We've Moved!

Remember back in 2008 when Bryan and I hauled all our belongings with his tiny Chevy S10 from Utah to Texas? That little black truck held together for 3 1/2 years after that trek through the Rocky Mountains! We finally said goodbye when the truck repairs cost 2 times as much as it was worth (that was back in January).

When he received his orders for active duty, we purchased Dr. Ahlborn his dream truck: GMC Sierra. He sure loves his truck.

This move went very similar to our first big move. However, we had a heavier duty truck and Bryan built a much more stable "box" to haul our belongings.

Bryan left September 6 to report to work the next day. I had to officially sign out on terminal leave September 8, so I left super early in the morning to start the unpacking process. 

We had a few casualties along the way, but nothing that can't be replaced. We found a nice 3 bedroom home right off post (it is seriously 1 mile from post and 3 miles from Bryan's unit). The neighborhood is quiet and we have come to enjoy having our own space. We were truly blessed during the last 4 years to have friends/family to stay with and call their home, "home", but after 4 years I was ready to have my own home and use my own stuff. It was like Christmas morning opening all our boxes that had been in storage for little over a year. We are almost settled in and organized. We just have to make a few large purchases to make our home a little more cozy.

Welcome to Louisiana!

 

Goodbye ICU friends and family

My last day of work was sometime in August. I actually can't remember when I really "worked" this summer because it seemed like I was always on leave or working on out-processing. My fellow coworkers put on a wonderful farewell party before I left. I have truly learned so much from each of them over the past 3 years. I won't say I will miss working at Darnall, but I will miss my friends and my Texas family. 

The ICU: Jimmy, Monty, MAJ Yarde, MAJ Row, Merri, Rosa, Jeff, Jeanne, John, Rebekah Angela, Cline, Joan

I got some maternity scrubs for my new civilian job!

 A scrapbook with all my accomplishments while stationed at Fort Hood.

Texas Memorabilia: blue bonnet seeds, chili powder, Christmas ornament, Texas flag, and chocolate covered pecans!

 I guess I am going to have to learn to make crawfish etouffee.

 I was awarded an ARCOM for my service in the military at Fort Hood. 

Utah 2012

I took a mini vacation to Utah in August to visit family and celebrate a wedding. It was nice to be away from the heat of Texas and spend time with loved ones. Every morning, my mother and I would go to Curves for a good work out. Then we had the rest of the day to do pretty much whatever. Here's what I did:

• Visit with my Grandma Harris and Grandma Frederickson several times
• 22 mile bike ride with my mother up in Park City
• Visited Kristi at Olympic Park and saw where she does all her training 
• went on a 5 hour hike with my father up in Alpine
• Shopping with Kristi and Linsey at City Creek
• Hogle zoo with Kim's girls, Linsey's girls, and mom
• Picnic and roasting marshmallows in Alpine Canyon
• BBQ at my parents house with all the family
• Michael and Lauren's luncheon, wedding, and reception

 Grandma Harris was in great spirits when I visited her at the nursing home. I want to remember her like that.

 Michael showing off his new bride. 

Unfortunately, the temple was under construction. Makes for good memories though.

  Bryan was able to come out for the weekend of the wedding. He was at Officer's Basic Training all of July and August.

 Our attempt to let Robert and Debbie Ahlborn know that they were going to grandparents to the first Ahlborn. Robert thought someone meant to put it on the brides car because she is the first to be married on her side of the family. We gave them 2 weeks to figure it out and then sent them an email with the ultrasound picture attached. It was pretty funny.

My parents celebrated their birthdays together and we got them a special ice cream cake with a picture of the ultrasound on it. It took both of them a few seconds to figure out the picture, but when they did, they couldn't believe I had kept the secret for so long (I was about 14 weeks along). The cake says "Happy Birthday Gma and Gpa!" My dad's first response was "And I took you on the long hike!"

 The long hike. It was actually fine because my dad had to take a few pit stops:)

Hogle Zoo

Our time in Texas

I wanted to compile a list of the things we've done or accomplished over the last 4 years in Texas. I thought it would help bring back some great memories. We leave in the next couple days for Louisiana; definitely going to miss it!

