Road Trip to Ohio for The Holidays!!!

So all the kids wanted for Christmas was to go back to Cincinnati. 

So we decided to make the 17h-road-trip with Chloe of course. 

(Yep, I had vowed not to do that anytime soon after driving from Cinci to Houston in Novemeber!)

We kept it a total Secret so we could Surprise of friends (especially Chris ans Sarah)

only a couple of people knew; Alexi was one of them...

Pour Noel, les enfants voulais retourner a Cincinnati pour les fetes.

Donc apres consideration, nous avons decide de faire le voyage 

de-17-heures-de-voiture, avec Chloe naturellement! 

( Et oui, j'avais promis de ne pas refaire le voyage de Cinci a Houston si tot, apres l'avoir fait en Novembre) 

On a garder notre voyage un secret total! 

On voulais bien Surprendre tout le monde (surtout Sarah et Chris), 

seulement Alexi et une autre personne savait...

Back Yard Cabin

Concert

Emric's first Band Concert in his new School. Notice the new Tux shirt, jacket and bow tie!!!!

Web Cam Fun

A few things our family is thankful for

Amelie
My family, my parents, my friends, Christmas, the Church, Jesus
Emric
For our cat and dog, for mom's cooking.
Justine
That she is going to Ohio during the Christmas break.
Dad
The example of others, my sweet wife
Mom
Morning walks with Chloe, the warm sun, our health, my bed.

Words to remember

So it's Fast Sunday at about 2pm as we are laying in bed...

Me: Mike would you like me to make lunch or walk the dog?
Emric: You go take the dog mom, I'll take care of dad. I'll make him my specialty ramen.
Mike & Me: "laugh"
Emric: no really mom, it's really good, with eggs and an extra packet of flavoring!
Me: Mike would you like Emric's specialty or me to cook?
Mike: I think I would rather have mom's specialty.

Anyone who knows Emric, knows that he could live on a strictly ramen noodle diet! And I must say he's got them down to perfection. That is if you like ramen noodles!
Mike always says that Emric has a 'body by Ramen Noodles'!

The best hour of the day

Watch Chloe run!
While I was looking for places to take chloe on walks, I bumped into 4 ladies that meet every mornings to let their dogs run free in trails and woods in the area.They invited Chloe and I to go with them. So they text me every morning to let me know where they are meeting and i join them with a happy an excited Chloe. It is quite the sight: 5 ladies with 5 to 7 dogs, our own little pack. My favorite place to go is Jones State Forest by my house (literally walking distance).

En cherchant des endroits pour balader Chloe, j'ai rencontrer 4 dames qui se rencontrent tous les matins pour laisser leurs chiens courir. Elles m'ont inviter a aller avec eux. Donc tous les matins, une d'elles m'envoie un text pour me dire ou elles vont, et je les rejoins avec une Chloe qui est bien heureuse.
C'est toute impressionnant; 5 femmes avec 5 a 7 chiens, ont forme notre propre petite meute.
Mon endroit prefere est la foret Jones tout pres de chez nous. 

W. G. Jones State Park

 Here are a few pictures taken with my phone of the forest by our house.
We have been going there to let Chloe run every weekend, and I take her at least once or twice during the week with our walking pack!
Last Sunday we saw about 12 people on horses, we see dears too...

Voici quelques photos du park pres de chez nous. Nous emmenons Chloe la tout les week-end, et j'y vais aussi avec notre petit groupe de femme dans la semaine. Dimanche dernier, on a vu 12 personnes a cheval, on voi aussi des cherfs.

Thanksgiving on the beach

On the spur of the moment, we decided around 1:00pm to go to Galveston, we were on the beach before 3pm! It was 80 degrees here. Amelie and Mike were the only ones that took a swimming suit. The rest of us thought the water would be too cold, well we were wrong! But we had a good time anyway... Like most moms, I was just as happy watching the kids have fun. Chloe was quite entertaining herself, she just had a blast!!!

What a great way to spend Thanksgiving, enjoying this beautiful nature God has provided for us.

I am Grateful...

Le jour de Thanksgiving, nous avons decider vers midi d'aller a la mer a Galveston, on etait sur la plage avant 3 heures. Amelie et Mike sont les seul a avoir emmener un mayot de bain. Nous on pensait que l'eau etait trop froide... ben on avait tord! mais on a passer quand meme du bon temps. Comme toute maman, j'etais contente de voir mes enfants s'ammuser. Chloe etais aussi bien interessante a observer, elle etait comme une fofolle!

Quelle bonne facon de passer Thanksgiving, en apreciant la belle nature que Dieu nous a donne...

Je suis reconnaisante...

1st Beach Adventure for Chloe

I didn't get a lot of good shots of Chloe...

She just ran like a mad dog for 2 1/2 hours!

Beach Play

Justine

Thriller???

Calling Friends back in Cincinnati!

Holidays are hard when we are far away from friends and family...

We do so miss them...

Beached Dolphin

Not very far away, was a dead dolphin... S0 so sad!

