We are in TEXAS!

Well, we have been in San Antonio a little over a week, and it's been busy but fun.

Our drive from Utah went pretty well. We drove through the most crazy rainstorm in New Mexico!  It was like driving through a constant waterfall, and the lightning gave us quite the show. We had a few "storms" inside the car at times, but for the most part, the kids did remarkably well. We made it all the way to Roswell the first day and stayed the night there mostly so we could say we did. We had better weather the next day and made good time. Thank heaven for portable DVD players! We only get it out on long trips, so it was a fun treat for the kids.

When we were getting closer to our destination, Joel thought it would be fun to pull up to a dumpy house (he loves teasing the kids). Noah caught on,  but Clara said with a frown, "I thought it was cute!" She was pretty disappointed. I don't think she though Joel's joke was very funny. We were all happy to finally pull up to our real house after our two day drive.

We bought our house without seeing it in person, so pulling up to it was so exciting! I got a little teary.

We walked inside and everyone ran about exploring their new home, especially their new bedrooms. Everyone was pleased, but what pleased the kids the most was driving by the neighborhood pool and playground just down the street. Clara said, "San Antonio is the best!" We have been swimming nearly every day since coming here.

Noah has had so much fun catching cute green lizards, Clara loves her bedroom and lost her first tooth, and Frankie is making the connection that this is "Frankie's house". Gerik took about one day to learn how to go up and down the stairs, and he discovered that swimming pools are super fun.

Joel is busy trying to get the restaurant ready to open a couple of weeks and help me with the house. We have been working hard to try to get this house feel like a home.  It's coming along, slowly but surely.  We bought a few couches some rugs,and an antique grand piano (that I am so in love with!). Thank heaven for Craigslist!

We already love the neighborhood and are sure we are going to be very happy here. The Lord has blessed us tremendously.  Of course, we miss family and friends already, but look forward to lots of visitors (hint hint).

(Pictures: a picnic in Moab; Roswell, New Mexico; welcome to Texas; Clara's first lost tooth; our new house after coming home from church)