Eating is the best way to say "See you soon!"

My last week in Texas was filled with lots of quality time with friends and family, and what better way to spend that time than while eating at some Austin favs.

My parents came into town on Friday afternoon to help up with some packing, and then we went to get some of my favorite Austin BBQ at Salt Lick BBQ. It was unusually cold in Austin, so that's why it looks like we're all prepared for winter. We stuffed ourselves silly, which seems to be the pattern, on brisket, ribs, sausage, and even saved room for dessert this time. Yumm!!!


Also...this is news to the blog world....but I'll be sans Molly for the next few months. When it came down to it, it made the most sense to have Molly live with her grandparents for a few months before I get my own place in Santa Barbara. I'm going to be living with my future roomie at a place for a few months, but we won't be getting our own place until the beginning of June. So, I had to say bye to Molly, and send her on her way to Houston.

I had Brett snap a pic of me and Molly before she left. I have quite a few pics of Molly by herself....but none of the cuteness that involves when she hangs out with me. She loves to sit right on you, up close, to where she can head butt you if you stop paying attention to her for too long. I'm going to miss my little Molly...but know that she's in great hands with my Mom and Dad while I'm looking for our new home.


Saturday involved a lot of packing. The funniest part of the day was when my couch got stuck in the doorway. I'm not kidding you, it was stuck. And that was after we all were saying "Pivot!" all the way down the stairs. Right as Hal showed up to help, Jeff and Brett figured out how to get it out, but it was good and stuck for about 30 minutes. Hysterical.

Pics of the packing to come in the next post, but one good thing about waiting out the weather to start packing and move was that we got to go to LHC for one more Sunday - yay!! And I'm so glad that we did. For one, I got to bring Brett with me for my last time, AND Nae and Jebby were with us. So wonderful. And the worship was amazing on Sunday, so that made me smile even more.

After church, we met up with Amy, Aaron and the kids for one last Austin favorite....the awesome bean dip and shrimp fajitas at Maudie's. It was great to get to see some more friends before leaving town. :)

The Fonseca Family Story | Chapter 2

Last Saturday morning I got to visit with the Fonseca family again. Jennifer had some more fun ideas up her sleeve, and I was happy to come see them again.

I met them at their beautiful home (yes, Bob, I do love your home....and if I could make you an offer, I would). We had some fun first in one of the very fun rooms off their kitchen, with these awesome green chairs, and then took off over the fence in the backyard to the Hill Country wilderness.

The boys were so much fun, once again, Jen!! Hope you love Chapter II of your family story.











Be sure to catch the slideshow too!

Jardin!!!

I bet you were wondering if I was going to get my fill of Jardin before I left town....well, the answer is YES. Brett and I dined with Jeff, Renae, Laura, Andrew and one of my favorite little girls, Ava, last night.

As usual....we got almost too stuffed on chips and queso (well, those of us not on diets - pooey!), before our dinners came....so after eating all of that too, we left the place needing the next pant size up!!

Thanks for meeting us for din din.....love you!!!

A Family Story | Stacy, Lisa & Caleb

I was lucky to be able to spend last Friday morning with Stacy, Lisa and Caleb. He turned 1 (can you believe it?) in January, and it was time for some new pics of this adorable little guy. I didn't think it was possible, but it's true - he gets cuter each and every time I see him. His baby blues, creamy skin, and adorable smile are just too much!!

We went to a park around the corner, and cute little Caleb walked right off the cement bridge into the mucky waters. It was too adorable of a scene not to smile at him. It didn't stop him though, even with soggy pants, all he wanted to do was mingle with the ducks. We had a great morning together. I think Caleb's favorite was Ring Around the Rosies...he was all smiles after "we all fall down".

I love you girls, and your little man!!! Please come visit me real soon. :)








Be sure to watch the slideshow too!

My Favorite Girls DinDin

So, I've mentioned that it's really happening....I'm moving to California....this weekend. We've had a few get togethers, but this was for real, the last dinner with my girls, with me as a local Austinite.

It won't be the last time I dine with these girls...don't even think that...hello!!! I WILL be coming back to visit, and we are GOING to see each other, eat Mexican food, and have good girl time just as we always do.

We went around the table last night and recalled some of out favorite memories, and I just can't believe how blessed I am to have such an amazing group of women in my life. We've weaved in and out of each other's lives, in good times, hard times, fun and sad times, but they've been there, and that is the best gift that any girl can ask for. I am the luckiest girl that so many of my favorite girls came to see me and spend some time with me at Chuy's before I leave.

