Here a Pack. There a Pack. Everywhere a Pack Pack.

With graduation over, we were left with the next big thing - getting ready to move. Our plans were to leave San Antonio the morning of May 30, which meant we had less than a week to get everything packed. By Monday everyone had returned home from their visit, except one person . . . Andrea.


She stayed behind to help us pack and ended up being a huge blessing. We honestly could never have made our deadline without her. After all these years of school, especially these last 6 years in dental school, Tom and I are worn out, broken down, beat up, just pooped. We had been trying to get going on the packing before everyone arrived for graduation, but were just unable to get going. I don't think I can fully explain how emotionally beat up and tired we are from this whole dental school ordeal, but we just could not get going on the packing. Andrea came and was amazing. She was exactly what we needed. She had the drive to get going, which is what we needed. We're good workers; we just needed someone to give us a push, and push she did. From morning to night, we boxed and taped and cleaned.


I was concerned how the kids would handle things. Only Payden would make comments about things disappearing, but she accepted why when I explained it to her. Although we did have the kids with us most of the time, my friend Cari did watch them a few times throughout our packing, which was a huge blessing and gave them time to play with their friends Dallin and Lexi before we moved.


The elder's quorum asked if they could help, so we arranged for them to come Thursday night. Now every other time we've moved I've been pregnant, and we have received barely any help. Honestly I could count on 1 hand, maybe 2, the people who've come to help with each move. We were expecting the same, but got a pleasant surprise. Fortunately we had a majority of the things boxed and ready to go. By the time they left us that night, we were pretty cleaned out. We'd been giving away a lot of stuff and ended up donating a lot to a family in our ward who own a pawn shop. We even had them clean out our pantry and fridge. I knew they could use the food, but didn't want them to feel embarrassed, so I casually asked if they could help me get rid of the food because I didn't know what else to do with it. They responded and completely cleaned us out. I was really happy about that.

By Friday we were basically in cleaning mode. We had some packing to do because I was packing for our short trip to Utah, packing for our stay in Utah until Tom found a job, and then packing for storage everything else we wouldn't need for a long time. It made things a bit tricky and required me to keep things out, but by Friday I felt I had most of that under control.

Friday afternoon my sister Karin came to drive with us to Utah and then more reinforcements came as my parents brought David to help Tom drive the moving van to Utah. After dinner that night, the kids, Karin, and I headed to the hotel to go to bed, while everyone else went back to the house and finished up. By 11, it was all done.

We are soooooo thankful for Andrea!!!! She was a huge huge huge huge help, and we would have never been able to make it without her. We are also grateful for my parents and siblings and their help. We feel truly blessed to have so many people who love us and were willing to help us out! We needed you and couldn't have made it without you. Thank you!!

Swimming at the Hotel

Since they were at a hotel, Andrea offered for the girls to come swimming. Boy were they excited. They geared up (which took a while) and we headed over. After we'd been swimming a bit, Angela and Scott headed over to say goodbye before going back to Houston. Thankfully she had her camera.



Payden loved holding onto the rail.


She'd then climb up the stairs and shake like a dog for Angela and Scott. Don't ask 'cause I don't know.

Declan LOVED the water.


I LOVE LOVE LOVE this picture of Declan. Especially his eyes.


Thanks for letting us swim Andrea and thanks for visiting and taking some pictures Angela and Scott. We had a good time!

Graduation Day: At the Riverwalk

While most of the Dynes clan stayed home and went to bed early, Tom headed out with David and the Orme clan to take a look at the Riverwalk.


Andrea got a hold of the camera and decided to have a little fun.






Angie, Barbara, Cynthia, and Jeremy in front of Ripley's Haunted Adventure, which is across from the Alamo.


Barbara having a little fun outside of the Guinness World Record Museum.


Finally a shot of the good ole Alamo.


Hmmmm . . . not quite sure what to say about this one . . . Tom reminiscing the days of the 80s.


Finally, they headed down by the river.


There she is . . .


Tom decided he'd be the tour guide while they were there. This is the only shot we got of David.


Here's one of the billion restaurants on the Riverwalk although who the heck wants to eat outside in Texas especially during the summer.


Here's Tom tour-guiding.



Apparently this was used in Miss Congeniality. It's an ampitheater used for a lot of Mexican hoedowns.



Tom and Andrea aren't the only posers in the family. Here's Mary Lou posing in front of a water fountain.


Here's the fountain.


You know you want some of this.


All I can say is I know Tom was behind these next pictures. Take a look at Ronan's toes in the pictures. Tom decided to help him out by crouching down.





Despite the nasty heat and humidity (don't even think the sun setting makes a difference), they had a fun night, and Tom got to have one last hurrah visiting the Riverwalk.

Graduation Day: Luncheon at Pappasito's

We wanted to do a luncheon to celebrate, so Tom picked his favorite restaurant . . . Pappasito's.


The Orme side of the table




The Dynes side of the table



And here is what we got to eat . . . can you tell how excited Tom is about the food?! We got to enjoy ribs, sausage, brochette shrimp, and Pappasito's famous fajitas. It was absolutely DELICIOUS!!!!!


Apparently our waiter is interested in becoming a dentist, so Tom had a good chat with him. Can you tell that he was a tall guy? He towered over Tom, and Tom is 6' 4".


Nana holding Addie.


Papa came over to talk to us and ended up having a nice chat with Declan.


Declan wanted some food, too, but with only 2 teeth it made it hard to find something for him. Tom finally decided some sour cream would be good.


Here's Tom having a little fun . . .


Declan getting some loves from Grandma.


Tom opening Barbara's card for him and getting a good laugh.


After the luncheon we headed home. The girls had a blast playing out back with Scott and Angela.





Then they came in and we played some more Rock Band 2.



It was a long day, but we had fun playing and visiting with everyone.