Back in Canada!

Well, what a trip! We had an absolute blast in Texas. I would have to guess that we ate Mexican food at least 12 out of the 14 days we were there. Of course, not a single Mexican meal compared to the fabulous Christmas dinner put together by my mom and sister. It's not that I didn't want to help with Christmas dinner, it's just that when my sister is involved in a project, it's best to just step away. My help would greatly hinder her ability to bitch about me not helping later.

Christmas was just fabulous. Gluttonous to the max, as always, but simply wonderful. Santa brought Ryleigh a 3 foot Barbie dollhouse that is in transit between West Texas and Newfoundland. She also got a Barbie convertible and approximately 438 different Barbies. She loves them all. My dad gave Jeramy a football signed by the 1998 Denver Bronco team, yes, the team that won two Super Bowls, yes, that included John Elway. Angels sang as he opened the package. I got a fantastic new coat and Stephen Colbert's book, which I stupidly left at mom's house. Avery got some clothes and some toys, but was mostly happy with the paper on the floor.

It was great to see all the grandparents. I went to work out with my PaPa twice. So awesome to have to struggle to keep up with a 72 year old. He and my Nana took Ryleigh to my cousin's basketball game in Odessa which she completely loved. The day before we left Ryleigh and I went out to the pasture to check the cows with PaPa. I got to teach her about barbed wire and cattle guards. She learned about not stepping in poop and why those thingies are hanging on the cow's ears. Sometimes I stop and think about how incredibly different my kids' raising is from mine. They won't ever have 30 rabbits in their back yard, they will likely never shovel poop out of a steer pen or go hunting for rattle snakes. I guess we could make a big life change at some point and move out west, but it's not likely. When I go home I usually have moments where I think that would be a good idea, so I could be closer to my family and my kids could be raised more like I was. But then I get to about day 10 of being around my family and I start to feel the same way I did when I left for college. Then when we get to the airport to head home and I see the monitors with all the flight destinations for the day I get the urge to not only fly back home, but to keep on flying on to more new places and see more new things with the kids in tow. My kids will have a different raising than I did, but that doesn't mean that it will be lacking in any way. In some opinions, it will actually be for the better.

We also got to see lots of old friends. I've already talked about the good time we had in Houston. In Monahans we got to hang out with Dr. Morgan and family (hehehehe, Jason is a doctor) and with Cari Cutbirth Martinez and her sister-in-law Keri Almanza Cutbirth and Rudy, John, Selena, Renee (funny to stand there and think about that time in high school that she tried to kick my ass, not that she failed as much as I ran away), and a few other folks that we hadn't seen in ages all standing around the barrel of fire out in the desert. That night ended with fried burritos from the gas station...ahhh, West Texas living.

We had a nice Christmas over at my Grandma (Robinson) Friend's house. I love her so dearly and it was so nice to spend an evening with her. John and the boys were also there. He's really doing such a fine job raising that brood. They all three seem to be quite bright, hard working and very well mannered.

On the 28th we drove to Arlington where we hit our favorite Bar-B-Que joint and had dinner with my dear friend Davi. She has an awesome beau these days and looked just radiant...it's quite obvious that life is good for her right now. The second night in Arlington we dined with our old college friend Cory and his GF. We reminisced for two hours about our glory days in college. Always nice to do. Then we headed over to my brother's apartment to hang out. I've never really hung out with my brother since we've both become adults (I know that's a stretch to be calling him that right now, but he's working on it). It was a very nice visit with some great conversation and a visit by a very strange neighbor. I love that kid and God bless him, his creative mind will do some great things in this world.

Our plane landed in St. John's at 4am this morning. By the time we laid down in bed it was closer to 5:30am. We slept in until 1:30pm.

It's about 3 minutes until the New Year here in Newfoundland. Wow, what a ride this year has been. Who knows what 2009 will bring other than a great new president and Kindergarten for Ryleigh. Who knows where we will be this time next year, here, Texas or somewhere new. Who really cares, we love our life and our kids and most important, each other. It just keeps getting better every step of the way. Time to count down...

