Nature

Update: 

We did not wash away.

Living in a cool city + having a husband = awesome.

Still have  no friends.

Miss our old friends like crazy.

We drive around neighborhoods and look at houses/lots like it's our full-time profession,  yet we are no closer to landing on a decision.

Greg was home for all of Memorial Day weekend and despite a migraine that made a brief visit Sunday morning, we had a fantastic, low-key, weekend.

Because of the rain, the city was relatively people-free, which was really great. In the 3-hour break from the storm Saturday evening, we hit up Fiesta Texas (for the third time in 2 weeks), and had the park pretty much to ourselves.

Monday, we introduced our kids to nature. 

They weren't quite sure about it. They kept asking where the snack bar was. But they were pleased that we didn't have to wait in lines to see the rocks, so that was good.

I have to keep reminding myself how much I like San Antonio. Cause I really do. And I really like the people I've met. I just don't feel at home here yet. And that's going to take a long time, I know. But it will happen, I also know that. So until then, you're going to have to suffer through a lot of "San Antonio is awesome" posts. When they disappear, you'll know I feel at home. 

So, really, it's in everyone's best interest that I feel comfortable here ASAP!

See you later, Houston

Usually, when you leave a place, you say to everyone, "this isn't good bye. It's just 'see you later.'" Well, in this case, moving only 3 hours away, it's very true. Like it or not, they haven't seen the last of us.

But our ward family was still kind enough to send us off in style. What better reason to celebrate? the Packers are leaving! It all started with a luncheon for yours truly; thrown by my closest ladies, but mostly, and in the home of, the ever-talented Julie Meads.

 This next one wasn't a farewell anything, just the final book group at my house. Tear. 

The main event: a potluck brunch. And if you're familiar with the culinary skills of the Fall Creek ward members, you know that it was a fantastic affair.

It really was a wonderful morning. The adults ate chatted and the kids played. Mostly, I just cried.

And, apparently, white shorts were the unofficial dress code.

  I, really, cannot say enough how much I love these people. They're fun, funny, great cooks, but most of all, they've taught me the true meaning of Christlike love and service. A lesson that I pray I will never forget.

And their kids are pretty awesome, too.

 I love how no matter the ages, no matter the gathering, they all get along like family.

You know I get teary-eyed looking at all of these pictures. This next one is no exception. 

The Packers and the Lemmons- friends for all eternity.

 Kate and her best buddy, who happens to be 2 years older than she is, Ava.

 The beloved "Dretchen." He was so excited, he could hardly look her in the eye.

 But seconds later, she had him giggling like a schoolboy.

 

Best ward family of all time. I dare you to find a better one. Double dog.

You know how they say love is an action word? This ward knows that. Love and service like it's their job. I feel like the luckiest person in the world to have been a part of it.

And.. the running group. THE running group to top all running groups. We ran our final run together the morning before we left. Julie sang Disney songs, I quoted Friends, and at least 2 of us cried. It wouldn't have been a run without all 3.

I love these girls to the end of the moon and back.

 Houston, you were really good to us. See you later!

He's my son

Drew was closing the sliding door and caught his finger a little bit. 

I knew it wasn't that bad because he was hardly crying, just a little whimper.

Drew: Mommy tiss it, make it feel better?

I kissed it.

D: Daddy tiss it when he dets home, make it feel better?

Me: Yeah, Daddy will kiss it when he gets home and it will feel better.

Thinks for a bit...

D: Brownie make it feel better!

Yes, my child, it would. And if I had a brownie to give him, he would have gotten two. He learned a great lesson early in life and he should be rewarded. 

We'll just have to remember better times when brownies were in abundance and owies lasted only a moment.

______

And while we're on the topic of brilliance...

Like most children, I'm sure, Drew asks where we're going in the car at least every 30 seconds. And if someone else is leaving (Greg going to work), the same question appears with equal persistence. 

 I started asking back, following each inquiry.

He started catching on and the intervals between questioning lengthened to 1, maybe even 2 minutes. 

The other day, in the car, he got smart. 

Drew: Where we doin'?

Me: Home. Drew, where are you going?

Drew: Home

D: Where we doin'?

Me: Home. Drew, where are you going?

Drew: (with a huge smile on his face) work.

The problem with these moments where he think he's so funny is that I think he's funny, which only encourages the behavior.

_______

And a final word on the little chap.

While his speaking may not be completely intelligible and his grammar is far from correct, his ability to reason is incredible. If he goes to do something and I tell him no, he says, "Why mommy?" I explain, he says, "Oh, otay," and moves on. And it's not his temperament to just go along. He has to understand why. He seems to understand the way the world works better than I do sometimes and he'll even explain mysteries of the universe to me, starting sentences with, "Uh-tuz, Mommy." Like when he told me he didn't want to go to nursery the first week we were here, "Uh-tuz, Mommy, Dretchen not be here. She in Houston." I never told him that. Trust me, I would never shatter a boy's dreams deliberately. He figured it out. He tells me all about bugs and "rowy pollies," and why daddy goes to work. I love his little brain. And his voice. And his mannerisms- they're so much like Greg's. And his hair- which is not so much like Greg's.

Hunting

 Yesterday, Kate and I were talking about possible FHE activities. She mentioned hunting. I thought, "Wow, she really is a Texan." But I asked her what she meant; what would we be hunting?

"You know, like rocks and bugs and buried treasure."

Of course.

It's one of their favorite activities. We're talking twice a day.

As many of you know, we're renting a little house here while we figure out what the heck we're going to do with our lives. I hadn't seen it before we got here, but Greg had and he was skeptical, to say the least. Some aspects of the house he was okay with, but the yard, he said, was pretty bad. "There's very little grass, tons of weeds and quite a few big trees. It's not even a yard."

