Checking In

Wow, it's been a ca-razy few weeks. I've been busy getting set up with the new job and spent last week in Philadelphia for training. The photo above was snapped on the freeway in between the airport and the office - but sadly, that was pretty much all we got to see of the city. (We did manage to order in Philly cheese steaks for lunch one day, though and boy, were they goooood!)

In between training sessions, Cajun and I also found time to road trip down to Texas for a few weeks. Since Jon is away at a training school right now, I decided to squeeze in some family time. (Just one of the MANY perks of working from home, which I am still so grateful for.) It's been fun to spend time with my mom and dad in Beaumont and my sister in Houston. (This weekend, we're planning a trip to Galveston for some water park and beach time, and I cannot wait!)

Anyway, I just wanted to check in and say hello in the midst of all my summer fun and new job to-dos. As things settle down, I promise to be back in this space more, but until then - Happy Summer!

Red River Canoeing

Above are a few more photos from our canoe adventure on the Red River that I've been meaning to share, which is kind of fitting because today I'm getting ready for a little adventure of my own - to Texas! Memorial Day weekend at the lake is my favorite weekend of the entire year, and I'm in serious need of some sun, sand and family time right now. Let's just say my 9am flight cannot come fast enough.

Wishing you a fun and relaxing long weekend!

Happiest Moments

Did you see the editorial Joanna mentioned last Friday about life's happy moments? You can read Abbey's take on it here and the original editorial here. I thought it was so neat, the idea that there could be only a few moments of complete and total happiness that define our lives. Then I got to thinking about what mine would be, and I thought I would share.

Like Abbey, the first moments that came to mind were kind of predictable. Laying poolside with my sister in Vegas (or anywhere), Christmas mornings (especially the year we got AOL - it was all oooh. eeem. geeee!), Easter mornings (when we were really little and woke up to baskets overflowing with goodies), the day I adopted Cajun from the shelter (and the moments of snuggling him in the car before I drove him to his new home in Santa Monica).

Then there were some that surprised me a little. The hour I spent in the airport on my way to Kentucky to visit Jon in January (the feeling of excitement about starting this new life was intoxicating), waking up to a cool morning at our lake house and eating banana bread on the porch in my pajamas (this one brings me so much peace just thinking about it), waiting outside in my bathrobe for the Uhaul to pull up to my Manhattan Beach apartment the day my sister moved to California, the summer after my sophomore year in college when the world revolved around jean skirts and tans and romance, sitting in my parent's kitchen with my mom and sister eating Casa Ole chili con queso and talking (one of my happiest moments had to include chili con queso, right?).

Anyway, those are just a few that came to mind right away. Thinking about them makes me smile. What would you consider your happiest moments?

P.S. - I'm SO EXCITED about the Rivers & Spires festival this weekend in Clarksville, TN. I've been looking forward to it ever since I moved up here. Cotton candy, funnel cake, sausage on a stick - watch out - you are MINE! (I hope your weekend is filled with fun treats, too. Have a good one!)

Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving - to me - is all about being with family, and we were so lucky this year to arrive in Texas (permanently!) two days before the holiday. After a quick day of unpacking, we hopped in the car (again) and drove to Beaumont for a day and night of fun with the crazy people you see above. Don't they all look fantastic?? (I love, love these guys - and not just for their nerd glasses and mad Pictionary skillz).