A Break from the Texas Heat!

The second week of June, my family traveled to Vail, Colorado for a week.  We had so much fun together, and it was a great break from the 98 degree Texas heat!  The first day of travel for us was long, especially for Cale!  We had to wake him up at 5:45am, load up in a taxi and head to the airport (eating breakfast on the way), and make it through security with all of our "carry ons".  Since we were flying American Airlines, we tried to avoid checking any bags.  We sent our big suitcases with my parents (who were flying the "no baggage fee" airlines, good ole' Southwest), and packed Cale's diaper bag, pack n' play, car seat, stroller, duffel bag, and backpack ALL on the plane with us.  I'm sure we were pretty funny for spectators to watch!  Cale was  a trooper on the airplane, and was totally entertained by the portable DVD players we pulled out half way into the flight! :)

Once we got to Denver, we rented a car and traveled 2 hours to our condo in Vail.  Thankfully, Cale was so exhausted from the crazy morning, he slept in the car almost the entire way to Vail.  

We arrived in Vail, had lunch, and explored Vail Village, just walking distance from our condo.  It was beautiful!  My parents arrived around 4pm and we all grabbed dinner together later that night.  

Cale had a blast running through the streets!

Cale LOVED all of the water fountains all over the village.  Each time we passed one, he wanted to stop and watch...he could have sat there forever!

He was also mesmerized by all of the bronze animal statues that were scattered throughout the village.  He wanted to pet each one! Ha!

Adam spent the next day fly fishing (he was in HEAVEN), while my mom, my dad, Cale, and I explored Vail.  My sister, Courtney, and her boyfriend, Brett, arrived late that evening.The next day, Brett and Adam set off for fly fishing, and my sister, mom and I went to an incredible spa and had a little pampering time!  We had so much fun!  My dad was in heaven, as he was on Cale duty of the day!  We all met back up that evening and grabbed dinner.

The last day we were there, my mom, dad, sister, and Brett all went white water rafting for the day, so our little family of three got to hang out together.  Cale met some friends at one of the nearby fountains and played with him for a while...

After his afternoon nap, we loaded up and took Cale on his first bike ride.  He really enjoyed it!  

We had great weather all week (the high was 70 degrees) and really enjoyed the low-key feel of just coming and going from the condo during the week.  We are so thankful for the time we got to spend with family and for the extra help we had with Cale! :)  Thanks Mom & Dad for a great trip!

Dr. Adam Cooper, PharmD

He did it!  Adam is officially a Pharmacist!  It's been a LONG road, but worth every minute!  This was quite an accomplishment for our whole family, so we celebrated big with two weekends of festivities.  Adam finished class on May 12th, so we went out on a date and he received a few of his graduation presents.  Let me preface this by saying that giving Adam the present I did was a HUGE deal for me.  I did TWO things I told Adam (before we even got married) that I would never, ever do!  I bought Adam a gun that he had been dreaming about.  Yes, that's right.  I bought him a gun.  And, for those of you who have bought guns before, you know that when you buy a gun, you have to register it in your name.  So, not only did I buy him a gun, but I now have a gun that is registered in my name.  I'm not sure what came over me, other than pure excitement and pride for Adam's awesome accomplishment.  My sister got him a monogrammed gun case to hold his new gun and my parents carried on the theme by getting him a gun safe....a much needed gun safe!  He was shocked.  Never in a million years did he have any idea that these gifts were coming his way.  It was so much fun to watch him receive them!  

The next night, we had a fiesta with close family and friends.  We rented tables and chairs and a margarita machine for our backyard, and we had Blue Mesa, a yummy Mexican restaurant, cater.  It was perfect.  The weather was beautiful, the food was fabulous, the margaritas were flowing, and the time with friends was priceless.  Our backyard was full by 7:00pm and the last party goers left after Midnight.  Oh what a night!  It was wonderful!  Unfortunately, once the party started hoppin', I quit taking pictures.  Here are a few that I did get...

We enjoyed the week between the party and the graduation ceremony just laying low and speeding time as a family.  It was nice to have Adam with us without worrying about when he would have to go study.  Cale loved having him around more!  One of the nights, my parents kept Cale and we took a little trip to some outlet malls and bought Adam some new clothes for work.  I got a graduation present out of the deal, too....a new purse!  We went out to dinner, grabbed some yogurt, and spent the night at a hotel with every intention of sleeping in the next morning.  We just rolled our eyes when we both rolled over and looked at each other at 7:15am the next morning.  I guess our internal clocks didn't get the memo.  We enjoyed a yummy breakfast and then spent most of the day together.  We headed back home later that evening, excited to see our little man.  

Saturday, May 19th, we woke up early and got ready to head to the airport.  We decided a while ago that since the ceremony was in Lubbock, TX (Texas Tech's main campus), we would make a day trip and leave Cale with a sitter... I mean, he is totally oblivious to the fact that his dad is graduating.  We left Dallas at 9:30am, enjoyed a leisurely lunch with my parents once we got there, met up with Adam's parents right before the ceremony started at 3pm, headed back to the airport at 5:30pm, and were on the ground by 7:45pm.  We made it home in time to put Cale to bed!












Adam's friends (and roommate in Amarillo) came to his graduation.  It was so sweet that they made the effort to come and support Adam.  They both graduated the previous year!

Adam's parents flew in to Lubbock from New Orleans that morning, and then headed back to Dallas with us to spend a couple of days with Cale.  It was great having them in town - Cale loved having them at our house.  We enjoyed the rest of the weekend with them grilling out, going to the park to feed the ducks, playing and visiting.  It was a quick trip, but we are so thankful they were able to make it!

It was a whirlwind 10 days, but so much fun!  Adam started work last week, and is spending his evenings studying for the boards that he will take in 1 week.  I think all pressure will be off when that is behind him.

Looking back on this 4 year journey (actually, it started a longer than 4 years ago), we see God's hands all over us.  He protected us individually and our marriage as we weathered through 2 years of long distance, while Adam completed his first half of Pharmacy School in Amarillo, TX.  He blessed us with wise mentors and counselors, who helped to encourage and sharpen us along the way.  He provided for us financially, even beyond what we could have imagined.  He provided a living situation for us that was more than we could have ever asked for.  He blessed us with our first child, and allowed me to stay at home with him.  And, He provided Adam with job security, months before graduation.  We are so humbled by the Lord's mercy in our lives.  We know that His will is good and perfect, and when we walk in it, we receive more than we could ever ask or imagine.  This journey has been testimony to that.  When we started out, there were many unknowns and uncertainties that could have paralyzed us from moving forward.  We did know, without a doubt, that the Lord was leading us, as a family, in this direction, and out of obedience, we walked forward.  Lord, thank you for your direction in our life, and the gifts you have given.  We are blessed beyond measure.