan entered this race as well and my mom and I rushed in between the two taking pictures and making sure Isabelle was safe.

I was actually pretty surprised but little Jelly never stopped running until she crossed the finish line. At about the 3/4 mile mark when she had to finish uphill she commented that she was getting tired, but by the top of the climb she could see the crowd waiting and cheering for the tiniest contestant and she got her second-wind and finished strong. Her time was just over 14 minutes, with Grandma Joan just over 17 minutes. We had to put her through the shoots alone as the 5K was moments from starting and my mom and I had to literally run to the starting line. My mom and I finished in 28 minutes flat which was quick enough for her to take the Gold in her age category. We were all hungry, tired and ready to enjoy the City Council's pancake breakfast afterwards!

While we were enjoying our break from responsibilities, Ben closed on our new house and got the ball rolling back here in San Antonio. (Thank goodness for small towns and your mom growing-up with the President of the Bank when you need a quick power of attorney!) We knew we had a lot of work waiting for us back home which made leaving the easy-life a little bit tougher. Ben was in and out of town three times while we were away and was actually out of town again when our return flight landed so little Jelly and I had to find the car he left at the airport a few days earlier and get ourselves home and to bed. We missed the comforts of Grandma's house then and now and look forward to our trip back "home" next year!

Thirty, flirty and thriving!

Somehow 30 years old used to seem so much older, yet, on August 2nd I joined the ranks of the 30 and over club! Ben and Isabelle really wanted this birthday to be special and they had made several plans and arrangements for a weekend of fun.

Saturday morning we headed north to the little town of Bastrop where we enjoyed shopping down the antique Main Street, walking along the Colorado River and eating lunch at one of our favorite Texas treasures, Maxine's Cafe. We were happily joined by my parents who met us for the fun and after lunch we sat in an outdoor gazebo in the historic part of town and opened presents. My parents gave me many wonderful gifts but the most special was a Carpe Diem bracelet encouraging me to Seize the Day.

We had considered stopping in San Marcos for a little more birthday shopping but after a busy day, we were ready to get home and get into our pjs for a relaxing evening. Sunday morning, my actual birthday, I was surprised with GIANT balloons, streamers and noise makers all hand decorated by Isabelle. (For her, it is all about the decorations.) We enjoyed an Oreo ice cream pie for breakfast and again I was showered with gifts from many family members. I was surprised by a pair of diamond earrings and a trip for 2 from Ben and a new hoodie from Jelly...I wear the same old gray one everyday and once I opened my new one she quickly grabbed my old friend and tossed it into the trash. I guess everyone was glad for a change to my everyday attire.

After church we enjoyed skillitini and some more dessert before calling it a day. I received many phone calls from loved ones and lots of happy birthday wishes. While I am not at all interested in being 30 years old and I already think my laugh lines seems slightly deeper, it was at least a good excuse to celebrate!

Welcome Home Uncle Jacob!

Ben's younger brother Jacob recently returned home from serving a two year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Tallahassee, FL. Although lately we have had way more to do than time to do it in, we couldn't let Jacob head back to college before we were able to catch-up, so we caught a quick flight to DFW with a return ticket booked only 48 hours later. Isabelle was excited to actually meet in person the Uncle she has had a picture of her with in her bedroom for the last 24 months and especially to also see her silly Uncle Seth! From the moment we arrived she played as busy and as quickly as she could moving from one thing to another, definitely making use of the short stay. We had fun visiting with Jacob as well as Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Seth and Joe and even found a little bit of time to celebrate Ben's birthday with an alligator cupcake cake, in honor of Tallahassee, FL. Although it was a fast visit, all three of us really enjoyed our time in Dallas and were especially grateful to reunite with Jacob. Now Isabelle has a real face to go with her picture and can't wait to play with her Uncle's again soon!

It's a girl thing

It is so funny to hear all of the silly things that come out of Jelly's mouth. It is interesting to hear what she is thinking about and to try and walk through her logic, etc. This was our conversation today in the car:

Belle Mom, I know my legs are fat!
Mom No, your legs are so skinny and long.
Belle I just know they are fat.
Mom Why do you think that?
Belle I know they are fat because I am a girl, and girls legs are fat!
Mom (laughing)
Belle Girls legs are fat at the very top! Aren't they mom?!

I was left wishing my legs were as "fat" as hers at the very top!