Sometimes the beauty of Austin and the amazing weather just takes my breath away. Its awesome places like this one and days that are just wonderful for walking that make me fall a little more in love with this place. Happy hump day!!
Well we got to see Jenny, Chauncey, Matthew and the bump. Yep they’re baking number two right now. Crazy to think! It was so good to spend the day catching up with Jenny and to see Chauncey and Matthew for lunch. I get a little sad sometimes, because they live so far away, but its these times that make me so glad that their in our lives. No matter how close or far. Here is a more current family photo. I’ll get the link from Jenny to the photographers website. The photographer did such a great job! Cute family!
We also got to spend several days the second week in January with Allison and Varoujan. Apparently Varoujan has a conference here in Austin most years and we were lucky to be in the position to spend some time with them. We ended up playing a lot of games, going to a few favorite local food places, and just enjoying their company. Good times!!
As most of you know by now I’ve suffered from tummy issues since… well since high school. I’ve been told I have gluten intolerance, IBS, anxiety, gastroparesis and more…
They’ve done test after test, and half prove their theories and half disprove their theories. Where does that leave me? Having felt like I have had a reoccurring stomach flu for about fifteen years and a few thousand dollars poorer than when this all started. Most recently they told me it was gastroparesis and they started me on a diet that seems to be helping. Oddly its a low fiber diet, with moderate amounts of fat and quite high in carbohydrates and protein. So far I’ve done well on the diet, even if I don’t have the condition.
What’s next? Well read more
Well we’ve got a few, many are on my 30 before 30 list from a while back. Check it out here. I’m slowly working on that list, but here are our join goals for this year:
Be healthy – eating better for our heath and my stomach situation, walking more with the puppies, doing a ride or hike together on a regular basis, and lifting weights together on occasion.
Save money – We’d like to save about twice what we normally do in a year, not including our normal contributions to 401k and IRA’s; to do this we plan to not eat out at all this year, unless we are more than an hour from home or if friends are in from out of state (however going for coffee, dessert or drinks on occasion is allowed, and Sean gets two work lunches out per month); I am also working on trying to make a lot of things we usually buy – hand soap, laundry detergent, etc; there are a few other little things we’re going to try, but I’m sure I’ll get into those more as the year goes on.
Puppies – Take them for another training class, preferably in a group setting with other owners and dogs.
Remodeling – We’re still debating on how we want to go about this, but there are 3 portions to our remodeling project and we’d like to at least get one portion done.
Well I think that covers the most important things. I made them detailed because Julie informed me that with out specifics you have no true goals to work towards. Hopefully these are specific enough. I know my 30 before 30 is. Lets see what we can accomplish this year!!!
Now for the challenge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARE YOU EXCITED YET!?!?!?!! read more
Well we’ve been crazy busy!!! And very bad about blogging. What has happened well….
On October 17th our good friends Monica and Aaron were blessed with this little man…
Jackson Andrew… 9lbs 1 oz!
Then on November 8th my cousin Ryan and his wife Stephanie welcomed number 5! This is her just a few weeks ago. Too Cute!
Lyla Jayna Elizabeth 7lbs 12oz, 19 1/4″
Then of course we had many a Thanksgiving dinner. Sean’s Mom and Dad were read more
As you might have gathered from my last post, Sean recently went to India. He was obliged to go for business. I had not been home ten days from Europe when he received the news. I personally was a bit frustrated at the timing, but things don’t always happen when you want them to.
So Sean left for Bangalore, India on October 1st. He was due back October 29th, but due to some luck and persistence on Sean’s side he was able to come home two days early. I was quite glad to see him, had he been gone much longer I think I might have gone a bit out of my mind. Anyway, all is well now and righted in our little world. You’re welcome to check out the photos from his trip.
Well I’m slowly getting back into the swing of things around here. Since getting back we’ve had all sorts of things on the go. There has been many an event going on around here, from baby showers, to babies arriving, Sean leaving for India, Sean returning, visits to Lake Jackson, and errands and crafts about the house.
As much as all that, I still feel there are a million things that I need to do, but having my husband home less than a week has not be fruitful in getting those things done. For now here are some photos of the rest of my trip to Europe. Part 2 as I call it. Such good memories were made on the entirety of that trip. And some quite beautiful photos were taken as well, if I do say so myself. I will update more soon.
So I’m not as on top of things as I intended to be when I got back. To be honest I’ve enjoyed being lazy. However that is starting to catch up with me. 
I hope to have some photos of the trip up soon, some info about all our friends and their crazy obsession with baby making. 
, some great food stuff I’ve been dabbling in, and as always some fun craft stuff! Just bear with me a bit longer while I readjust to the idea that I have to actually finish things I start.
Well this is just going to be a quick note. I made it home after almost 24 hours of air travel and waiting. I was so very glad to see my hubbers! Then to get home and see my puppies! So wonderful!!! Daisy wouldn’t quit snuggling against my chest and whimpering. I think she missed me. 
Then Duke with his big wet kisses and wiggling his way onto the couch. So good to see all three of them!
Well I’m sure I will call and catch up with each of you soon!
So glad to be back!
Well we made it to Spain this morning. The weather is quite a bit warmer here, probably a good thing, I need to start the re-acclimation process before I head back to Texas. Though if you all could work on that and cool it off just a bit before I return I would sincerely appreciate it. Julie and Courtney went off successfully with their tour group and I decided to do some wondering in Valencia myself. It is a quaint town, with a nice metro system. Big plus!
After relaxing peacefully for a while I decided to check out to the beach. Sorry no photos. I have to admit it was nice to be free of all the luggage and tourist gear. Staying in a hotel has its upside! Maybe not as charming, or culturally motivating as hostels, but nice in their own way.
Anyway, while sitting along the beach I couldn’t help but breathe in the beauty and salt air. That smell always makes me think of Texas. Growing up next to the coast will do that to a person I guess. I’m not one for emotional outburst… well at least not when it involves crying and getting upset, but it happened. I had thought to myself, ‘this is bliss.’ Then I thought, ‘well it would be if Sean and the puppies were here.’ As the sky turned various shades of orange and the breeze got a bit cold I just started crying.
After a few moments of trying to pull myself together a nice Spaniard stopped to ask if I was ok. Seeing as he didn’t speak very much English and I speak muy poco español it was quite a funny conversation. And by the end I was laughing quite hard, and crying even more due to the laughter. It was a good way to realize I was being a bit silly; I’ll be home in only a few days. I need to finish soaking up the culture and enjoy the scenery. Not everyone is so blessed to be able to take a trip like this.
However upon returning to the hotel I realized how much of my happiness revolves around one tall, dark and quite handsome Canadian-American. He is truly my other half. After having the time to get to know Julie better (quite thankful for that opportunity), the reading, the new sights, the culture, the languages, the food, visiting good friends, and having the quite times to soul search and reflect, while thankful for it all, I’m ready to be held by my hubbers.
Well, I sign off now, from what will probably by my last update while abroad, a very home sick girl. See you all soon.
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