Checking things off...

I'm sorry it's been so long! I will try my best to write a longer post this weekend, but it might not be until next week. We are all safely in Tulsa. Thank you all for your prayers. They were felt and appreciated the whole way down. Things did not go as planned or expected on Friday, but we're here. So far, there's only one thing that I'm really disappointed had to be a casualty of the move, but I know my husband tried his best and it's just material things. The most important is that we're all safe. Thank you to everyone who helped us this week! We really appreciate it. We fly out on Tuesday and we've got more than I'd hoped to do, so my next post will probably be from Geneva!

Recovering and Preparing

Wow, it's been a busy week! I'm going to have to keep this post short though, because we are moving in less than 2 weeks! AH!!!! We had a great time in sunny California, celebrating Daddy's graduation and Uncle Bill's birthday. We also saw "lobster monsters", rode on our first ferris wheel, and played at the beach. I'm going to have to let pictures show you though, since most of it was before I got there and it takes a lot less time! I'm sorry. I'll try to get a longer post next week with some VBS pics!

Uncle Bill has a band and the boys loved playing with his equipment

At the Santa Barbara zoo

On the ferris wheel

On the ferris wheel at Santa Monica's pier

X teaching Grandma how to play baseball

The view of Ventura from the top. X refuses to take family pictures anymore

The dolphins made an appearance for us at Ventura's pier!

Planting flowers with Grandpa for Uncle Bill's birthday party

Grandpa "teaching" E how to play the guitar

At Universal Studios

E was not impressed by the wave that hit him as he was "body-boarding" on the beach

X playing football in the sand with Uncle Bill

Making ice cream with Aunt Alea

This is just a taste of the busy week we had. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Bill and Aunt Alea for such a great time!

California Sun, Here We Come!

I'm a little early on my post for the week! It's because I'll be in beautiful California all next week. The boys need some time with their Grandparents, and of course Uncle Bill and Aunt Alea, so they headed off this morning. It sounds like it was a bit of an exciting flight and trip for them, but they finally arrived safely with just a little bit of sick laundry to do. I am staying at home for the weekend to go to a going away dinner tomorrow night and to try to get some work done in our apartment. I can't believe we're going to be gone in three weeks!!! I'll have a big post with lots of pics when we get back, but here's a few from our first "pool party" of the season!

X throwing the frisbee to his friends


E swimming with just water wings! I think if we were going to be here all summer they'd both be swimming with no floats.

It's Official!

U defended his thesis on Friday and passed with flying colors!!! I attended and was very impressed with my husband. He really knew what he was talking about and his committee seemed very pleased with his work. We are now starting to focus on the next chapter of our adventure. We do not have a departure date, but we will let you know as soon as possible! I'm afraid we will not come back to Illinois next May to see U get hooded, so I made him rent the ensemble this year so I could get my pictures. Here you go!

This is the best one where you get to see his hood.

All of my boys!

The boys (especially X) love to wear their ties, "just like Daddy!"