I'm going to miss you ALL.....and I want to fill up my calendar with each and everyone of you visiting me....and soon. Bring the family, the babies, or just come by yourself. I can't wait to see you all on the west coast!! Love you!!



My lovely girl, Kara....has outdone herself, once again, and has written me a little ditty. I love her ditties....check it out! :)

It just hit me.

I've been planning this move for a few months now, and it seems that the question that a lot of my friends have been asking me is "Has it hit you yet?". The answer up until this morning was "No.".

As I was driving to LHC this morning......it hit me. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I'm moving. I'm leaving Austin.....leaving Texas....packing it all up, and heading west, and in less than a week.

!!!!!

A few of you might know that I've moved around quite a bit in my life. I was fortunate to grow up, and visit places, all over the world when I was younger with my family. We moved to Texas when I was in 10th grade, and it seemed that was where my parents decided to bunker down and call "home". I've moved a few times within Texas too....from Katy, to College Station, and then to Austin after college graduation. Within those 3 cities, I moved my "stuff" 12 times. So, moving is no new thing to me.

But....

this is the first "big" move that I'm making on my own. Well, Molly is coming with me....but you know what I mean. And well, I'm not exactly doing it by myself, I'm only able to do this with the support and love of my friends and family...but bear with me here.

After attending LHC for my last time as an Austinite this morning, I started to remember when I first got to Austin, and to think of all the things that I'm going to miss about here, and well, Texas in general! Just seeing a phone number on a billboard with the (512) on it, got me a little sad.

So....to honor my home for the last 10 years, here's a few things that came to mind this morning on my drive home.

I'm hungry right now, so I'm going to start off with food.....oh....the yumminess, I'm so going to miss eating at ALL of these places!!! Chuy's, Hula Hut, Double Dave's, Texandwich, Whataburger, The Salt Lick, South Congress Cafe, Jardin Corona, Alamo Drafthouse, Home Slice Pizza, Kenobi...I'm sure there are more, but those come to mind immediately! When I come into Austin to visit....I'll be referencing this list to be sure that we eat at one of these places!

My wonderful and amazing friends. Oh, how I'm going to miss being able to see and spend time with you, whether it's a moment's notice, "Hey, you have lunch/dinner plans?", or it's more of a planned Girl's Night In with my favorite ladies, a movie night out at Alamo....whatever it is, I'm going to miss the time....and YOU!! ! Please come visit me once I'm settled, or next week for that matter, just come see me in CA.

Ok, that's all for now....I am sure that I'm going to have some more moments such as these during the week. My pods, containers, whatever you want to call them, are being delivered on Wednesday morning, and then Brett gets here that night. We'll be packing up all day on Thursday and Friday, so for anyone that is bored, and wants to stop by...please do! I won't turn away any help! :)

Here's to the start of a new week....hopefully filled with lots of love and maybe a few tears.

The Alexander Family Story

Let me start out by saying how blessed I feel to be given the gift and passion for telling stories with my camera.....AND that my heart is going to explode if I keep it up!! I mean, seriously, each and every time I fall in love with each and every couple/person/family.

This afternoon was no different with Alex, Wendy, Caitlin and Parker. I had an amazing time with the awesome and cool Alexander family around downtown Austin.

Before we get to my favorites and their slideshow, I'm going to take a minute to tell a story....so bear with me.

Alex is the Pastor of Family Life at LHC.
Alex might not remember the 1st time we met.....he married Renae and Jeff almost a year ago.
Alex might not remember the 2nd time we met.....my first time attending LHC with Renae in August last year.
Alex might not remember when he visited LHC Downtown on September 21, 2008 and sang Unwell during the service.....the day that I left LHC a Christian.

You see, even though Alex might not recall these small moments, I believe that God puts people in your life for a reason....and I believe that Alex, along with others (I think God was working overtime to get to me), was sewn into my life to be part of my journey to Him.

Since then, I've chatted with Alex and his family on a few different occasions, and they are just plain fantastic. So, with all of that being said, I was extra giddy to be telling their family story today.

I'm sure going to miss LHC, and ALL the friends I've made there. I hope you all enjoy your family story!!











I had to post this one twice.....I can't get enough of it! Caitlin, you're beautiful!



Don't forget to check out the slideshow too!