Info...

So being the computer savy person I am...ok not at all...I never put any of your all's blogger address attached to my page, and I'm without our personal computer and I dont' have any of the addresses memorized therefore I can't check anybody's page and I'm feeling very out of the loop! So if you all have a minute please leave me your blog site in the comments so I can check up on you! Thanks!

New Car

Well, it's official, we're a mini-van family! I didn't think that Matt would ever take the step, but he's more excited then I am! :) We are the proud new owners of a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan with the swivel seats and table! :) Let me tell you how God provided...Matt's step dad is a Dodge dealer here in California. We were able to get the van at invoice plus a bunch of rebates! Praise the Lord! We didn't get all the bells and whistles i.e. the my gig system where you can down load your entire ipod and all your photos (really who's going to look at their pictures while driving!) and two seperate t.v.'s but we did get one t.v. installed at the dealership so that will be nice. We are really excited and it will be nice for when family comes to visit and we can all go around together. Oh, and most important...it's blue. If you seem them around, it's not the bright blue but a real dark almost grey, black, blue. Come visit and we'll give you a ride!

California Update

Well, we are back down in So. Ca after only 2 days in Monterey. God went before us in an amazing way and we are just so blessed and excited. We left early Thursday morning to head up to Monterey to find a home. We got about 2 min. down the freeway and Kaden threw up ....all over...fortunatly he said his tummy hurt so we had a bag ready...but still...really really gross. This continued for the next 4-5 hours! Not a fun way to start off house hunting, but the praise being we were in the truck where I can get to Kaden quickly and not in our brand new van...that would have been very sad! About half way there Matt got sick, which meant that we were stopping every 15-20 min. Makes for a very long drive! We got to Monterey 30 min. before the housing office on the base closed. Before we left, we prayed that if God wanted us to live on base they would have a home availabe by the 15th, which up until this point had not been the case. So we get there and they offer us a newly built duplex available on ....the 15th! We were so excited and signed the paper for it right away. We were a bit dissapointed it was a duplex and not a single family home, but we knew that this was God trying to bless us and we needed to take His gift. So since we didn't have to spend the next week rental hunting, we spent Friday going to the beach, the park, the Aquarium (where we now have membership passes and can bring friends for free, so please come see us!) and going down memory lane for me. Man, it's weird to go back to where you were a teen once you're grown up (whatever that is) and with kiddos of your own. We really enjoyed the day and are super excited to live in Monterey. Pluses: There's 2 Target's wtihin 5 min. of the house, 5-6 Starabucks within 10 min., and the beach wtihin 5 min. VERY EXCITING! Minuses: It's really, really COLD. The boys and I had to go buy pants and jackets and sweat shirts cause we don't really own clothes for cold weather. It's not horrible but 60 feels really cold when you've lived in 90 plus for 3 years!
We drove back down to So. Ca yesterday and now should be staying put for a while. I'm so so glad not to be traveling for a couple of weeks, but am looking forward to getting settled. If you know me at all you know I thrive on routine so I'm a little of kilter! :) I'll try to update again soon. Thanks for your prayers.

CALIFORNIA Here we are

Hey Just a quick update for everyone. Praise the Lord, we arrived in California this morning at 3:45 after 17 plus hours of driving! A long and very sad day but God is so faithful and we are excited to be here and to see what the next steps are going to be...The first step will be driving 7 more hours to Monterey, CA tomorrow in order to figure out the housing situation. We'll either live on base or have to rent so we'll have to see what God has open. Best case scnerio, we'll find a house availabe and get our stuff moved in and then we'll leave immediatly for So. Ca again to spend vacation time with Matt's family and then we'll go back to Monterey to unpack and settle. Pray for us as we live out of a suitcase for the next month and do lots and lots of traveling. Also, for my heart as it was so hard to leave mom and dad and the boys. We've been so grateful for the time we had in Del Rio and know that God has a plan for us here too.
Sorry for the short update, hope everyone is doing well. I'll update agian soon!
Jesus loves you

Moving Day

Well, this is it...for now. Matt is waiting to take down the computer for tomorrow the movers come! I'm not sure when I'll be blogging again, but until then please keep us in your prayers as we pack up to move across the country and leave family and friends behind.  We are excited to see what God will do in this next chapter of our lives...but if you know me at all, I'm not a big fan of change so God has to really hold me through this! You will all be in our thoughts and prayers as well! Jody, I can't wait to hear how the half marathon went! I was praying for you! 

  Someday, I'll catch everyone up on the pictures from the last couple of weeks, but until then....Jesus loves you!

