Texas

 I downloaded these photos backwards, so the events I am retelling are not in order.  To begin with, we are now in the great state of Texas.  And it has been fun so far.  We have been here 2 weeks and we have done a lot of fun things and met some great people.  Last weekend they had a "Dive In" at the community pool. They set up this screen and the kids got to watch Frozen, eat popcorn and swim.  Colton said it was the best day of his life. 

 Earlier that same day we went strawberry picking.  They had a smokehouse there where you could get sausage, pulled pork, brisket, etc, so we got some lunch and ate in this outdoor pavilion. 

 Lydia was pretty excited about her sausage on a stick. 

 The kids taking their berry loot back to be weighed.  Can you believe the berries are already on?  And they were huge and delicious! 

 Good berry pickers! 

 There has been a slight wind almost since we got here so we took advantage of it and flew some kites.  Simple things can be so fulfilling. 

 The splash pad opened the weekend we got here, so we took advantage of it. 

 Josie loves to 'spash'  as she says it. 

 There was also a community get together the weekend we moved here.  There was free pizza and some bounce houses.  It was a great welcome to Texas. 

 Getting to Texas was not the most fun.  Lydia had a fever a few days before we were supposed to fly down.  The night before we were to leave, Colton started throwing up.  Fantastic.  I was flying by myself (Mike drove down) with sick kids.  We looked into trying to change our flight, but in the end, we decided to just get it over with.  On the way to the airport, Colton threw up  again.  Lydia had to stop for an urgent bathroom break.  Not looking good.  Is my stomach grumbling?  Is Josie hot?  Of course I start playing these worst case scenarios in my head.  I prayed.  Mike prayed.  All the grandma's and grandpa's prayed and the Lord answered those prayers.  We sat in the very back of the plane so we would be close to the bathroom and we did have one urgent trip to the bathroom, but no one actually threw up on the flight.  No one needed the pull-ups I brought along.  We made it incident free.  It wiped the kids out though.  The above photo is shortly after we got to the new place.  Mike envisioned kids running all through the house checking out every closet, but they all plopped down on the floor as soon as we got there.  And they didn't go far from their spots on the floor.  They rested the next day as the movers brought everything in and then they were fine. 

 Before we left, we said our goodbyes.  We will sure miss the James family who made our transition to Michigan much easier. 

 While the movers packed, I tried to keep the kids out of the way- so I packed them into a tub. 

 Once we left Michigan, we spent a few days in Ohio before our house in Texas became available.  We enjoyed a cookout with Papa, Grandma, aunts, uncles and cousins. 

 Lydia fighting a fever, but still just wanting to be outside. 

 Colton and grandma's dog Macy.  Colton feels some ownership of Macy since he doesn't have his own dog. 

Good food.  Cute girls.