Finally back together as a family!!

Our new home!

After 5 months of being separated, we are together again... Well not quite, Alexi stayed behind to go to college. He is staying with the Johnson's. He is doing better, after trying a couple of medications for IBD, he has found one that works! I am so happy for him! It has been a hard few months for him.

We were able to close on our house in Cincinnati on November 4th. A week later, we closed on our little town home here in The woodlands Friday the 12th. Both houses were very hard to close, to say the least! But after feeling like we were on a roller coaster, it is all behind us! Now we can move on...

The kids have all started school. Justine is on the diving team, that is up there, they have Olympic medals! Emric got all caught up with his school work after starting 2 weeks late. And Amelie is making new friends fast. Mike has a new calling at church and I am nesting, unpacking, cleaning and exploring The Woodlands...  

Apres avoir ete separe pour 5 mois, nous sommes enfin ensemble a nouveau. Pas tous en fait, car Alexi est rester a Cincinnati pour aller a l'universite. Il va beaucoup mieux. Apres avoir essaye des medicaments different pour Crones, il en a un qui marche bien. Je suis si contente pour lui! Il a passe des mois tres difficiles dernierement.

Nous avons vendu notre maison a Cincinnati le 4 novembre et une semaine apres on a achete notre petite maison ici vendredi le 12 Novembre. Tout le stress de notre demenagement est enfin deriere nous! Cela n'a pas ete facile! Maintenant on peu continuer avec notre vie...

Les enfants sont dans leurs nouvelles ecoles. Justine a fait l'equipe de plongeon, qui est tres renomee (ils ont des plongeurs et entraineurs qui on des medailles olympics). Emric c'est rattraper a l'ecole, il a commencer 2 semaines en retard. Amelie elle se fait plein de nouveaux copins et copines. Mike a deja un apele a l'eglise, et moi, je m'installe dans notre nouvelle maison ( je deballe les cartons, nettoie etc...) et j'explore les Woodlands.

20 Year Anniversary...

Mike and I are in Jacksonville Florida waiting to embark on

The Carnival Fascination Boat tomorrow.

I am so excited! To tell you the truth...

I didn't want to come, or at least I wanted to reschedule this cruise

because of all the stuff we are going through.

But now that I am away from home, I am letting myself look forward to it.

I am gladly and gratefully going to take and enjoy the welcome break with pleasure.

Last night we went swimming in the oh.... so warm, and wonderful ocean...

It was so much fun!

I felt like a little girl again, jumping in the waves, and

flirting with my wonderful partner of soon to be 20 years.

No worries.

No stresses.

Priceless.

The Fascination Carnival Cruise Boat we are boarding tomorrow

Mike et moi somme en Floride a Jacksonville. On attend d'embarquer sur une croisiere.

J'ai bien hate... Pour dire la verite, avec tout ce qui se passe en ce moment,

je ne voulais pas venir, ou au moins, repouser la date, mais cela n'etait pas possible.

Mais maintenant que je suis ici, je vais bien apprecier et prendre

cette super escapade avec plaisir.

Hier soir, nous somes aller a la mer, l'eau etait super bonne.

Je me suis senti comme une petite fille a sauter dans les vagues

et a flirter avec mon epoux de bientot 20 ans.

Pas de soucis.

Pas de stress.

Precieux.

Needed Blessing

This past weekend, I couldn't take all the stress anymore, I felt like I was literally going to break. I just wanted everything to go away. I curled up in a fetal position in my bed (not a good sign).

I asked Mike for an overdue Priesthood blessing.

As he put his hands upon my head and gave me a blessing of comfort, faith, strength and patience, I literally felt all my stress, my worries, my fears and my doubts leave my soul. Those overwhelming feelings were instantly replaced with hope, love and peace...

It was like getting a shot in the arm.

I am so thankful for a husband who is worthy to minister to his family in a way

that blesses and enriches our lives, and keeps me sane!

Ce week-end passe, je ne pouvais plus porter tout le stress. J'avais l'impression que j'allais casse. Je voulais que tout disparaisse. Je me suis mise en boule dans mon lit (pas un bon signe).

J'ai demande a Mike de me donner une benediction bien attendue.

Des qu'il a mis ses mains sur ma tete pour me donner une benediction de confort,

de foi, de force et de patience, j'ai ressentis tout mon stress, mes soucis,

mes peurs, et mes craintes quiter mon ame.

Ces sentiments accablants ont etes tout de suite remplace par des sentiments de foi,

d'amour et de paix...

C'etait comme si j'avais recu une injection.

Je suis si reconnaissante d'avoir un epoux qui est digne de de ministrer a sa famille

d'une facon qui nous enrichi la vie et nous benis, et me garde saine d'esprit!

The Big Doughnut Machine

So here I am, at Cincinnati Children's Hospital watching Alexi go through this big doughnut like X-ray machine. We loved the stickers all over the walls of Nemo & Dori (my favorite). When asked what movie Alexi wanted to see as he got ready for his CT scan, he said Nemo, he just couldn't resist!

