Between Here and There

 *These are plants from our front yard. We spent the fall in McAllen: unpacking starting homeschool exploring the neighborhood finding parks taking in the deliciously different food options swimming - every day at the neighborhood pool visiting South Padre, at least once a month finding a church meeting Kyle's colleagues, and overall just getting accustomed to a new place.   One of our first walks on the walking/running/biking trail a block from our house The climbing rope at La Vista park, a block away.  He's the only one of us that can make it up. Bill Shupp park Parrots on a wire The neighborhood pool, with a diving board, oh my! Lots of great sunsets You might think that since we are still in Texas that it can't be that different.  But it is, a lot different.  The climate- hotter. The food- very mexican (not tex-mex). The language- very spanish (and some english).  The native plants and animals/birds- very beau

Movers arrive We are currently living in McAllen located in south Texas just 9 miles north of the border.  It is very tropical, very hot, very spanish-speaking, and our favorite part - filled with very yummy Mexican food.  McAllen is about 140,000 population but with the surrounding towns it is over 1 million.  Kyle actually works in Edinburg where UT-Rio Grande Valley is located.  It is about a 20 min drive north.  Earth view of our neighborhood From our backyard toward the park and walking path Front flowers  The boys were the first to dig in. First of many trips to Delia's for fresh tamales These parrakeets are very noisy.  We often see them around the neighborhood, at the park, and at HEB! We are able to see some amazing sunsets from the front of the house. Library time! Lillian was the first to set up her room

I don't really know the best way to describe our good-bye to Waco.  It felt a little pathetic actually, going out with a whimper.  You know how restaurants have soft openings before the Grand opening? Well, this felt like a soft closing.  I guess because Kyle had already moved down in August 2015 and we spent most of 2015-2016 planning our Waco departure.  And then when it finally came there wasn't much to do.  I kept saying I was going to plan a good-bye party but summer seems like a bad time with so many people out of town. We didn't do our best to say good-bye to everyone but I think that's because no one really likes saying good-bye.  (Hellos are so much better.) Here are some pics from our final visits around town and from the last week or so in Waco. The famous children's climbing tree at church Picture in the courtyard at St Pauls One more jump in the pool at the Lazy R Chuy's And...climbing trees even at Chuys The new