  See you in California!

Bethany Update

I talked to Bethany today and since her basement was flooded in the storm and she lost her computer she is unable to blog, but she wanted all of you to know that the court date went well and she will blog more about it later when everything gets put back together. 

VENTING

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAHHHHHHHHAHHHHHHHHH!!!! Ok, much better. With the move fast approaching (the movers come on Monday), family visitors, family birthdays, and pre-move stess...the internet decides to go out! Well, to be quite honest, the internet did not go out, the company decided it was ok to turn off our internet without permission and start the new owners account, also without their permission. So after several days  and many, many phone calls to the cable company we have the internet back again! Praise the Lord. Sad how much we've come to depend on the internet but I really felt cut off from the rest of the world! I've decided I do not at all like being a grown up and having to deal with things like: calling the cable company several time to politely and forcefully ask for our internet to be turned back on, tell them we're not paying for the service, and where, for the love of Pete, is the cable guy you told me was on his way an hour ago ...in a town that it only takes 10 mins. to drive through! , calling the electric company and the new owner to coordinate when their electric takes over and ours ends, working on getting vehicles registered in the correct state, coordinating with the movers on dates and walking with them through the house to figure out what we need to do and what they will cover, getting Matt's pickup truck listed in the paper so it can be sold, and I can't remember what else I've been doing over the last several days...but I don't like it! :) What happened to being 12 years old and without a care in the world! On the up side, I do like having children and being married so I guess you can't have one without the responsibility of it...but man that would be a sweet deal if you could! :) 

  On top of all the fun stuff listed above, we have Jeremy's 18th birthday tomorrow, Dad birthday dinner tonight and birthday on Friday. Matt's fini flight on Friday, parties on Saturday and swimming lessons...and goodbyes. I think that's what is the hardest ...the goodbyes...and I can't even yet mentally prepare for saying goodbye to mom and dad . 

  Eventually here I'll get pictures posted of our Six Flag trip with the youth last Monday and all the other things that have been going on, but right now my floors need to be mopped...yes, I'm still cleaning, it's a bit of a stress reliever for me and I have a fetish for clean floors, and the boys will soon be up from their naps....so until next time~ Jesus loves you~

Caleb's 2!!!

One amazing Rocket Birthday cake!
All set up for the party
The best part of the party...the bouncy castle!
Caleb enjoying the bouncy castle
King of the table
The King wouldn't sit down to eat
Present time
Heather, Jennie, Rebecca, and Chris
Great Grandma Wood was here to celebrate Caleb's birthday! So special!
Everyone hanging out at the party
Almost time for candles!
I'm 2!!!
Caleb watching himself open presents on Papa's camcorder
Showing off his Little Einstein guys
It's official, I no longer have a baby! My baby turned 2 on Saturday, and how proud he is to be a big boy! We had a big birthday day from the moment he woke up until he crashed late that night! As soon as Caleb woke up, he was greeted by mommy, daddy, and Kaden singing "Happy Birthday" and then he was rushed into the living room by big brother to see all the decorations. He was so excited to see the house all made up and especially to see the big birthday banner with his favorite Little Einstein's on it! He was so excited to run into the dining room and see the table all set up with his napkins, forks, and spoons! We let Caleb open a few presents before breakfast, so he could wear his Rocket shirt for his party and so that he wouldn't be totally overwelmed later. We had a picnic breakfast in the kitchen and then we worked fast and furiously to get ready for the party. We had to pick up the barbque, set up all the tables outside, set up the shade, put of the bouncy castle, get the rest of the food out, etc. Good thing the teens were over until midnight the night before helping us decorate! Also, as a very important side note, Jennie (one of our teens) spent 4 + hours making Caleb's FABULOUS Rocket cake! It was the hit of the party and absolutely amazing! Anyways, the party started at 11 and we had a great time every minute. All the kids and the adults seemed to have a great time, and I  picked really great friends cause every time I turned around someone was helping to clean up! Very nice. We were also really tacky and used the men at the party to help us move our swing set down to it's new owners down the street! :) 

  After the party, it was NAP TIME! for two very tired boys, but as soon as they woke up it was more birthday fun. We gave the boys some time to play with the new toys and then we headed over to Papa and Grandma's house for family time and presents. Caleb loved his Little Einstein guys and a toddler Karaoke machine! I'll have to get video of them singing with that soon, they are just to cute. We stayed late at Papa's house cooking hot dogs over the fire pit and just enjoying time together. By the time we came home we had two very tired but very happy boys....only 4 months to go until Kaden's birthday! :)