First Day of School!

. . . . of pre-K preschool that is! Erik is attending a program just down the road at our local Baptist Church. (Texas is much different than LA was in terms of preschools. . . . basically all of the preschools down here are associated with a church and have a Christian-based curriculum.) Looks like it will be a great program though, and after one day of school Erik seems to think it is great! His teachers are Miss Andrea and Miss Marci. (Another apparently Southern thing that we are getting used to. . . adult women are all 'miss' and then their first name.)

Anyway, I can't believe how handsome this guy is. :-) Elizabeth and I sure miss him when he is at school!

We're Alive!

Ok, so don't fall off your chair, but I really am posting again! :-)

We've had an eventful last 7 months so I'll just run through the highlights chronologically.

--In January Ben accepted a Job with Exxon Mobile in Baytown, TX. He works for the chemical part of Exxon (not the refinery) making polypropylene. Or for the rest of us, plastic. :-) He's involved with the control engineering aspects of making the plastic.

--In March, Ben and I traveled to Houston (Clear Lake area) for a house hunting trip. We were very lucky to find a house that we love that is at the end of a cul-de-sac.

--In April we actually closed on the house! Finally the long awaited mile-stone of owning a home! We moved down to Houston the end of April. We're loving the home and of course I'm still excited about a kitchen with more than two drawers, laundry in the house, a garage, a backyard, and, and, and :-) The kids still love playing in the house too. Several of the rooms are still empty, so there is plenty of room to just run around--quite a change from our little apartment! We have also been blessed to have good neighbors. When it is cool enough Erik and Elizabeth like to go out and play with the other kids that live on the street.

--In June we were able to go to Ben's graduation, so we can now call Ben "Dr. Ohran". :-) We were also able to go to Idaho for my brother Michael's and new sister Becca's wedding. It was so fun to see all the family.

--In July Ben had a two week training in Phoenix, so I took the kids and we visited him over the weekend. We were also able to visit with my cousin and her family and a friend that lives in the area. As well, while we were in Arizona, Erik had his birthday and turned 4 years old! Perhaps Erik's most exciting present was his new bike! He is starting to get the hang of riding it around.

Well I think that pretty much sums it up. . . . maybe I'll post again before another 10 months have passed!

Front of the house--not that you can see much with the trees.

Side view of the house.

One of the many 'nooks' that the kids like to play or hide in.

Erik fixing his 'car'--just like Daddy.