Happy 4th Birthday Noah T!

Alles Gute zum Geburtstag Noah!!!!!

Some pictures from the last 4 birthdays!

First week...

We were living in College Station, awaiting approval from the doctor that Mommy and Noah were fit to make the long journey up to Ft. Leonardwood where Daddy was anxiously waiting for us. Mimi and Pawpy drove us allll the way there!

First Birthday....

Daddy was deployed to Iraq, so he couldn't make it to your party. So, we had everyone dress up in Camo to remember him. You had a pretty cool tank birthday cake!

Second Birthday....

We were living in Poppenhausen. We made you special blueberry waffles and bacon for breakfast and cute little monkey cupcakes for your birthday cake!

Third Birthday....

All your sweet friends came out to celebrate you turning 3! Mom and Dad spent a long time creating a pretty spiffy bulldozer cake because you LOVE bulldozers!

Fourth Birthday morning....

Started the day off right with a Birthday Donut!!! We have lots more fun things planned for you on this special day! Mommy made you soccer ball and baseball cupcakes to take to Kindergarten today! And...this sunday we'll play outside and have a Spiderman party just for you!!!

Blessed beyond measure for sure with this little dude. He makes our hearts happy and light.

Best big brother around too!

Here's to you our lil 4 year old! We think "Yer the BEST!"

A New Year...a new beginning....a new home????

Yes, yes indeed.

The Houston family is heading back to Texas.

It's been [almost] 4 amazing years here in Germany.

All good things have to come to an end.

I think that's the way I will feel once we set foot on Texas soil.

We'll wonder if the last four years were just a dream.

Did we really live in Germany?

Well enough about that...and all those one-liner thoughts. [it was for dramatic affect...did it work?]

meh. Let's recap what's happened just this year....

• We had Jon's wonderful amazing beautiful talented (I could go on forever folks, she's just that cool) Shannon came to stay with us for 2 weeks.

Wowzah, did we have fun with her and we're still a little bit grumpy-pants that she's back in Texas. We thought we could convince her that the last semester of her senior year in college was over-rated and she should stay with us....I know I know, NOT going to happen, but hey we love her! Needless to say, we are counting the days till we get to see our beloved Shan again:)

• Jon and I celebrated 5 wonderful years of Marriage:)

Woot Woot!

Sorry you can't see our faces in our wedding photo here, cool idea though right?

We still feel the fireworks even after all these years...har har har...

Shan actually took this shot of us right as fireworks were exploding in the sky behind us on New years Eve!

• We are NOT ready to say goodbye to this sweet lady ( I realize that this is more of a statement than an event that has taken place...)

This is our beloved Emma. She's like our family. She's totally the smartest wisest woman you'll ever meet. Except you'd never know because she's so cautious of sharing her wisdom so as to not offend or push her "way" (as she calls it) on you. Shame Emma, Shame! You could save the world from cancer, bad doctors, etc. if you'd share your wisdom with everyone! :) We do NOT want to say goodbye to her. Everyone let's all give a collective "BOOOOO!" now...

• Noah said goodbye to his best friend, Anna Sophie.

She is Emma's grand daughter. She is the coolest girl. What pre-teen do you know will spend hours and I mean hours running around the house with a 3 year boy. This one that's who. She is so loved by Noah. He is devastated that she had to go back home to Macedonia (where her mom works at the German embassy) and that he won't get to see her again before we leave for Texas. Boo for saying goodbye.

We feel you Noah, we do.

Did I mention the boys weren't that thrilled about Shannon leaving either?

Yep, so they devised a plan to go with her...

Yep, it didn't work, nice try boys, nice try.

So, I believe that's enough to last ya for a few more days. Soon and very soon we should have official dates for our move to Texas:) We are happy and sad ..excited and scared. Stressed? meh, just a little.

But, did I mention Jon and I will finally get to have our first vacation, alone at the end of the month???? PARIS ...here we come! Oui Oui!