1) Schlitterbahn Water Park
2) San Antonio Temple
3) Tubing down the Comal River and Guadalupe River
4) Our first cruise out of Galveston: to Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and Cozumel
5) Pedernales Falls State Park

6) San Jacinto Battle Reenactment
7) Houston Temple
8) San Antonio Missions
9) The Gaylord Texan Resort

10) Cameron Park Zoo
11) Rafting Lady Bird Lake
12) Mother Nef State Park
13) Rebekah's first 5K, 10K, and half marathon(need to do the full thing someday)
14) Bryan's first 10K, 1/2 marathon, and full marathon
15) The Alamo
16) Ink's Lake State Park
17) San Antonio's Sea World (I think we went every year?)
18) Our first Olympic Triathlon

19) Dallas Temple
20) Houston Rodeo
21) Our first basketball game, Houston Rockets
22) Wicked Musical
23) Canyon Lake Silver Leaf Resort
24) Our first half marathon trail run
25) Fiesta Texas
26) Tyler Texas Silver Leaf Resort
27) Bryan's first motorcycle
28) Colorado Bend State Park

29) Kemah Boardwalk
30) Houston's Downtown Aquarium

31) Lake Conroe Resort
32) Sam Houston's giant statue
33) Dr. Pepper museum
34) Blue Bell Factory

35) Fort Worth Stock Yards
36) Our first ballroom dancing lessons
37) Sailing on the Galveston Gulf
38) Our first drive by shooting, scary!
39) Remodeling our first house

40) Hurricane IKE
41) Brad Paisley Concert!
42) Bryan's first time hunting
43) Cooking our first Thanksgiving Dinner
44) Rebekah's first jury duty
45) Natural Bridge Caverns

46) Our first pair of Texas boots
47) Many trips from Texas- Mexico, Utah, Arkansas, Arizona, St. Thomas Virgin Island, Korea, Hondorus, Alabama, and Washington
48) Houston's Natural Science Museum and Body Works
49) Driving pretty much every highway of Texas:)
50) Our first pregnancy- yeh that's right- we have a baby on the way, due in February!

San Antonio Missions

Bryan started Officer's Basic Training on the 5th of July. He is so excited to start working and just start this new chapter in his life and our life. We will have so many changes and things to look forward in the next couple of months. 

That weekend, we decided to spend some time down in San Antonio. We went to Sea World, but spent most of our time at the water park. It is so hot down here, the only thing worth doing outside has to involve water. We had a lot of fun, but no pictures were taken.

The next day, we decided to tour the San Antonio Missions. It was educational and a good way to spend our Sunday afternoon.  

 Mission San Jose.

The most beautiful and most preserved.

Inside the bastion of Mission San Jose. This was Bryan favorite part of the mission. 

 Mission Espada. 

Mission San Juan.

Mother Neff State Park

Early June we decided to spend the day at Mother Neff State Park. After about 3 hours, we had hiked the entire park. We didn't realize how small the park actually was.

 We hiked to the viewing tower and saw some of the Central Texas valley.

We saw so many of these crazy spider webs. If you look close enough, there is actually a spider in there. Gross!

 Bryan.

 It seems we always run into turtles when we go hiking. Lucky us! 

The last stop was a cave. It wasn't really so much of a cave. Many years ago, the Indians used it as a burial ground.

And that consisted of our state park tour. Check!

Orders

To those who didn't know and may be reading our blog and not writing comments or reading for the first time, we are headed over to 

Fort Polk, Louisiana. 

It was definitely are last pick, twice actually.  Bryan reports on June 14, 2012. He will be going to Officer's Basic Training starting the 5 July. It lasts two months down in San Antonio, Texas. This actually is perfect, because I will finish up my time with the Army and begin my outprocess at the end of August.

The positives: We will be living together. The army can only get better after this post. Super outdoors and family oriented. Finally get to visit New Orleans. Close to Houston (so we can keep an eye on our property). Close to the beach? Cajun food. Never lived in a town of 6,000 people. Our new kayaks are perfect for the flood season.