Well, he was right. Not a yard, indeed.

A child's wonderland is a better description.

They probably spend 3 to 4 hours out there, every day:

Skipping on the path that leads to nothing...

 

Smiling our most handsome smiles... 

 And most importantly, hunting for treasures...

The loot:

Kate's  

 

 Drew's

 Ethan's

As you can see, we use the term "treasure" pretty loosely around here.

 And here's probably one of my most favorite Kate stories to date:
One of the treasures they always find is acorns. Apparently, Kate "planted" one the other day. Then, yesterday morning, before we had headed out for the day, the gardeners came and planted this tree/bush, unbeknownst to the young-ens. Then, as we were loading the car to head out, I hear Kate screaming,

"MOOOOMMMM!!!!!! My tree grew!! My tree grew!!! My tree grew!!!! Come look! I planted an acorn yesterday and it grew!"

How do you tell this face that it wasn't her acorn?

 I hope the correct answer is that you don't.

As far as an update on our life, here's where we stand:
We really like San Antonio. The weather seems to be a smidgen better than Houston. There's TONS to do. Lots of restaurants. The area we live in is awesome in a small town, trying to keep it that way, kind of way. I went to WalMart the other day and the worst dressed/behaved kids in there were mine and that's only because they actually spoke words. It's an old-fashioned/old-family kinda town. But it's also really close to an area with all the stores I need, including a great mall. The ward seems to be pretty good and the people are really nice. They are a little older than the ward we came from, but there's 3 CTR-4 classes, which is the twins' age, so that's pretty awesome. And Drew, who swore he wouldn't go to nursery without "my Gretchen" (his beloved nursery leader), is even tolerating it quite well. The one thing that will take me a long time to get used to about this ward is that it is really spaced out. Where our last ward consisted of mostly one huge development, this ward has about 20 small communities that people live in. They don't spend their summers all together at one pool, they don't all meet together at the clubhouse to go running, they don't have playgroup once a week. They kinda do their own thing for the most part. Basically, it's not Stepford Fall Creek. But maybe, just maybe, that's okay. I mean, I have a husband now, who needs friends? The HEB (that's about a 30 second drive from here, which has got to count for something) isn't anything to write home about. I mean, the food is the same and HEB is the gold standard no matter the conditions. BUT, they don't have car carts and they only give the kids ONE Buddy Buck each. Boo. There's little to no traffic where we live and Greg works approximately 7 minutes away. He loves his job and he's been home for dinner. Every. Single. Night. And when he's home, he's home. Not glued to his phone, answering emails. Words cannot describe how amazing that is. And he really likes his job. Cherry on the top. I still kinda feel like we're on vacation. I know there will be "late nights" in the future, but "late" means 8pm, and "nights" is only plural cause there might be two. I'll take that. Especially since he's raking in the dough. Just kidding on that one. We're still trying to figure out where we want to buy a home. Do we want a hill-top hill country view, or a big spacious lot, or community-style living with great amenities and close neighbors? Feel free to cast your vote.
We think we can be really happy here. Let's be honest, they had me at the food.

Fiesta Texas

Also known as Six Flags Fiesta Texas. But again, we're locals now and we just call it Fiesta Texas.

 Who needs Disneyland when you can have the teacups right here? (actually, I do)

Ethan and Kate once again proved that having a twin to ride rides with is pretty cool.

 And the following picture proves that rides which send a teenage girl to prayer only excites the Packer kiddos.

 He leans like a cholo.

Maybe next weekend we'll check out nature. They have that here.

Sea World

You know if there's an amusement park within a 50 miles radius, we're going to go. 

And get annual passes. 

Luckily for us, there's a couple of choices here in the San Antone (that's how us locals say it). 

Our first stop was Sea World. Nature graced us with fabulous weather and an empty park. (Although they kept telling us it was busy. I think lines at amusement parks really only exist in CA). 

The first attraction was this ride, something something Atlantis. Ethan wanted in. Badly. The riders exiting the ride were s.o.a.k.e.d. It wasn't a cold day, but it wasn't hot, either. It was early in the day, and I didn't exactly want to spend the day drenched through to my britches. But then this sweet boy of mine gave me that smile. You know the smile. The one that says, "I want it more than anything my 5-year-old self has ever wanted before and you're the only person that can deliver it." 

So...

 The cutest part was right before we boarded, he started to chicken out. But I knew he would regret it if we got off, so I pushed him (figuratively, not literally) and he boarded. Right before the drop, you go backwards down a little drop. Some teenage kids behind us were screaming and sweet Ethan got really scared.  Bottom lip-quivering scared. He said he didn't want to be wet and cold. We held each other and I told him he was so brave. His heart might have actually skipped a few beats on the way down, that sweet little boy. Then at the splash part, I covered him with my gigantic body and he didn't get wet at all (I didn't really, either).

 I know this is blurry, but he was SO proud of himself. Sure love that kid.

After the dolphin show (which they all still talk about endlessly), we found a ride that was a little more suited for them. They wanted to go alone. And they wanted to sit in the front row. And they wanted to go again. And again and again. 5 times, I think.

 Drew was just fine with the bench on the carousel, thank you very much. We tried the horses a few times, but they are pretty scary. I mean, up and down... and around? That's scary stuff. I don't blame him for his cautiousness. Safety first, my friends.

It's no Disney, but it was a ton of fun. So glad we got passes.

In other news, I'm still working out my thoughts on this San Antonio business. I'll report back in a day or so.