Catfish John

Enjoying Life

I got a big hug and an energetic "mom" from Esau today. It was such a great feeling to know that I am so lucky and in so many ways. I am blessed to have such a smart, adorable, absoultely squeezable, fun, agreeable and overall wonderful child. I am also lucky to have a husband who is very tolerant, sensitive and understanding. We really are lucky! I feel that we have worked hard for the things that we have and live comfortably without feeling like our lives are over done. Although times can sometimes be trying just as it is for everyone, it's great knowing that everything will be fine in the whole scheme of things.



I am excited to have found a few moms who seem like-minded and fun to hang out with while enjoying our children together. I was able to spend some time at the library yesterday, which was very impressive. I was amazed to see that the entire first floor was dedicated to kids, including an enclosed toddler room, with books, toys, arts & crafts, puzzles, and more. We have visited our neighborhood park, where Esau has made several friends, including local wildlife and friendly roaming house pets. Our yard is pranced through daily by deer and we have even been blessed with some scat on the porch. That's my naturalist side coming out :)



Erik has been working towards finding work and I am about to embark on a coaching experience. Never thought of myself as a coach, but am finding that it suits me fairly well (so far). Esau is having fun just being a toddler and enjoying himself by pulling Zoe around and giving Eve several hugs throughout the day. He found some toys at yard sales and flea markets that he could just not live without and has been engulfed in the fascination of blocks, chalk, and puzzles.



We have added a happy garden gnome, thanks to our good friend Haley! How happy he is to be hanging out around the abundant poison ivy, something I never missed while living in New Mexico.

So many things are different here, the people, the scenery,the town, its neighborhood...it's amazing. I have been enjoying the cooler weather, light breeze (not blow your hair off, 70 mph winds), the green grass and muture trees that are everywhere you look. I definitely miss, however the view of the Organs, the massive landscape and orchards of pecans. Missing friends are a given...obviously.

Who would have ever thought I would one day be drying Esau's diapers by a fan in the window, instead of on a clothesline (which are few and far between in these parts). I guess the humidity would just keep them damp, rather than drying them. Amazing! I forgot what it was like living with 90-100% humidity at practically all times of the summer.

New Home

Our new home, is all that we had hoped for...with much less stuff inside. It is considerably smaller than our home in Mesquite. Nonetheless, it is our home and we have made it all come together in a short amount of time. It is a small 2 bedroom with a gorgeous front yard, 2 car garage, in a really nice neighborhood. A park about a block away will be our hang out spot for the next year or so....

Settling In

Well, we have officially been here for 1 week. It has been nice having family close and within an hour drive. A lot cheaper to travel to see everyone and it's not as chaotic. Our house is cute and quaint, but over whelmingly small...we were spoiled in Mesquite. Esau has just recently become more familiar with our new home and has started to open up a bit. We have met several families in our neighborhood, young couples with mostly boys for Esau to play with. Amazingly there is a grocery store, food co-op, and an awesome park...all within walking distance.

We met another couple that lives a few blocks away at a yard sale this past weekend. I have become more aggressive about meeting people, handing out our phone number to people who seemed like-minded. It has worked so far! It is a little bit different having a child, always looking for those families who may be similar in parenting styles, etc. We have missed our New Mexico home...feeling homesick since we left until about Sunday. It is a different climate, different people, but all positive.

We have already been able to enjoy having family closer by enjoying Mamms & Papps' house on the lake with a boat! We are movin' up in the world of relaxing! Esau is our little swimmer, who is in no way afraid of the water...or pretty much anything these days! He sure did love being in the boat and even kayaking with grandpa! Grandma also kept him safe from tubing when we rode on the boat!

Kacey, my fab sister-in-law will also be a big help since she goes to college here. We have been making plans to have a weekly dinner with her, maybe save her from the school food at least one day a week!

Our plans to have a yard sale are coming together, with a garage full of boxes, it is obvious that it's desperately needed. Hopefully it will be a success! Wish us luck!