So Far Away from Home

Last Tuesday we climbed into a taxi in front of our house at 6:30am and headed to the airport. After a full day of traveling we pulled into Sugar Land just in time for dinner at 6:30pm, Texas time. We stayed with some friends in Sugar Land. Their four year old boy was one of Ryleigh's best friends when we lived there and it was so great to see them able to run around and play together again. Thank you guys for letting us crash at your pad!

On Wednesday Ryleigh had her eye appointment, which went really well. We're still patching and wearing the glasses, but all in all the doctor said that her eyes are doing well. She even said that Ryleigh may come to a point where she doesn't need her glasses any more. Only time will tell!

While in Houston we also got to visit Jeramy's grandparents, father and sister. All in all a great visit...then came the trip to Midland...

The flight was supposed to leave at 6:30pm on Thursday. At first the flight was delayed to 8:30pm, then to 10:30pm, then we jumped on a 9:15pm flight, then that flight got delayed to 10:35pm. Then the pilot for that flight couldn't fly because he logged too many hours that day. Then we got back on the original flight and at 11pm, we got into the air. That's a whole lotta time in the airport with two wee ones. At 2:30am we finally got to crawl into bed at my parent's house.

It's been a great trip home. I have eaten everything in sight. We've already had Mexican food several times...oh wonderful, glorious Mexican food. Everywhere I turn there are all sorts of treats and I just haven't been able to say no. This morning I finally made it to the gym for the first time in 9 days. I haven't gone 4 days without working out since September 1st and I was really happy to get my blood pumping again.

So, everyone is here. Ryleigh is getting lots of time with her Uncle Blake, but sadly he has to leave on Wednesday morning for the rig. Uncle Curtis showed up tonight. We do feel so very far away from home, it's kind of strange. However, my neighbor emailed me and said that they've had so much snow this week that she can't get out of the driveway. Oh boy, can't wait to get back!

No, I Haven't Started Packing Yet

About five minutes ago I folded my first shirt that needs to be packed. That was exhausting, time to goof around the internet.

Our agenda is something like this:

16th: Flight leaves at 8:30am in St. John's, layover in Newark and arrive in Houston at 4:30pm. Dinner at Live Oak Grille on Dairy Ashford in Sugar Land at about 6:30pm...feel free to come see us!

17th: Breakfast and coffee at KB's house, Ryleigh's eye appt. is at 2:30pm after which we will be driving to Conroe to see Jeramy's dad, Jeramy will stay in Conroe for the night, the girls and I will head back down to Sugar Land to stay with friends

18th: Avery has her check-up at 9am, then it's off to meet Jeramy in the Woodlands for some Lupe Tortilla before catching our flight out at 4:30pm, Midland bound

28th: Drive from Monahans to Arlington to stay with my sister for a few days and see friends in the area

30th: fly out of DFW at 6:30pm

31st: After a Toronoto layover we land in St. John's at 3:30am

I'm knee deep in laundry, but we're taking a break at 2 to head over to some friends' house to watch football and enjoy some genuine Louisiana gumbo.

O Cactus Tree, O Cactus Tree, How Lovely Are Your Branches

Mama, I'm comin' home for Christmas!

We had decided a few months ago that we would not be going home for Christmas due to the fact that we could buy a car for what it would cost to fly us all back. Last week my parents' travel agent came across a wicked good deal on some flights home for Christmas and we just couldn't pass it up. So, home we go on December 16th. We're going to be spending a few days in Houston on our way through so the girls can get some check-ups with their doctors taken care of. On December 18th we'll fly to Midland and sometime after Christmas we'll drive back to Arlington with my sister where we will catch our flight home.

We're working on a schedule for while we're in Houston, which I will post in a few days. Our goal is to visit as many people as possible while we're home.

There is so much to do to get ready for the trip. Lists need to be made and planning needs to be done! Here we go again!