I'm not crying. No really, I'm ok. Can you please get me a tissue?

You guys, I found this draft from 2011 when I was labeling my old posts (do you realize I have been blogging here for over 5 years?! crazy!!!). There were no words, no title, and I have no idea what I was planning on writing, but I couldn't just delete these pictures.

Sometimes, when we're driving around here in San Antonio, I still find myself looking for the mountains. It is definitely much more rare now than when we first moved here almost three years ago, but it still happens.

Even though these pictures made me gasp when I saw them, made me feel nostalgic for Colorado again, I didn't feel angry about being in Texas. Man, I was so bitter about leaving Colorado for a good year after we left. I refused to even try to like things in San Antonio. Unfortunately, because of my stubbornness, I lost a lot of time wallowing in self pity when I could have been pouring out a positive outlook on a new situation. I could have given San Antonio a chance sooner and discovered the things that I now love about being here.

True, I will never love Texas the way I love Colorado. I don't have plans on ever moving back to Texas in my future unless circumstances say we must, but I will be sad when we do eventually move away. I will miss our neighborhood, Ft Sam itself, downtown San Antonio, our parish, Central Market, Alamo Heights, and all the other places and areas we've become familiar with and grown to love. This is the city that Vivian was born in, where she's lived her whole little life, the only house she's known. I'd be heartless to say I won't cry when we drive away from it for the final time. Of course, we don't really know when we'll be moving. Technically we're scheduled to live here until the summer of 2016, but you know how the military is--unpredictable.

I think it's funny how much a place can mold and shape you. I loved Colorado Springs from the minute we drove up, but I really missed things about Illinois--long, rainy days, the greenness, trees, being able to breathe. Illinois was the only state I'd ever lived in, where I grew up, so I think I will always think of it as my home, but Colorado will probably always be my second home. So many people there became family to us and I miss them all the time. While I may never think of Texas as another home, I can confidently say that I will think back on living here with fondness. This is the house we've lived in longest as a family. This is the school district Elisabeth has attended the longest. This is where my sister and I got to live in the same city since we both moved out of Pekin in 2005; where I got to be here for her pregnancy and meet my nephew. This is where we became a family of five. This is where Roosevelt died and where we brought Eisenhower home. This is where we joined the Church, where Elisabeth received her First Communion, where we became part of a parish. There are so many happy memories that happened here in San Antonio.

It was nice to find these pictures, though. Ugh, I really miss Colorado. How lucky was I to have this be the view down my street?:

Julia is 6.

Six years ago today, our Julia came into the world. She was my second baby and showed me that I could, in fact, love another child just as much as my first.  

 She made Elisabeth a big sister.

 Evan fell instantly in love with her and vice versa.

From the get-go, Julia was demanding. She needed cuddled, loved, rocked, nursed, swung, swayed, and slung twenty four hours a day. Her sweet smiles made up for it, but there was a time when I was pretty sure I was going to expire from lack of sleep. Julia was definitely that "high needs" baby I had heard so much about from others.

She was a pacifier baby. An eyes on me constantly baby. A has the ability to roll, crawl, move, but chose not to baby.

 But, regardless of her high demands, Julia has always been generous with her love. Hugs and kisses are still her favorite gift to give and receive from those she loves.

Julia is passionate. Currently, that comes out in talking excitedly (and LOUDLY) in exclamation points, crumbling into a pile of tears if she is upset or frustrated, and being enthusiastic in everything she tries to accomplish. While that passion is often overwhelming, it is something that, once honed, will serve her well in life.

Julia is my sleeper. Lord help us if that girl does not get in her 12 hours of much needed rest.

 Julia is a reader, which you all know makes me endlessly happy. She can read on her own now and will occasionally read quietly to herself, but as with most things, she prefers we read to her.

 Julia favorites:
Color--Pink
Food--Apples
Drink--Water
Book--Junie B. Jones
Movie--Frozen
TV shows--Play doh YouTube videos

 Julia loves to: dance, sing, ride her scooter, dig in mud, play with play doh, be outside with her friends, go to the pool, visit the library, make art projects, draw, color, dress up, play Legos with Evan, have tea parties, play catch, help me cook, make pancakes on Sunday with Evan, listen to Elisabeth read to her, make Vivian giggle.

 I think today may have been so bittersweet today because, of the three of my children, Julia was my baby the longest. Elisabeth and Vivian are both of the mentality that they can do it themselves and quickly shed off a lot of "baby" habits early (naps, pacifiers, being held, etc.). Julia is slow to change. She napped until the month before she turned 5, has the most lovies out of the three, needed held and snuggled longer than the other two. But, lately, I've been noticing her slowly starting to grow up.

She's gotten taller and has lost all that toddler chub in her thighs, arms, hands, and even her cheeks. She's not relying on us as much for things, taking matters into her own hands, becoming slowly more independent. Julia is less shy, more outgoing. Watching her go from a preschooler to a truly big kid has been an amazing journey full of lots of heavy sighs, tears, laughter, and joy (and those are just my reactions to it all!!!).

 Happy sixth birthday, my JujuB. Stay funny, sweet, and goofy.

May you always be joyful, full of laughter, and awe at the wonder of the world around you.

 I can not wait to see what this year has in store for you.

 My beautiful, sweet girl.

Cell Phone Pic post

I had to clear my phone recently because I had used up all the memory taking pictures. I do like taking millions of pictures. It was fun looking back at what I deemed important to capture with my phone. Here's a short recap of the pictures I took since January of this year.

Julia cooking eggs in her dance outfit.

Vivian doing who knows what with my pots and pans outside.

Julia sitting at my feet like she used to when she was a toddler.

Julia loses her first tooth!!!!!

Evan scraping ice off our cars in Texas! Good thing we kept the ice scrapers like true Illinoisans!

Eisenhower joins the family!

Park fun!

Julia next to the picture she colored at Trader Joe's.

Eisenhower supervising school work.

V riding.

Ebeth enjoying her first official cup of coffee!

Vivian yawns.

We eat at a restaurant.

Vivian's tackle face.

Julia does a news report that is interrupted by a GIANT CAT SET TO DESTROY THE VILLAGE!

Julia taking an apple break.

V selfie.

Evan wows the children with his mustachery.

"Mac my best friend me."

Two beautiful girls.

Vivian went on an adventure.

How Eisenhower watches squirrels outside.

Super Yinyin!

We let the girls jump in puddles in the rain (which Julia still declares as one of the BEST DAYS EVER!)

The cats look longingly at each other from windows in the same house.

Julia contemplates her existence.

I take pictures to entertain Evan at work.

Proof V sometimes takes naps not in my arms.

Pure joy!

Elisabeth turns into a young lady without my realizing it.

Dump truck sitting.

V supervises dinner making.

I am serenaded.

Vivian kind of participates in a group picture of my children.

Evan coaches Juju's teeball team!

I don't know.

Ebeth realizes she can leave me surprise selfies of herself.

Vivian is busy "helping" while I check out books at the library.

Ebeth is now a front seat passenger.

Vivian gives Ebeth a pre softball game pep talk.

I realize that Eisenhower has a comically small head compared to his massive body.

I take the children to post office much to the post office workers' dismay.

Julia still loves Pink Baby.

Watching Ebeth play softball like normal people.

We do an art project at the library.

I don't let Vivian in the house until after I have taken her sad, sad picture.

It rains and my Texas yard freaks the eff out.

I take my homie V to the supermarket.

Julia loses a second tooth!!!!

Wasn't that a fun recount of the last 6 months?!