Howdy

We are starting our 4th week here in Texas and I'm FINALLY getting around to writing a quick post. The reason for the delay is that our computer didn't fare the 1600 mile trip too well. Even though it was gently wrapped in a quilt & safely secured in our Jeep. The Motherboard went out completely. We got the sad news on Monday & have decided to lay it to rest & get a new one. For now we are borrowing a computer & hopefully we can continue to get the Internet at our house. I have, however, been going to my in-laws about once a week to check email & read blogs. But by the time I'm done with that & looking up a few necessities, I haven't had time to respond to emails, etc. I apologize! Here are a few random thoughts to begin our update.

**It is AMAZING how dependent we are on our computers! I have missed the email & blog worlds, but I have also missed Mapquest, Craigslist, family web sites, the news, Web MD, Family Fun, LDS.org, DMV info. and more.
**Brooklyn is 4.5 months old & growing like crazy, well except her hair. She is 15 pounds 12 ounces, 25.5 inches long & in the 75-80% for everything. She rolls front to back & back to front. She loves to play on her tummy and eat her toes & ANYTHING else in her reach. Today while on her stomach I noticed her scrunch up her body, put her bottom in the air, and pull her knees up. I'm NOT ready for a crawler, she just can't be that old!
**Madisen started preschool & really enjoys it. We are in a car pool with 2 boys that live in our neighborhood & ward. The boy scene is a fun change for us!
**One of our first days here while we were driving on a pretty main road, Madisen noticed all of the trees & exclaimed, "Mom, it's just like where Joseph Smith went to pray." And it almost is.
**Caitlyn decided to potty train herself while we were 'vacationing'. We only used 2.5 packages of Pull-ups and are accident free in the real deal! HOORAY!
**We met another Caitlyn Carruth, same spelling and everything. Yes, we're distantly related.
**Our neighbors are wonderful & very friendly (almost as friendly as the Bowman's, Carroll's, & Morrison's). They've already showed us some real Southern hospitality... the day our van needed a new battery.
**We are adjusting to the humidity, kind-of. But it already feels a little cooler, fall is around the corner.
**And I think we've escaped a major hurricane. Although it's humbling & touching to hear people talk about living without power for 15 days. It was just the 1 year anniversary for Hurricane Ike.

One last thing: The other night at bed time we were talking about how it snows at Christmas time. Madisen asked if it would snow here, my answer was that I don't think so. Her reply was, "Well, it sure rains a lot though!" Said in an annoyed tone of voice with a slight look of disgust on her face. (More stories that include rain later.)

And I'm off to be mom again.