Merry TexMas

We moved to Texas only 10 days before Christmas so it was our mission to get unpacked and decorated for the holidays ASAP! We unpacked boxes in record time, the kitchen was set-up before the movers even left, and surprisingly we had enough furniture and stuff to fill a 3100+ sq ft home. So next came the Christmas Tree...

Our house felt so cozy and comfortable with all the decorations but it was missing one big thing, our families!!! We knew we would be spending our first Christmas in Texas alone but it didn't really sink in until Christmas Eve. We have never spent a holiday without our families before so it was a little sad but we tried to make the most of it and started some new traditions of our own. On Christmas Eve we started the day baking Christmas cookies and watching Christmas movies but then we adopted one of my family traditions and went to mass and had a Chinese dinner, it's the only place open on Christmas Eve =) Lucky for us, we didn't have to do a repeat on Christmas Day because the Richards invited us to their home for Christmas Dinner with their family. It was great having a adoptive family for the day and we even adopted one of their Christmas traditions and headed out to the theater that night. All in all Christmas was very Merry in Texas but we did miss our family!

On the Road Again

So the adventure begins...1 Dog, 2 People, 2 Cars, 3 Days, and 1500 miles to go!

Day One - Alarm goes off at 6am but we snooze until 8am. So much for our early start! We spent out last night in Virgina at Sandra's parents house and our goal was to wake up early so we'd make it to Louisville in time for dinner with Shaun's parents. We did make it for dinner just not as early as we would have liked. Aside for our late start, we ran into a few other problems like a staled car on day one and a snow storm in Kentucky to boot.

Sandra's Driving Partner

Shaun's Driving Partner

Day Two - Alarm goes off and we get up, great start! Starbucks on our way out of town, this day is already looking substantially better! Lunch on Biele St. in Memphis, the BBQ challenge begins! Pit stop in TexArkana for night, we're almost there!

Day Three - Home Stretch! Just six hours left of our road trip and Austin here we come! We arrive in Austin and checkout our new neighborhood but will have to wait until tomorrow to get our keys. So what better way to keep us distracted, our new neighbors the Richards! We have a Texas feast for our first night in town and hit up one of the best BBQ spots in town, Salt Lick. Sorry Memphis but I think Texas has you beat!

Move In Day - Shaun finally gets to see the inside of our home since he blindly trusted me to go pick out our house by myself?!?! And the verdict, he loves it!!! And so does Cali! Home Sweet Home!

Army Navy Game

Go Navy, Beat Army!!! My dad is an Academy grad so for his birthday this year we got him tickets to the Army/Navy Game. It actually ended up being our last weekend before moving to Texas so it was the perfect timing. We got to spend some great quality time with my parents up in Philadelphia where it all began back when they were high school sweethearts.

This was Shaun's first trip to Philly so my parents took us around to see all the sights; Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Ben Franklin's grave, Betty Ross' house, their childhood homes, etc. It was the perfect weekend topped off with Philly Cheesesteaks and a Navy victory!

Christmas in Washington

The lottery finally paid off! I didn't win millions but I did win tickets to the National Christmas Tree Lighting. Actually, Catherine won the lottery for tickets but was kind enough to pass them along to me. See what great friends we have here in DC, Catherine, Meredith, and the President!

Texas Farewell BBQ

I think this might have been a ploy to get us to stay in Virginia and it almost worked! We have the most amazing friends and so many of them came out to send us off in style, Texas style that is ;)