A perfect Sunday

Now that we were in full speed ahead with our move but we decided to take a day out to visit the Texas state flower, the bluebonnet.   We'd meant to visit the fields and never ending fields of the  bluebonnets last year before they all were gone, but we seemed to miss the boat on that one...hmmm, must have been too busy with things!? so, this year, we made it our mission to do just that.  This particular Sunday just so happened to be the very last Sunday we'd have in our house just the two of us before we had our families come to visit and then the dreaded movers arrived.   We woke up early and went to a really pretty Palm Sunday service at our church and afterwards we headed for some coffee and off to

Chapel Hill, Texas, about an hour from Houston to check out the bluebonnets!

What a beautiful drive

 A baby field....but we had our new car with our Alaska plates and everyone stopped to ask us how the drive from Alaska went!  They thought we came all the way from Alaska to check out the bluebonnets.

A mistaken shot that ended up being really cute

 Beautiful blooming flowers everywhere, perfectly blue skies and green, green grass = perfect!

Gorgeous horses along the way

 Check out that coat!

 Fields and fields of bluebonnets!

Well hello there!

 More!

My one and only

After we'd driven through all the back roads, we happened upon the Texas famous Blue Bell Creameries!  We were so excited to visit, but unfortunately, they were closed, bummer!

After a lovely late morning we arrived back in Houston by 2pm just in time for a bike ride along the bayou and a beer a one of our favorite spots to soak in as much of Houston as we could. 

 The coming weeks we knew were going to be taxing with the packers and the excitement and sadness of yet another move so we did our very best to relax and enjoy a city we've come to love in the past year.  Houston, we will miss you, but we know our love affair is just beginning.

Goodbyes are no fun!

For a person who has trouble saying goodbye a cab driver I met five minutes ago, a waiter or waitress who I knew for an hour, a hotel room I slept in for a night, one can only imagine how difficult it is for me to say goodbye, over and over again, to beloved family I've know for my lifetime, friends who have become like family, houses that have become homes where I've made memories, and cities I've called home.  I guess you could say I get attached to things, and sadly, I hate to say goodbye.  You'd think it gets easier..and for some things, it sure does, but saying goodbye to family and friends is just plain sad!

As our move was coming up rapidly, we were taking advantage of seeing as many of our friends for the last time as possible.  Here are the highlights.  

It worked out that some of our Paris buddies were in town (some live in the Houston area, but Mick and Kathrine travelled from Ponca City, OK) around the time we were leaving so we were able to get together for some delicious Tex Mex.  Sure did beat the Fajitas food we used to eat often in Paris....no offense, but Paris Tex Mex just isn't the same :)

From left:  Hayley, us, Karen, Pam, Mick, Kenny, Tammy and Kathrine.  

It was so wonderful to see everyone again! 

We decided to have a happy hour get together for all of our close friends in Houston to gather together two weeks before our departure.  We decided Benjy's on Washington was a perfect venue.  We secured pretty sweet seats, thanks to Eric and my friend Jen for showing up with me, super early.  It worked out and we had about 30 friends show up, all in waves.  The weather was perfect and proved to be a fun but also bittersweet night.  

From left, Juan Carlos, Gisela, Jen, Greg, Greg's parents in from NY, Jen, Xindi and Arturo and Eric's colleague form work.

And a little later...

From left: Mike and Amy, Eric's colleague, Juan Carlos, Thuyvi & Andy, Jen, Victor, and Gisela

Our fantastic CrossFit buddies...we spent many a 5:30 AM work outs together.

 Victor, our beloved coach who motivated us all, Mike (AKA home sales), Amy and Gisela.  Love these people!

us, Gisela and hilarious Juan Carlos

 We also had some visits from some Doha, now Houston friends.  Wish I'd gotten a shot of me, Jackie and Mark but glad I got some shots of their sweet boys!

Baby Caleb!  You might recognize him from a few months ago when he was just a few days old!  Such a sweetie!

