Oh what do you do in the Summer time???

 We had quite the adventure filled summer this year.  It's started out busy but manageable.

And then we sold our house in Austin the 1st day it went on the market.  I sure wasn't expecting that and everything went crazy after that.

Gavin Took swim lessons from the best instructor.  And went from being TERRIFIED of water to swimming. He still has a long way to go but now he doesn't hold on to me with the death grip of fear.  Thank you Linda.

We had a little family birthday party for Josh.  After scout camp.  We took a bunch of Popsicles to camp to help him celebrate there with the campers. Double digits.  I can't believe he's 10


Trevor went on his big 5 day scout camp.  Unfortunately I can't find one picture of him.  He had a good time and was glad he was able to go.  

 Gavin broke his wrist.  A buckle fracture in fact.  He went to a little camp that some cute girls in our ward put on (while his big brothers went to their scout camps)  and the 2nd day he was walking on the slip and slide and well he now calls it a slip and break.  Poor little guy cried for 2 hrs.  Mostly because his arm was all bent and swollen.  But we were able to get a water proof cast so he could still swim and they had a red cast so he was super happy about that.

We made SEVERAL trips back and forth to Houston frantically trying to find a house in a location that wasn't completely overwhelming.  Houston is so crazy big.  It wasn't easy that's for sure.  We always tried to make the daunting trips fun for the boys and our favorite stop on the way back to Austin was the blue bell ice cream factory.  What would life be with out ice cream?  I'd hate to find out.

Poor Trevor got pneumonia. He was so so sick.  1st they thought he had a sinus infection. So we dragged the poor kid to Houston (the only time we had left to find a house).   But his fever kept getting higher and lasted 4 days at 104.  Finally we got on the right meds and he was on the mend.  But that poor kid was super super sick.  Scared his poor Mom to death. (Trevor's going to HATE that I put this picture of him up but man it shows how sick this kid was.)

Then slowly one by one we all got it.  1st Ryan and he was gone.  He doesn't get sick very often but man this one kicked his butt, then Gavin.  Luckily Trevor, Ryan and Gavin were all feeling a little better when it was my turn.  And last but not least Josh.  Who knew Pneumonia was so contagious and miserable.   I called my Mom crying because we were suppose to be coming to UT.  to see the fam. I thought for sure we were not going to be able to go.   We had it planned for months and were all so sick.   Between broken bones, sickness, camps, packing up the whole house, showing the house, trying to find a new house, and all the fun stress that comes with everything I was so looking forward to going on this little trip.   Luckily we all got better just in time, and a little vacation is just what the Dr ordered. Unfortunately we were supposed to have closed on the house but yet again another complication came into play so we had to stress about that.  But other then that we had a great time.

We took the boys up the mountain and did some fishing.  I realized my fishing skillz are not what they used to be and after I hooked my leg a few times I called it quits and had Ryan help the boys. 

I got to see some of my dearest friends I grew up with.  Sure do love these girls and am so grateful that we have kept in touch all these years.  I couldn't ask for better friends they are such amazing examples to me.  Love them lots. 

Ryan and I got to spend our 16th anniversary down in St. George.  We went to the hotel that we stayed at 16 years ago and then to the beautiful Temple where we were married.  It was such a wonderful way to celebrate such an amazing day.  We've been through alot the last 16 years but I'm so glad I have him by my side.  I couldn't of dreamed up a better husband. 

Then we went up to Salt Lake to have a Goulding family reunion.   Almost the whole family was there.  Except Kara who's on a mission in England,  Candice and her new Husband John who's in the Military and away in training, Kaleb and his new wife Stephanie who were at a family reunion on her side.  I miss you all. 

Can you tell what my Mom's favorite color is?  Right as we were about to take this picture it started to rain.  Oh and I should of known and brought a red shirt but didn't so I got to be Wonder Woman.  :).  Sure do love my family.  Can't get much better then them.

Lehi is such a beautiful place. We had such a great time playing lots of fun games, eating great food and just enjoying everyone.  We also went to seven peaks.  (didn't get one picture there.)  And my poor brother in law broke his toe.  There always has to be one that gets hurt.  Usually it's mine so thanks for taking one for the team Mont.  It was pretty nasty and a memory we will always have burned into our minds.   Sure hope it's doing better now. 

I came back to Austin and Ryan went to Atlanta to a conference.  I had 5 days left to pack everything up and get ready to move.  I learned my  husband is a hoarder with cords and deodorant.  Who has 17 deodorants??   He was lucky I lost my patients of trying to sort through stuff so I just shoved it all in boxes.  A decision I'm now regretting.  Unpacking is way worse then packing that's for sure. 

The night before I moved my sweet friend Stacey put together a little good bye party.   I didn't want to say goodbye and was super emotional.  So just going for yogurt with people that I love popping in and out was perfect.  (Thanks again Stacey)  I'm sure going to miss all my sweet Austin friends.  They are like my 2nd family.   I'm so glad I don't live to far away that every now and then we can visit. :)

Ryan came back just in time to throw a few things together and get ready for the moving trucks.  3 big trucks in fact.  The movers were great.  The boys kept testing their strength betting them they couldn't pick things up.  It was pretty funny to watch.   After a long miserably hot exhausting day we said a emotional goodbye to our house.  I loved that house so much.  And loaded up the the car and set off for our new adventure.

