Our very first home

I cannot say how sad it was to leave this house.  As far as first homes go, this house really was so perfect for us.  It was considered a "single family home" as it didn't share a wall with anyone else, but was condo style so we didn't have to take on all the "home owner" responsibilities right away but still had plenty of room for guests.  Houston really does do it right as far as housing goes.  We really did not look at anything that was bad, it was more of a preference thing.  I can say, we've forever been spoiled that our first home had travertine floors, granite countertops, dark wood, seamless showers, spa like bathrooms and a walk in closets big enough to be a bedroom.    I also loved the paint color that the builder choose-Sherwin Williams Ethereal Mood.  

In the end, it is just another space, another house, and we've really tried hard not to be attached to things such as this, but it's still sad.  We've made so many memories here for us, it will always hold a special place in our hearts.  

For our own records,we officially closed on the house 24 May 2011 and officially sold it 16 April 2012.  Not even one year!  

Here's a tour of our first home.  

 Foyer

 "Office" or 3rd bedroom

 Office en-suite bathroom with walk in closet

Go up the stairs and enter the 2nd floor

 Loved, loved, loved this kitchen.  There was plenty of counter space, the appliances were perfect, and it had, my fave, a build in cabinet for the garbage can.  After living in housing that was not ours the past few years, I swear, it's the little things that make me happy. 

 Dining and living room from the kitchen

 Family room

 View of the entire 2nd floor

 Half bath off of dining room

 Close up of the family room

Up the stairs to the 3rd floor

 To the left the guest room

 ensuite bath room off of guest room

 Down the hall to the front of the house the master bedroom

ensuite master bathroom

There was also a 4th floor which I documented in other blog posts.  It was our roof top terrace with lots of space for BBQs.  We even bought a wading pool that we used on hot days to keep us cool.

Thank you for the memories Sawyer Heights!  

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...