Ellie meeting the Texas friends and family

Before arriving in Texas, Ellie hadn't met many of our friends or family members in Texas!  She still needs to meet some very important people, but I decided to post a few pictures of who she's met so far.  It's been a joy to watch our friends and family enjoy Ellie and to see their excitement when they meet her for the first time.

With Rachel and Jeff in Houston!

 

With cousins Abran and James and 2nd cousin Jack.  This was right before Ellie had let out a big, rumbly you-know-what in her diaper.  Abran was cracking up because he heard it and definitely felt it too!  Ellie also her Aunt Marlo and Uncle Alex, a couple of my cousins and her 2nd cousins, and my Aunt Sue and Uncle Mike!  It was a fun night.

With my friend Meredith and her cute kiddos Olivia and Jake.

Ja and Russel!  Ellie not so happy.  This is how we left her with babysitters Mimi and Papeaux :)

Meeting Nick's brother, Ellie's Uncle Michael!

Meeting Cousin Austin.  Ellie also met her Aunt Melissa!

Meeting cousins Will and Keely in Dallas!  She also met Uncle Brand and Aunt Monica.

Nick's Aunt Toni in Tyler.  She also met Uncle Greg and a couple of Nick's cousins!

Poor girl... she looks kind of dazed or upset in all of these pics!  

But she told me later that she was super happy to meet all of these people. :)

We Moved! To Texas!

Just thought I'd post some pictures from our move!  Again, a big thank you to our burly man friends that helped carry our big, heavy furniture and load our truck when Nick and I couldn't.  Jonathan, Jeff, Paul, David, Parker, Alex, Blake, and Jeremiah - thank you!

Great minds at work

Couldn't resist putting her in a box and on the moving truck.

"Oh please don't take me from Boston!"

On the plane...2 hotties.

 

Boston Bucket List: The Cow, Burritos, and the Woods

 The Boston Bucket List is complete and we are in Texas!  I can't believe it.  I'll post more about our move later, but let me just say really quickly that we are very thankful for our awesome friends who loaded up the whole truck for us and for Nick's parents who have really helped us get settled.  

But back to the Boston Bucket List... 

Last Monday night, we went to The Black Cow with the Morgans, the Hicks, the Pages, and some friends of the Morgans who were in town (we missed you Catlins!).  We really love and will miss The Cow... such a great place to sit back, talk and relax with good friends.  

Last Tuesday was my last day of work in the Admissions Office at GCTS, which obviously meant that we had to go to Chipotle for big, fat burritos :).  My job at Gordon-Conwell was definitely a highlight for me during our time up in Boston.  I'll miss interacting with prospective students and with my awesome team.  We even dressed alike, almost to the point of having a dress code - long necklaces, jean jackets, and hopefully coordinating colors.  Nerds.

Ok, honorable mention Bucket List time... Chik fil A!!!  Every Tuesday night.  Buy one get one free.  

So we were there.  Yes, every Tuesday night.  We will miss you manager Brian and Chik fil A faithful.

And finally, the woods.  The beautiful Chebacco Woods.  Miles and miles of trails just a quick one minute jog from our front door.  When we first moved to New England, I'd go running and kind of get lost and see no one for miles, and it felt great.  I kept running (and then walking when my big prego self could no longer run) throughout our whole time at GCTS.  Being surrounded by nature and quiet, being completely alone, and feeling like I was "exploring" something was calming and exciting and cathartic for me.  On Wednesday before we left, Ellie and I headed to the woods for one last walk with Erin (a.k.a. Flare) and it was great!  Good conversation with a best friend in a beautiful place.  

Here are some pictures from another walk in the woods back in the winter.  I was like 8 months pregnant and it was a little slippery on the ice... but never fear, I stayed upright. :)  Side note: during another winter walk at a non-prego time I walked out to the middle of a frozen pond.  What an awesome experience especially for a Texan!  Standing on ice!!! I later excitedly told Nick all about it... but I got into trouble.  I see his point now... if I had fallen in that would have been quite the pickle.  :)

The Boston Bucket List?  Check!!!  Woo hoo!!!