Texas Bound

We are moving!! We've known for quite some time but I am finally blogging about it. To make a long story short, Chase left his job with the IRS at the end of May. We knew it was a crazy move but it was definitely NOT a good fit with his work, boss, and salary. We knew his talents could be put to better use somewhere else. It was a very stressful summer with Chase traveling to interviews, not knowing if we would get a job any time soon, and the no income thing wasn't very fun either. However, I can't complain that I did have a husband at home most of the time and that was AWESOME!! I am really going to miss having him around when he goes back to work.

He had "possibilities" lined up in a lot of different places. He even got an offer with a firm in Maryland but it just didn't feel right. It wasn't until we got the job offer from NFP that we decided Austin would be our new home. The funny thing is that after all the networking, phone calls, and who's who, the Austin job was the only one Chase just applied to with out knowing anyone at the company or networking of any kind. I guess you don't have to know someone to get a great job.

Chase will be working as in-house counsel at NFP (National Financial Partners) advising their clients in their employee benefits division. No billable hours!!! Chase is really excited and that makes me happy because he was miserable at his last job. I have to admit that even though I've said some negative things about Virginia in the past I will really miss the green highways, the trails, the seasons, downtown, the quaint little towns, and the cherry blossoms. I will also miss the amazing friends we met here. It's amazing how they become family when Mom and Dad aren't around. We will especially miss the Todds and Cannons. It was so nice to have family somewhat close by and Sadie is REALLY going to miss playing with all the cousins.

I won't miss the mean people at Costco and on the road, the mosquitoes, being inside all the time (due to extreme weather conditions..either too hot or too cold, Sadie's severe reaction to pollen, and the fact that the only time it ever cools down around here is when it rains:-), and the traffic. I am a little scared to start fresh in a new place. I've never been a poster child for change and usually get a stress rash at the end of it all:-) It doesn't help that we went down there to find housing and after four days, 50 properties later, we are still homeless. The cost of living is much cheaper down there but there are still a lot of bugs and I just can't move into a place if I see bugs lurking about.

I'm sure we'll be fine and I am so excited for a new adventure. I know as long as Chase is by my side, I'll be as happy as can be. He's my best bud, ya know? Austin is supposed to be amazing and I look forward to finding out why everyone is so obsessed with the city and the whole dang state for that matter. I've been told they think they're their own country. I found that to be true in some sense when I saw a dozen people riding motorcycles with out helmets and saw a topless woman walk by a police officer with out being arrested (I know right...this was in the middle of down town Austin at 10 a.m!!! I'm just sorry Chase had to see it...them I mean:-). So wish us luck. We move out September first and move in right after labor day, that is if we have an address by then.

Cosi...one last time

Chase and I met at the Treasury Department while working as interns for the Hinckley Institute of Politics. We ate at this Cosi restaurant almost every day and then threw the frisbee around in the park outside. Since we are moving, we decided we had to visit one last time and take the kids with us.
Roasting marshmallows at your table, now that is cool! But it was their flat bread that really got us addicted back in 2000.

Hide and Seek..

...in the Library of Congress!

Library of Congress...check!

Soul Mates

Cannon Clan

Cate and Mike went out of town for some much needed R&R. Aunt Abby and Uncle Chase stepped in to care for their brood of six. We've done it before and it was just as fun this time as it was back in June. The kids all played together and other than meal times and cleaning up, it was a breeze. I did have Chase there the whole time which made it possible. I have a new found respect for Cate and a deeper understanding as to why she needed a vacation in the first place:-)

I pretty much hide behind the camera but here's proof that I was actually there:-)

Pics of the kiddos

I took advantage of the beautiful grounds at the cathedral to snap some pictures of my little ones. Oh how I love them!!

National Cathedral

We've comprised a bucket list of sorts to see/do before we leave Virginia. Did I mention we are moving? Well that's a whole other blog post. .The National Cathedral was on that list. What I didn't realize was that although it looks like the ancient ones in Europe, it's only a century old!


The kids were good sports to put up with the heat, the childish monotony, and mom sticking a camera in their faces all day. Have I mentioned before how much I love my camera? Well, I do.

Great day. We can check this one off the list.

Cutest house in the world

I found this house right outside of Georgetown's campus. It was surrounded by drab, mundane townhouses. Definitely a diamond in the rough. I should have taken pics of the side. Beyond the trees on the roof there's a whole covered patio with vines and who knows what else. I want to live here!!

Monkey's Crossing

Another trip to the zoo!! The kids have fun watching the animals and Chase and I enjoy watching them....watch the animals.


I can't look at these orangutans with out totally cracking up. They're looking right at me!!
I still think it's so cool they can cross over the pathway and right over the tourist. I'll never get sick of watching them swing across the street.

Bonjour Butterflies

I am somewhat obsessed with butterflies. When I heard there was a pavilion, not in D.C. but in Maryland we were totally on board. Anything to avoid the D.C. tourists and traffic right? After reading Fancy Nancy's Bonjour Butterflies Sadie is somewhat obsessed as well. It was bound to be a great experience for all.

Sadie was hopeful that once we walked in the butterflies would land on her finger just like they did for Fancy Nancy. We did our best to attract them by wearing yellow (which wasn't too much of a stretch for Sadie as she wears this dress practically every day) and putting flowers in her hair. Unfortunately the only person the butterflies were attracted to was me. They loved me and Sadie was getting pretty upset that they didn't care for her in the same way.

I tried explaining that all the jumping around wasn't helping and the only reason they landed on me was because I was holding still. She tried that too (holding still) and still no butterflies. She kept saying she wanted one to "perch" on her finger. I've now decided that "perch" is one of my new favorite words:-)
The pavilion was HOT!! We all had sweat dripping down our faces. It wasn't until Jack found the rocks to collect and Sadie found the magnifying glass that the frustration of the non-perching butterflies was forgotten.

Eventually the heat got to Jack and he took a sweaty power nap in the stroller. We continued to search for butterflies that could potentially land on Sadie. I tried picking them up with my finger and the old lady butterfly keepers kept getting mad at me. I don't think they understood the severity of the situation. Either a butterfly needed to land on Sadie or Fancy Nancy was toast!!


Right before we were ready to go home, I managed to get a butterfly off my arm and onto Sadie's back with out her noticing. She didn't want me to put one on her. She wanted it to "perch" on her by it's own free will. She didn't understand the meaning of "beggars can't be choosers" so we had to stage the situation with out her knowledge. Ta da!! It worked!! She was as pleased as punch and we could finally go home and get out of that 90 degree green house. What we do for our children. It's pretty ridiculous but totally worth her proud little moment.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Sadie's face in this picture!! That expression pretty much wraps up this post. Goodbye!