Spring Break 2011:Houston!

After Brent, Luke and I made the 3 day drive from San Diego to Houston, I drove from Houston to Little Rock to get my girls. My parents had flown both girls home from California with them so Brent and I could move without the distraction. Once I got back to Little Rock and spent a few days with my parents, I flew with both girls back to Houston. We were able to do so much while we were there! We were able to introduce Reece to her Great Granddad and Great Nanny Hodges and both girls were able to meet their Aunts Heidi, Betty and Karen! We met up with lots of our Houston friends, and Ali and Mia were in town for the week because it was Ali's spring break from school. My how things have changed...we used to spring break in Mexico, but now we're all about Houston!

Dub and Pat meeting Reece for the first time!

Reece and Aunt Karen became fast friends!

No shortage of attention for these girls...Reece loved her Aunts Heidi and Betty!

Conlee discovered Legos on this trip. She is now obsessed.

Reece discovered solid food on this trip. She is now obsessed!

Brent and Conlee with Betty and Heidi

Hodges Family Dinner!

EI baked a cake with a TX flag to welcome us home!

Conlee got to sit at the head of the table and blow out the candles. A big night for her!

Yummy! That EI sure is a good cook!

Four generations of Hodges!

We had dinner one night with the Blums and the Pages...Look at all these girls! Since this picture was taken, Tanner had her second baby girl and Jenn found out she was going to have her 3rd baby girl...oh, these poor daddies don't stand a chance!

Peyton Page, Brooke Blum, Lindsay Blum and Conlee

Peyton and Conlee

Conlee and Mia...reunited and feels so good!

Beautiful girl!!!

Reece meeting Sam Stanton. She was a big fan, and it's no wonder why...

He is a DOLL!!! Look at those beautiful eyes!

Cutie Pie!

So Long, San Diego...

So, a main reason why it took me so long to update my blog is because I was absolutely DREADING this post. Even though it happened two months ago, it still makes me so, so sad to re-live these pictures. Below are pictures from Conlee and Reece's last weekends in San Diego. Ali organized get together with a few of my favorite friends and their kiddos to meet us at the park to say good-bye to my girls. It was so bittersweet! After 10 years, we really did have the best friends in San Diego. I love all of these girls, and it was so fun to watch each one of them meet their spouse, get married, and eventually have babies at the same time as me! Now that we are living in Little Rock and I don't have the connections or the friends I had in San Diego, I realize even more how special each of these girls were!

Alicia (with Averly), me, Ali, Erika, Jess (with John and Clare), Jenny and Laura (with Shane!)

Conlee and Mia having their snack at the park just like they did most days for the last two years...

I don't know why, but this picture makes me cry!

Ali saying good-bye to Reece after dinner

Mia and Conlee hugging goodnight

and another hug....

After I left with Reece and headed to Carmel, Brent stayed behind with Conlee for a few more days before meeting us up north. These pictures were of Conlee and Mia's last day together at the beach.

And, that was about as sad as I anticipated. We miss the Murphys so, so, so much!

Reece's Christening

Wow, this seems like it was forever ago because it was! On March 20th we had Reece Christened at La Jolla Presbyterian. It was important to me to have it done before we moved because who knows when we'll be settled and living in a city and actually members of a new church...it could be a year from now! So, all 6 grandparents flew out to celebrate Reece for the weekend. It was a little less of a party than we had for Conlee and Mia...what with the whole house being packed up in boxes and all, but it was very special never the less!

Daddy with Reece at dinner at Piati on Saturday night

Reece with Nanny and Pops

Reece with Granddad and EI

Reece with Gigi and Paps

Sunday at church, all dressed in the same Christening gown worn by me and by Conlee

Pastor Mike did the service since Paul was out of town.

In my hand is an antique hankie given to Reece by Courtney Frazier. It's monogrammed and it was to be used to dry her little head after the Christening and then she can use it again on any future special occasion, like her wedding. Courtney gave one to Conlee too, and I think it is the most special and thoughtful gift!

Our little family

Back home and ready for the party! The Murphys and Buches joined us for lunch after church!

Conlee and Mia going for a ride

The 'H' engraved ladle given to me by Ginna. It was used for all the Horton (Ginna's maiden name) family occasions when she was growing up. It is now used at all special occasions for the girls. I love all things antique, family, and heirloom. This is perfect! I will serve punch at every event for the rest of their lives just so I can break out the H ladle!!!

Of course we had the same cross petit fours we had for Conlee and Mia's Christening luncheon!

The whole crew

Reece with all of her grandparents! What a blessed little girl!