 Adorable Issac and Jacob!  This sweet family will be leaving Houston in June to move to Angola, Africa!  Wishing them the very best and hope we can all be back in Houston again at the same time!

We'd also planned a happy hour for all my friends at Pottery Barn.  It was so much fun to hang with so many people I worked with at one time.  About 30 people showed up to this event too, also in waves.  We were able to meet up at Escalante's right in the same plaza as PB so a few people who had to show up to work were able to come by before and after their shifts.

From left: Terry, Laura, me, Michaela, Stephanie, Letitia, Eric and Ashley

 From left: Terry (Miss Texas), Xerxes, DD, Ernest, Jim, and Ashley

 My parents, Anita, Sandra and my one and only

 Representing Design Studio, Table Top and Stock

I love this shot of Ashley and Jim.  Ashley came by after her wedding hair trial and I'm so happy I was able to get a shot of her gorgeous hair!

More of the same plus the addition of Mina :)


Among all these goodbyes, we also had to say goodbye to Eric's Cadillac.  He bought his dream car when he was sailing and then he left it in Houston when he had to move there for work so Danny, his brother would have a car to use.  Little did we know, we wouldn't be back to Houston for over 3 years.  So, Eric finally got his beloved car back only to have to sell it 10 months later.

Again, it's just so sad to have to say goodbye to another place we've loved and friends we've become close to but we know this just helps write the pages of our life story and gives it such colorful details.

Thank you, to all of you for your friendship!
Until we meet again...

Leaving my job March 2012

I had shared exciting news with all of you that I was starting a new job in January, well, no sooner did I start my new job, did we find out we were likely moving, which also meant I had to tell my supervisor and colleagues that I was leaving...so soon after I just started.  It was a difficult situation, but in the end, there wasn't much I could do.  Houston is such a transient city that my supervisor understood, although she did give me some grief.  Since I wanted to be as effective as possible, I decided not to share the news that I was leaving with the students until a few days before I left.  This proved to definitely be smart but also sad.  Even though it was not the easiest job and the students really could be difficult, they all were so sweet in the last few days leading up to my last day.  Of course!  Wish they could have been a bit more cooperative prior to that, but, kids will be kids :)

 A group shot of one of the classes.  

 In my first few weeks, theses girls were so rude and difficult with me but slowly, they started to come around.  By the end, they were so sad that I was leaving and made a very sweet card to wish me well.  

Another group shot.  These poor kids have had very rough lives. 

 Many students were refugees from the Republic of Myanmar and this was a very typical hair cut. 

 Another group shot

Videos they "made" up

 This sassy student has the same name as me and always played that card.  She also smacked her gums, constantly!  I finally convinced her how rude it was to do and she decided only to do it when I really made her mad = made her to her work = all the time :) 

 This student was Mr. Fashion all the time.  I would have liked to see his hair without all the gel 

Cute cards from sweet students. 

In the end, it was meant to be that I worked at this school, as was leaving before my time was up.  I met some very interesting people, both colleagues and students alike.  If nothing else, it gave me more and more appreciation for each and every thing I have in my life and an opportunity to share my love for education to students who really needed it.  All they really wanted was attention and love.   It is no secret that it was definitely not my dream job.  The administration and other teachers are nothing like I've ever seen before and made for a difficult situation each and every day.   I'm grateful for the opportunity to see the other end of the spectrum and learn that not all school situations are like the others I have been a part of in NY, Virginia, and overseas.  I tend to see the world, and especially the educational world through rose colored glasses but this sure did taint my view.  It's sad to see how American education in this state, and from what I hear, others, has become so assessment focused and unfortunately, it seems to be at the detriment of each and every person involved. 

Fun with Instagram - March 2012

Since we were gearing up to move pretty far away, we wanted to see Danny and Megen as much as possible so one Saturday after I finished work, we headed to Austin for the evening.  I just downloaded Instagram so had a little fun with that app. 

 Eric helping Danny and Megen with some gardening

 In the back of Megen's super cool new Jeep!