TEXAS

Alright so I finally made it to Texas and back again!! Chad graduated with his doctorate from Texas Tech and my parents and sisters and I flew down to celebrate with him. (Jeremy couldn't come due to work obligations but he was missed) So we flew down on Thursday 6th and got there in time for dinner at Fuddrucker's with Chad and the kids. The next day, while Chad worked, we took Jaxon, Makayla, and Mya school shopping. So it was a morning and afternoon of shopping and eating!!! After Chad got off work, he wanted to take us up to Canyon, Texas to watch the play TEXAS in an outdoor amphitheater. It was a lot like Tuachan, the stage was set up the same way. Before the play, we ate Thai food (Chad's favorite, he served his mission in Thailand). It was a late night and we didn't get back to Lubbock until about 1:00 AM and we had to wake up way early to get ready for the graduation and get Chad's kids ready. Saturday morning we headed over to Texas Tech to watch the graduation with the kids and Chad's friend Kim. Chad looked awesome in his robes and attire!!! After the graduation, we ate some more, shopped again, went to Jaxon's basketball game, took the kids go-cart racing, and of course ate again!!! After dinner Chad took us to his work and showed us around, it was pretty cool to see his office. Then we went and had the best concrete's ever!!!! (my one and only splurge:))

On Sunday, we went to Chad's church, ate at Olive Garden, and headed to the airport to wait for the plane. Our plane on the way home was painted like Shamu from SeaWorld. My kids thought it was so cool that I got to fly on Shamu!! We had a lot of fun in Texas. I will say that as we were flying back into Vegas I was so grateful to see mountains!!!! In Texas there are no mountains, it is flat, flat, flat!!! I didn't realize how much I take the beauty of Utah for granted until I was without my beloved mountains:) Also, the Lubbock Temple is beautiful. It is a smaller temple and is actually right behind his church. The Moroni on top is huge!! It was good to finally be able to see where Chad and his kids live, see their house, visit them, and see where Chad has been going to school. I had a lot of fun but I will say that I missed my kids and Nate tons!!!! They called me everyday and filled me in on all the fun they were having with dad!!! It was good for me to get away and get a break but it was hard to leave my family. And Nate did survive and actually surprised me by doing housework, cooking Sunday dinner, and basically surviving with all five kids by himself!!! Thanks babe for letting me go and be there for Chad!!! Once again, Congratulations Chad on everything that you have accomplished. We are so proud of you!!! and thanks Nate for being the awesome dad/husband that you are!!!