Texas in June

June 2009:  Richard's mom came to our house in Burley for two weeks to watch Aubrey.  Aubrey was 2 1/2.  After two weeks, they drove to California together.  I met them there for the weekend for Richard's 10 year high school reunion.  Then I flew back to Texas for the last week of class and my thesis proposal defense before rejoining them in California.

June 2010:  Jessica agreed to add Aubrey to her mix after just having baby Sara the month prior.  Aubrey was 3 1/2, and I was 20 weeks pregnant with Bennett.  Mom flew down with me to meet baby Sara and to visit.  On weekdays, I attended school in Commerce.  Over each long weekend, I drove from Commerce to San Antonio.  Richard flew down for one of the weekends (including Father's Day), and we went to the Riverwalk.  Aubrey and Avery took a three-week ballet class together.

June 2011:  Mom accompanied me and Bennett (8-months-old) to Commerce for the entirety of my residency this year.  Aubrey (4 1/2) again stayed with Jessica.  Mom and I visited Jess over one of the long weekends.  Richard flew down to spend that weekend with us all as well.  (Good thing.  It was Father's Day again.)  I defended my final thesis this summer.

June 2012:  As I had finished all coursework for the program, I did not need to go for three weeks of classes on campus this summer.  Instead, the whole family went down for a visit.  Mom, Richard, Aubrey (5 1/2), Bennett (20 months), and I flew down to San Antonio together.

Richard and Bennett on the airplane to San Antonio

Mom and the children were picked up by Dane at the San Antonio airport, while Richard and I continued on to Dallas (by plane) and Commerce (by car).  I was able to take my oral comprehensive exam and to defend my dissertation proposal.  Then Richard and I drove to San Antonio, stopping at In-N-Out for lunch.

Random Texan carrying heat at In-N-Out

We then spent the weekend together in San Antonio.  Jess and Dane had just welcomed baby Daniel to the family the week prior.  We enjoyed a BBQ by the kiddie pool and celebrating Father's Day with a delicious meal.

Then, as the weekend closed, Mom and Richard headed back north, and the children and I stayed to visit the Sorensens for another week.  And what a great week it was!  Aubrey commented, though, that summer is just not summer without spending a month at Avery's house.  I guess ten days just wasn't enough.  Oh well.  Maybe next year...