Fun with Grandma and Grandpa

While Mike's parents were here, we perused around Houston, finding fun places to play and great food!

While we had babysitters, we went to the Houston Temple :)

We ate out every night trying new places and really liked all of the food!  But, I didn't get any picture, but my belly loved it!

Here are a few of Allie's recent loves.... coloring and bubbles!

She also loves the new pool at our complex and frequently brings us her swimming suit and signs for going outside.  I think we will be spending a lot of time there this summer.

My new love is a new camera that we just got!  I had been borrowing Mike's dad's camera and since we were moving so far away, I thought I should finally give it back.  It is a Canon Rebel and I love it!  I have been learning the manual mode and I have loved playing around with it!  The last camera that I got was when I was in highschool.... I think it was time for an update. 

A Battle of Wills

Meet the face of a little toddler with a lot of attitude.  Since moving, we have had a lot of battles, and I can't blame her, everything in her life has changed, but my will is quickly fading.  Our most recent and longest lasting battle is at the dinner table.  Allie is quite the messy eater and so we always have her wear her bib.  I guess we have eaten out too much on the move but she has now decided she doesn't wear bibs.  I am still persistent on her wearing one, so we have been taking away her food when she pulls off her bib.  This little girl knows what she wants... aren't the terrible twos supposed to start a little bit later?

Good thing she is so cute!  She has also been a lot more affectionate lately, giving random hugs while going "ohhh" which makes it even better.  Here's to getting more patience!  

Since We've Been Gone...

We are officially moved!  We have made our trek west from Florida to Texas and have officially unpacked every box (just 1 more picture to hang).  We really are pros at moving, as this was our 7th time moving all of our stuff in our almost 5 years of being married!  Our first move, we rented 4 feet of space on a semi, my how our things have multiplied!  Mike and his dad packed the truck better than a game of Tetris, leaving a little bit of room to include some extras that we thought would not make the trip.  Our apartment is about 500 sq ft smaller, so we probably could have done without all of it.  O well!

Although I did do a lot of packing items in boxes, these two did the majority of the hauling work and I am so grateful for that!  

There was a whole lot of this going on...

especially because our new apartment (which we love) has a parking garage and the closest place to park the truck was about 100 yards away.

Meanwhile, the girls all arrived by plane after it had all been moved into the apartment. I think we could be professional movers now, but I think Mike's fee would be a bit pricey, as he said that the next time we move, we are going to have a job that pays for the move.  

While we were unpacking, Allie watched a little Princess and the Frog, which was the first time she has actually watched something for more than 2 min, I think she lasted about 10.

We are so grateful for Mike's parents coming out and helping us move, it really made a HUGE difference!

Recent Happenings

As things wind down here in Florida, here are a few things that we wanted to finish off before we leave. 

Mike and I took a little trip to Orlando to Hollywood Studios to use up the last of our Florida Residents pass to Disney.  Yea for being a Florida resident and doing a bit of service, we ended up paying only $5 a day for our 4 day pass.  It was also nice because Mike's Parent's watched Allie for us the whole day!

This was the longest line of the whole day, but we liked this ride more than any of the other Toy Story rides at the other parks.  

While we were playing at Disney, Allie went to the splash park in Alachua with Grandma and Grandpa Meldrum.  

Allie had her first bubble bath, and loved it! 

As I am typing this, we are watching American Idol and "Pants on the Ground" is playing right now.  How fitting!  This girlie is too skinny and her pants fall off frequently..  too cute!

When my mom came, we set up the air mattress and Allie wanted her turn jumping on the bed

She tried to eat the bubbles ... yum

Vacation

Well, graduation was what Rachel was excited for, but this is what I have been looking forward to for a long time. After hours of studying, I needed a break. Slowing down and taking things easy for a few days, before I have to worry about school again was just the right prescription.

A short beach trip with grandma and grandpa. They tried to slow down Allie on her way to the ocean.

Rach and Allie being brave and getting in the waves.

The butterfly museum, Allie was the prettiest thing there.

Now we are spending some time at Siesta Key beach with Rach's Parents. This is the view out the window of the condo. A real tropical paradise.

Allie has no fear of the waves.

Allie finally got her very own pair of Crocs. She was super excited.

We went to a splash park, and played in some more water.

We had a blast.

Overall, I have learned that vacation is better than graduation any day (hours at the beach are better than hours in a cap and gown). I also learned again that Allie loves water and shows no fear. Finally, I realized there is beauty all around me (just look at Rach, Allie, and the sunset).