Off to Texas. . .

So, Sam, Haily, & Jenna are now in Texas!

We got to keep Jenna while Sam and Hailey drove the

U-Haul truck to Texas.  It was so fun having her

here.  We bonded totally and completely.

I have always loved her but it was so great being

with her for that couple of days.  

So, we got Jenna on the night of Wednesday,

June 21st.  She went right to bed and slept

all night.  On Thursday, Natalie stayed home from work

and watched her while I went to work.

Brooke brought over Camden and Tyson at

about 11:00 so she could go to Emily's 

field day.  When I got home from work

Natalie went off to work.  It was just a 

pleasant afternoon just playing with the

kids.  

That night Jenna and I went to the store.

So cute how she wanted chips.  I talked

her into fruit snacks.  She loves those totally!

Once again, she slept all night and looked

so comfy in her bed.

Friday morning, Wynn took Jenna and went out

to Steven and Brookes to work on their furnace.

Brooke got to watch Jenna while I went to work.

(That darn work always gets in the way. :( )

I went out after work and after some mix ups

I finally got Jenna home about 4:00.

I then took her out to her Grandma Howard's to

spend the evening.

I ran a few errands an couldn't wait for Jenna to

come back.

Saturday morning, we got up and got ready to

drive to Utah to catch our flight to Texas.

Jenna kept saying how she was going to go to

Texas so she could go swimming.

She is such a doll!  We totally loved having

her here with us.  

Jenna loves graham crackers.

We drove Natalies old car to Utah.  The guys that bought it meet us

at the doubletree hotel to pick it up.

Jenna slept most of the way to Utah.

Here we are waiting for Joe to come get the car and to take

us to the airport.

On the plane Jenna loved playing with the seat belts.

I bet she took it off and put it on 100 times.

The stewardess kept telling us we needed to keep her belted in but it didn't

work for Jenna.  We did our best but Jenna did not want to sit and

be still.  She was all over the place.  We left tons of craisins all over the seat

and floor. Although, those fruit snacks I bought sure came in handy!

We got into Houston at about 11:00 p.m.  Boy, I don't know who was more excited to see who,

Jenna to see her folks or the folks to see Jenna.

It was so cute.  Jenna missed her Mom and Dad.

We got to the new apartment at about 1:00 a.m.  Hailey had Jenna's bed already

for her.  Jenna went right to bed and slept all night.  I don't know but it just

kind of surprised me how well Jenna did sleeping in different places.  She hadn't

slept at my house before and she did so well.  Then, she is in a new place and

slept so well again.  She is just a very well adjusted little girl. And might I

add just how smart she is.  Wow, she blew me away in so many ways. 

Here Jenna is snuggling with Grandpa on our mattress that we slept on in

the living room.  

Sunday, we went to church in their new ward.

It was only about 10 minutes away.  We snaked around a neighborhood with

lots of turns and then there it was, a Mormon Church!

Once again, Jenna went right into nursery.

A very nice ward!  I think they will do very well here.  

Sunday afternoon we just napped and did lazy Sunday afternoon stuff.

Monday we visited a old oil museum. I can't remember the name of it but it wasn't

open.  But we had a good time walking around and enjoying the beautiful day.

We then went to Port Aurther.  Glad Sam and Hailey are living in Beaumont.  Port 

Auther was hit with a hurricane 6 or seven years ago and it hasn't totally

been rebuilt.  But we loved watching the huge ships come down the water.

Jenna loved running and exploring.

We went to the beach at Port Arthur and it was disgusting!  Covered with 

sea weed.  It didn't seem to bother the people who were there.

Must be the time of year that it is.

Hurricane season starts this week-end.

Monday evening we went to a Mexican restaurant.

Jenna loved the horse!

Finally on Monday night, Jenna got to go swimming in Texas!

Their Apartment has this beautiful swimming pool.

Summer will be fun at Jenna's house!

My sweetheart!

Sam reading bedtime stories to Jenna.

Tuesday morning we drove into Houston.

We went to the Children's Museum.

Jenna had a ball!

(so did we)

This is an outdoor water works park at the Children's museum.

New minnie sunglasses!

Tuesday afternoon we drove to Galveston.  It is right on the coast!

We went to this amusement park that was build on a peer.  We had

a great time.  Not very many people were there and so you could

walk right onto the rides.

Look at this double decker marry-go-round or maybe it's called a 

carrousel.  

Sam had to ride with Jenna.

We laughed so hard.  His long legs just wouldn't fit.

Jenna wanted to ride the swings with Mom and Dad but had

to stay behind with me. She wasn't very happy.

But look at these swings!  They went so high up in the air, over the ocean!

You wouldn't find me on this ride.

Jenna did get to ride the ferris wheel.

Such cute chairs, I loved the star cut out.

What a roller coaster!

Nope, I didn't ride this ride either but everyone else did.  Well,  not Jenna.

Jenna enjoying her pretzel Grandma bought her.

Jenna loved this Frogger ride.  She just giggled.

Looking back on the park from the sidewalk where our car was parked.

On Wednesday morning, we went to the Houston Space Center.

This is where real astronauts train to go into space!

We stayed in Houston on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

Here the kids are swimming  in the pool at the hotel.

Sam throwing Hailey in. . . 

Wednesday night we went to this Bbq place for dinner.

Oh my, it was an authentic Texan BBQ.  So good, we even

tried a piece of their famous Pecan pie.

Yah, it was good! 

Across the street was the horned armadillo.

We couldn't help but take pictures!

Jenna entertaining us while we were driving.

Thursday  morning, on our way to the airport, we went to the

Houston Temple.  It was simply beautiful.

I'm going there someday!

Sam and Hailey dropped us off at the airport.

So hard leaving those guys.

We are going to miss them so much!  But it was

very evident to me that they are suppose to be there.

Sam and Hailey were both so confident and just

seemed very calm about the whole move.

Sam will be gone to Kansas all the next week for

training and Hailey would be in Beaumont with

Jenna all by herself that week.  Didn't seem to

bother her.  Anyway, the kids are in Texas and it feels

like a part of us is missing.  But, I must say how

proud I am of them.  They set out to find a new job and

what an adventure they will have.  They both have

so much to give, Texas is lucky to have them.