November is gone, Summer is HERE!

I just dropped my mom off at the airport. It really hit me once we started driving away and I came home to the empty bedroom where she stayed. I felt quite sad. We really had a good time and enjoyed having her here so much. It is really nice to share this experience with family and will be a treasured memory for all of us. We were able to make a short trip down to Margaret River, which is a wine region down south. It really is beautiful there and was refreshing to have a change in scenery. We were able to go to a few vineyards and tried some excellent wine. I couldn't do too many vineyards since I was driving! :) They also have a few brewery's around, which I know Paul will try out when we go back in a few weeks. You can't get much better than having beach and vineyards in one place! I think my mom would live there if she could! I have posted the pictures on Picasa Web albums. Thanks for everything mom!!! Love you!

Paul has almost been gone a month now, so we are very eager to have him home. He should be home in a few days. Luckily, his project is now pretty much over so he only has to work about another week and a half in the office and then he is off until we leave Australia. His parents come very soon and we are really looking forward to spending Christmas with them over here! For those of you that don't already know, after much thought and consideration, Paul decided to turn down the offer here for a job as well as the other opportunities in Singapore and Malaysia. He has worked so hard since we have been out of college and achieved so much in that time, but is quite burned out now. As I said in the previous post, the Houston office is quite dead right now, so it will give him an opportunity to have some down time and get some sparkle back. It was a VERY difficult decision especially since I have enjoyed it here so much with the kids. Our quality of life is great here with regards to raising a family. But, Paul needs to go home and I can understand that. There still is a lot of work in Australia and in Asia, so who knows, we just might be back. Never say never. Now that we made the decision I am REALLY excited to get back to family, friends, my dog, my bed and pillow, my grocery stores, my kitchen, etc. etc. This last month will hopefully be really great b/c Paul will get to relax and enjoy Australia a bit before we head back. I am going to take surfing lessons and do some paddle-boarding. I am dying to take kite-surfing lessons, but it is REALLY expensive and not worth it if you aren't going to continue doing it. We are going to try and get some snorkeling in and I would love to do some scuba diving, but it has been a LONG time. probably too long. I would probably have to take some refresher courses.
It doesn't really feel like Christmas here. Yes, it is summer now and hot, which is part of the reason, but there just isn't a Christmas feel like there is back home. I am missing all of the traditions and spirit we have for Christmas and I am feeling homesick for probably the first time since we have left Texas. There is an event called "Carols By Candlelight" which everyone gathers at a park near downtown and sings Christmas carols with candles, which will be lead by some kind of band or choir. It sounds really nice and we plan to attend. Apparently, on Christmas day Australians have lunch with family and then everyone heads to the beach. Very strange!!! I read that it snowed in Houston today! I can't believe it! We seem to always miss it when this rare occurrence happens. The kids were sad they missed it. If anyone took pictures, please send them to us!!!
This week we found out that our house got broken into. Fortunately, they just broke the window to Graces room where the lock was and unlocked the window. Our house alarm went off and I guess it spooked them b/c they didn't enter the house or take anything. I kind of figured this might happen with us being gone for so long but I was still quite upset about it. As most of you know, we have had some issues with our neighborhood. I am sure many people noticed we were gone b/c the kids and I are always out front usually. My neighbor saw 2 guys running from the woods behind our house and get into a car, so it had to have been them. So, Paul and I are definitely looking at moving when we get back. If our house were to sell before we find a house, we may even rent for awhile until we can figure out the best area of Houston to live in.

I hope everyone is doing well and the start to your holiday season is going well. We will miss seeing you over the holidays but look forward to seeing you in January! Our flight gets in on Monday, January 4th.

Stay warm!!! We have our AC on in the house! It was about 95 today!

Lots of Love,
Laura