It's been an interesting and challenging summer for our family. On top of the "imminent move" and all the stress associated with it, Alexi has been quite sick since I took my first trip to Houston, the last week of June. After taking him to our Family Doctor, he was referred to a GI specialist at Children's.

It took about 2 months of testing for Alexi to be diagnosed with an Autoimmune Disease.

He is doing well, responding to the initial steroid treatment. He is also accepting pretty well his new condition. He turned 18 last week. I think it is a relief for him to know what it is, to get on medication, so he can get well and get on with his life.

As for me, it's been hard, I couldn't have gone through this summer without some serious support and help. Sarah has been a God sent angel, so has Justine and even Emric who have helped a lot by watering every day and getting the house ready for showings... I am so grateful for them. I know it's been hard on all of us, but we will make it through...

Sweet Sixteen - Good Bye Party

Justine turned 16. She had her first date with Dad who took her to Chinese for lunch, he gave her a blue opal necklace he had bought in Australia. She also went out with friends to dinner and a movie. They actually walked out of the movie because it was too inappropriate and got their tickets reimbursement. Good for them!!!!

For her big Sweet 16 Party, we did it at our good friends the Johnson's house, the Party house! About 30 teens swam, jumped on the trampoline (no, not all at once!), played Dance revolution on the Wii, laugh and chatted in the hot tub, ate hamburgers, cotton candy, icies, and popcorn. It was a very fun Party! They are such a great bunch of awesome kids!

Jusitne a 16 ans. Elle a eu son premier "date" avec son papa qui l'a gate de Chinoix, il lui a offer un joli collier achete en Australie: un opal bleu. Elle est aussi sortie avec un group d'amis le soir, repa et cinema. Ils ne sont pas reste longtemps car le film etait inaporprie, ils se sont fait rembourse leur tickets. Bien pour eux!!!!

Pour sa Sweet 16 Party, elle a ete faite chez nos amis les Johnson. Environ 30 ados ont saute sur le trampoline (non, pas tous ensemble!), joue dance revolution sur le Wii, ont rigole et discute dans le hot tub, on mange des hamburgers, barb a papa, glace, et popcorn. C'etait une super Partie! Ils sont un group d' ados genial!

New Mindy Cd Rocks!

I got Anchor just on time to take with me to Houston on my 2d house hunting trip.

I am listening to it as I drive around all those unfamiliar and new places.

PS: I love my GPS Anabelle!

Je l'ai recu juste a temps pour mon voyage a Houston pour trouver une maison.

Je l'ecoute en conduisant dans tous ces endroits nouveau et inconnu.

PS: J'aime mon GPS Anabelle!

An Awesome Girl!

I am so lucky to have Justine as my kid! As I have gotten the house ready to sell without Mike, Justine has been an inspiration, a motivator, and a helper to me at a time of need. She got me started and helped me at times when I felt so overwhelmed or discouraged. As soon as school was out, she spent hours helping me pack, organize, clean, carry heavy stuff, paint, and so much more... She has so much strength and stamina, at her age she can stick to a job until it is done, and that without complaining! She sees a need and gets to work. Just her presence has been a source of encouragement and strength for me.

She is simply Awesome!!!! I Love her so much! Thank you Beautiful for being there for your mommy! :)

Je suis tellement benie d'avoir un fille comme Justine. Elle m'a tant aider a un moment ou j'avais grand besoin. Preparer la maison a vendre sans Mike etais souvent decouragent. Des que l'ecole a etait fini, Justine m'a motive a commencer le travail, elle a passer des heures a m'aider a faire les cartons, organiser, nettoyer, porter les choses lourdes, a peindre, est bien plus. Elle a beaucoup d'endurence et de volonte. A son age elle sait finir un boulot, sans se pleindre. Elle voit un besoin et se met au travail. Elle a ete une source de confort et d'encouragement pour moi, just par sa presence. Elle est tout simplement Super! J'e l'aime telement! Merci Justine pour avoir ete la pour ta maman! :)

Imminent move....

So I have been putting off blogging about our imminent move... Mike left a contract job of 12 years (well not completely, he is still working for them part time). Anyway, he got a new contract job and unfortunately it's not in Cincinnati. We are going to be moving to Houston Texas. His last "official" day with Lyondelbassel was on May 28th and he started his new job for BakerHughes on June 3rd.

I still have a hard time believing we are leaving... Even though our house has been on the market since June 22.

I feel very lucky that he got a new job so fast, but very sad to be leaving Cincinnati... I love it here. I am very well settled. I am giving up a lot. A great neighborhood. A great Ward (Church). All my favorite little spots (like Sharon Woods to name just one). The drive to my home down Maud Hughes, with the beautiful trees forming a tunnel. The red barn with the sheep, it's little goats and lambs being so darn cute in the spring.

I guess I can find new favorite places in Houston, but I cannot replace people... I have some very dear friends here that I just can't replace!