Hennrich Happenings: Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Friday, July 8, 2011

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

WARNING: Long Post Ahead

I seriously do not even know where to start. So much has happened in the three months since I last updated this blog. First things first, I'm sure almost everyone knows this by now, but for anyone who doesn't, we now live in Austin, TX. Preston got offered a job with a biofuel company called Joule and they needed him to start less than 3 weeks after the offer. We were so excited he got the job but needless to say it was a bit on the stressful side trying to fix up the house, get it on the market, pack, clean, find a place to live, plan a move, have a garage sale, take stuff to DI and the dump, and say goodbye to friends all in just 3 weeks. I may have been a bit of a crazy woman, I'm not gonna lie. (On that note, for any of you who I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to before we left, I am so sorry and I promise it wasn't anything personal).

Moving to Austin wasn't a huge surprise. We had never stepped foot in Texas before coming here but we were looking for jobs here on purpose. The more we talked about it and researched it and prayed about it, the more we felt that Austin is the place for our little family right now. We had always expected to move back to our beloved Colorado after graduation so it was a little unexpected, but we both feel that we are in the right place for us right now. We have heard nothing but good positive things about Austin from EVERYONE we have talked to and we are excited to be here. It will have it's pros and cons for us but so far we like it a lot.

Anyways, so Preston's Mom came down from Idaho before we left and helped pack a ton of stuff for us, as well as keeping Cohen occupied so I could actually get stuff done. It was such a huge help. Then, the night before we left, Preston's Aunt Lisa and Uncle Carl (and kids) and so many of our awesome friends came and helped us clean and do last minute stuff and it was such a blessing. Preston's dad, his wife Marilyn, and his little brothers drove all the way down from Wyoming with a big horse trailer to help us move all the way to Texas. Austin is at least 20 hours from Provo so we stopped in Farmington, NM to stay with Preston's sister Saren and her family, and then again in Midland, TX to stay with his other sister Aspen. It was nice to spend time with his family and be able to do the trip in smaller chunks. Prestn's little brothers rode with us in the truck and were such a HUGE help in entertaining Cohen and giving him snacks and toys, etc during the whole trip and it made things so much easier. Cohen was great the whole time. I'm pretty sure he only cried for a grand total of thirty minutes on a 3 day trip. I was amazed. We couldn't help but realize just how amazingly blessed we are with family and amazing wonderful friends in our life. A special shout out to Becky, Bobbi, Amy, Ashton and Gen, Marie, Aunt Lisa and Uncle Carl, Aunt Marva, Curtis and Marilyn for all of your help! We honestly couldn't have done all of this without you!

P.S. a couple of years ago I wrote a post describing an ongoing argument between Preston and I on which state is uglier. I always said Wyoming, Preston said New Mexico. After driving from one corner of NM to the other, I have conceded that New Mexico is, in fact, the uglier of the two states. Without question. It's just dirt, dirt, and more dirt. And wind. And dirt. Here are some pics of the move down.

This is an actual neighborhood in New Mexico. How would you like a yard like this?

Cohen with Preston's Grandma

Cohen with Preston's Grandpa

Cohen's first time at a splash pad. When the water shot up it freaked him out.

Ugly

More ugly. What we looked at all day every day on the drive.

Good ol' Roswell, NM

Finally in Texas-but still a good 8 hours from Austin. And yes, Cohen is obsessed with ripping glasses off peoples faces and chucking them on the ground. It's fun for all.