Someone was so worried we weren't going to take Sadie.  So when we got in the car I put her on his lap and he couldn't of been happier.  He sure had a hard time understanding why all our stuff was going into boxes.  I think I repacked everything 3 times as my little collector would go back through finding treasures he acted like he never saw before.  Such a funny boy.

We slept that night  in the new house with the boys on the floor in sleeping bags and Ryan on a horrendous air mattress.  It was like sleeping on JELLO.  We were very much looking forward to having our beds back.  The next day the movers came and  I frantically began unpacking the kitchen just so we could cook once again.  Eating out was getting super old and we needed some normalcy.  Not to mention the next day was Trevor's birthday. 

So on  Saturday an official Teenage was in the house.  I can't believe my baby boy is 13. He's not a little boy anymore that's for sure.  He's taller then me and sounds like a man.   We took him to this awesome movie theater by our house and had a fun family party for him. 

Luckily he didn't mind.  He got a phone and some beets so he was a happy kid. 

  

 It was nice to see him smile.  He's been super unhappy about moving that he's been EXTRA moody.  Oh man it's been one tough summer for this boy.  We had two of his friends come up and stay a few days with us and that seemed to help.  Sure wish he would learn to communicate and tell us how he's feeling instead of just being angry and teasing his brothers.  And using the word Hate so much.  Man he hates everything these days.    Except for ice cream.  Again thank goodness we have ice cream :)...

They finally opened the schools from summer and we could go and register for the year.   Trevor's school is HUGE.  Like twice the size of my high school.   When we went in I asked if we could take a tour and they said "the floors are getting done but don't worry he'll find everything the 1st day."  This momma bear wasn't at all happy about that.  So luckily I found out there was a 6th grade orientation and we went and scoped out the school then.  Luckily it's not as daunting as it looked.  But it's still super big and right next to a huge prison.  So it's a big leap of faith for us. 

Gavin and Josh's school is this little school several block away.  We were sad it's not with walking distance.  When we came and saw our house we saw two yes two elementary with in walking distance from our house.  But who would of guess we didn't go to them. I mean they are in our neighborhood just  right around the corner.  But the zoning in Houston is INSANE and we are divided in the neighborhood by districts.  Yep the people behind us go to a whole different district.  Super crazy.  So we have to bus or drive to the school.  So after I had a minor breakdown about it and I learned  the schools is smaller and not as crowded as the other schools  and it's still an exemplary school.  I met the principal and she is so great with the kids so we were happy to be going here. 

After getting somewhat settled in we kept promising the boys we would take them to the beach.  That is one advantage point we kept using for moving to Houston.  So off we went.  Gavin saw this huge slide and his little eyes were glued to it the whole time.  We couldn't leave until he got to go down it.  Even my teen who said he HATES the beach, and sand and the sun had a great time. 

We went to meet our teachers and drop off the supplies.  Josh and Gavin made their teachers these cute bombs.  I tried to make it as exciting as the welcome walk.  While they didn't seem to mind I sure missed it.  But they both have fun teachers so hopefully they have an amazing year.

Saturday we celebrated the last day of summer and went to china town.  It was sure interesting.  The boys loved checking out all the weird foods in the market.  Gavin thought this was a pet jelly fish.  Oh man he was in heaven carrying that thing around the whole store.  Then Ryan crushed his dreams and told him it's food.  To which he replied "What is wrong with people who would eat a jelly fish." He got over it quickly and we still bought it for him.  Then he just dared his brothers to touch it.  These boys and their dares. 

And then it got real.  Back to school. When we woke up it was pouring rain.  As if the sky was saying what I was thinking .  I'm sad summers over.  While I rejoice for the boys to go back to school as they go CRAZY over the summer with the constant fighting.  I miss them while they are in school and hate the hardships they have to go through.    Gavin went in like a trooper.  As happy as could be.  He was super excited to use his new crayons and meet new friends.

Josh was silent.  He wouldn't let us walk him to class.  But we snuck a picture and I just had to make sure he made it there.  This poor guy was NERVOUS!!!

So glad these two are in the same school for one more year. 

And Trevor was the quietest he's ever been.  Didn't talk the whole way to the school.  I kept asking him questions but got only a nod as a reply.  When I pulled him up he did say.  "bye mom sure love you"  I can't wait to hear about his day.  He doesn't get home until 6:00.  They have football practice right after school and how I let him talk me into letting him play football again is beyond me.  Man no wonder my hair is going grey.  Sure love these little guys so much!!!

And now for new adventures in Houston.  I can't wait for the house to start feeling like a home, and I have zero boxes to unpack.  I'm so sick of boxes.  We are looking forward to meeting new people and start calling Richmond HOME!!!  Super proud of my boys.  They have handled this move way better then I ever expected.  I'm the one who has had breakdowns.  (in my closet so they don't see)  or in front of the poor foreman who's in charge of our house.  Oh man the situations I get in are sometimes just unbelievable.