Packers/The end of June/last Corpus trip/heading to Grandma's

June full of packed boxes. The pugs were figuring out something was up.

In the midst of all the packing and loading; Derek graduated fellowship!

 The packers came. It definitely took longer than we thought it would, and with Covid throwing everything off it was still somehow very difficult to be patient and remember the process is messy. The kids were troopers. We dealt with the packers for 2 days and then loaders coming the next day who didn't actually "load" anything before we gave up. Our Corpus Christi trip got pushed back and was making us anxious. It was difficult living out of a suitcase and making sure things weren't being boxed that shouldn't and things that should be boxed got boxed. We felt super organized and would stay up late preparing and get up early only to have our hopes dashed a little. By Saturday I was feeling done and needed a break so Derek sent the kids and I to the Pinkston's house for much needed relief from the whole process. It was nice to be back in a nice warm home with people who love us for one last hug and comfort.

Our pile of do not pack that we had to fit in the van to drive to Alaska.

The kids were troopers through it all. They couldn't hang out at friends houses because of covid and not to mention many had moved. We had a LOT of kindle electronic time. "They didn't complain". 

Eden's birdhouse she decorated and hung had a bird egg laid in it! We were so excited until right before we left we saw another bird poked into it and ate it.... It was a little sad, but I guess that is nature.

While we were off having a great time relaxing and enjoying family; Derek was home dealing with loading the moving crates. I say crates because they were being transported over seas and so everything had to go into crates. So many dead (thankfully) cockroaches and tiny toys under the couches and surfaces. I promise I did move the couches every couple of months and vacuum and clean even though it doesn't appear that way.

Morgan helped the girls create slime. The day kept going and going. We all met for one last Texas dinner at In and Out. Derek was stuck at the house STILL. We didn't make it home until almost 8 PM and the loaders were finally leaving. We will miss these people SO much. We LOVE them with all our Texas hearts. 

After getting to our empty house it was time to get ready for bed and we were tired. We put signs on the things we didn't want packed. One of the items was a full mattress and box springs. We were going to use it while Derek was stuck at the house for almost 2 weeks at the house without furniture and then donate it. Well, somehow the packers got the mattress from behind the box springs and loaded it without us noticing it. So the kids all had air mattresses and Derek and I did not have a bed. Our hearts were so tired and breaking. Derek ran to walmart and purchased an air mattress that would become his bed for the next two weeks. The next day was heading to Corpus and we needed a vacation and a real bed in a bad way. 

This trip wasn't anything special. The pool was closed at the hotel, and our favorite beach was closed because of Covid. However, it was so wonderful. We played in the water and sand for hours and slept so good that night. We love just getting out and being together as a family. These little people bring Derek and I so much joy and we wouldn't have life any other way. Together forever.

When we got back we had a few more goodbyes. One of the hardest goodbyes for Elara was her new best friend Charlotte Chen. We met Charlotte at meet the teacher the first day of school. Her Mom came up and said, "We are new and we need friends". Elara and Charlotte instantly were friends. Their little souls were bound. They shared endless creativeness in making stories, artistic endeavors, science experiments, and just spending time together. 

Charlotte, Ingrid, and Elara

On July 1st the kids and I loaded the van all the way and we were off for Grandma's house.