Actually leaving and arriving...

So leaving Fort Worth was really much harder than I thought it would be. I was doing pretty good with the packing and emptying of our home. Mom came over early on Thursday to help and she was a life saver!
The packers and movers really did an amazing job! We have opened everything and the only thing broken was one crate and barrel wine glass and a mirror from ikea was cracked. Considering they packed everything in our home from our tv's to our clothes to our dishes, we were impressed! We decided they did it much faster too! Not like myself, who would have stopped, flipped through the books, looked through the pictures, etc.

We had some sweet friends stop by ;-) Oh and you can tell how little we actually have. Our stuff didn't even fill up past the M in Mayflower on the side of the truck!

We miss our house ~ but are really working on making our apartment home.


Mom made a chocolate pie ~ it was delicious!!

Since Dave left on Friday, he and Brett celebrated Valentine's Day on the road. Not really sure it is how Claire and I saw V-Day going down this year, but I was really excited for the Buchanan boys to have a roadtrip! So the best I could do was make them a goodie basket ~ which is harder to do than I thought. Brett is not into junk food ~ Dave is. Then, I didn't want to waste money, but was Aleve really exciting to get? Maybe they would need it? I finally accumulated all the 'goodies' and went to put them in the basket, only to find the basket had been packed! They pack everything! We had very few boxes lying around - but this sufficed.

Then, when Dave and Brett loaded up his truck to really move, it wasn't so easy anymore. I knew I would see Dave again, I knew I still had time with my friends and family, but to hug Brett goodbye was so sad. Thankfully, I had another day filled with my mom, sister and friends.

We woke up Saturday, cleaned the house one final time and headed to Neimans for lunch ~ my favorite! We had a champagne lunch and I LOVED it! But like the day before, leaving these girls afterwards was tough! They know me inside and out and I am praying for friends like them up here!

So then, Mom, Marianne and I did some last minute shopping: boots, check, gloves, check, cashmere sweaters on sale at Dillards for $29, check, check and check!

We arrived home and my sweet stepdad asked me what I wanted for my last dinner in Fort Worth. I was having such a hard time deciding between Piranhas and Taverna - so what did he do? He got both! It was delicious and SO fun! We laughed and relaxed. It was such a special night with family.

Thankfully, I woke up late and the race was on to the airport. I think I literally pulled up 44 minutes before the flight and I pretty sure you have to be there 40 minutes before to check your luggage and board. Can you imagine if I missed my flight to move?! Dave would never let me hear the end of it. This was by far the hardest goodbye...to my mom and my sister.

They both helped me more than I could possibly explain these last few weeks. I have a new found respect for people balling their eyes out in the airport while waiting at the gate - I mean, who knows where they are going, who they are leaving, etc. I couldn't manage to lock it up ~ it was really ridiculous. I managed to get to my window seat and just stare out the window for fear the woman sitting next to me would see how crazy I really was. Then, I heard it - Honey, do you need a kleenex? Did I ever! I was barely able to get out that I had just left my mom to move to Pittsburgh.

She was seriously an angel! Her husband was a pastor and she just gave me kleenexes, talked to me about all about Pittsburgh and marriage (hers early on), her children, showed me pictures of her daughter trying on wedding dresses...things I thought were so personal, she just opened up about. She gave me a list of churches to try. We shared a glass of wine and some chocolate and then she prayed for me at the baggage claim while just giving me a big hug. Honestly, I just don't think I would feel quite the same right now without her. It was amazing, just what I needed!

Then I got this email from her later on that night:

Hi Kristen,

Just wanted to welcome you to western PA and remind you that I am thinking of you and praying for you!

I hope you have a lot of fun getting your new home set up and settled into.

Looking forward to seeing you again soon. Maybe I can meet you sometime after I get back from my Florida and Maine trips in the next month. I'll be interested in hearing how your church search is going.

Warmly,

Lori

David was so sweet as he reminded me that this is where the Lord wants us...he even had my neighbor on the plane picked out long ago.

tunnels

I have never lived in a town with tunnels. In fact, I have been through maybe a handful over the course of my 28 years. Well that was until now. Pittsburgh has a TON of them! In fact, they date back to the 1830s! There is this cool mountain named Mount Washington, which we live on. To get on the other side of the mountain, where we work, we drive through tunnels, everyday. Here are some pictures of the Liberty Tunnel and Fort Pitt Tunnel.

The Liberty Tunnel is 5,889 ft in length! It takes us 1 minute and 45 seconds to drive through!


Its so weird to not be able to see the other side. I also hate to think about how much land is weighing down on top of it.

This is us driving through the Fort Pitt Tunnel this morning.

I am learning to love the little things like this here in Pittsburgh!

Anderson Family Pics!

I am so excited to post some new pics of the Anderson family! They are SO cute and we can't wait to get to Wichita to spend some time with them.

This is the newest addition ~ Carter Elliot

This is Julie, Carter, Grayson and Jerry. Grayson is the sweetest big brother! Apparently he has been telling Jerry that "Carter is so cute!"

The Anderson Brothers


The Anderson Boys!


Grayson, Gramps, Carter and Nana


I love this one ;-)
Carter looks so cozy!


Nana and her boys


Sweet Carter came home yesterday. Everyone is doing really well ~ healthy and happy!

We love you Julie, Jerry, Grayson and Carter!

Carter Elliot

I am SO excited to announce the arrival of Carter Elliot, our new nephew!

He was born at 7:58 a.m. this morning. He weighs 8 lbs, 2 oz and is 20 inches long.

Praise God for this wonderful addition to our family!

Dutch's ~ Goodbye for Now!

Last Wednesday (before the movers arrived Thursday morning), our sweet friend, Lindsey, organized a 'Goodbye for Now' dinner at Dutch's. It was SO fun and a much needed break from the stress of moving. It was a great way to see everyone before we left Fort Worth. Thank you so much Lindsey for making it such a special evening! It meant more than you will ever know!


This is me and Lindsey. She was my very first friend when I moved to Fort Worth ~ our vice prinicpal had her give me a tour of our middle school. I spent the night at her house the first weekend I was in Fort Worth in 7th grade. I will never forget that night - we did the elephant walk with her entire family out Main Street (as to not get separated). ;-) We have had some wonderful times over the years!

She and some of our other girlfriends came up with the neatest gift idea. They bought the cutest coffee table book called This is Texas. It talks about all the different cities/places in Texas. She brought pens so everyone that came to Dutch's could sign in the book. Such a thoughtful idea and a sweet reminder of all the people we love back in Texas. I cannot wait to proudly display it in our Pittsburgh apartment!

We had a great time hanging out with our friends that night. Here are some fun pictures:

This is Brooks, Aaron, Brett, Marianne, Dave, Me and Dan. These are some of Dave's best friends. They are sweet enough to let me and Marianne run around with them every now and then. ;-)

Here are some of my best friends: Kathleen, Brooke, Spencer and Whitney

My mom, me, Marianne and Lindsey.

The Wards, Bensons and Blackewells.

Miller and me

Some siblings: Mike, Marianne, Dave, me, Chad and Brett

More family: Dad, Kim, me, Lexie, Karol and Marianne

Kathy, Brooke (pre-Rowan), Grant, Lindsey and Cassie

Brooke, me and Kathleen

Some of my favorite girls!

Dave and his guys

My mom and Lindsey's mom, Sheri

Us and the McMillans

Ed and Haddy

Darrick, Carrie, Grant and Brooke

Shannon, Lindsey and Kathy

We had a great time with you all! We miss you already!! Thanks so much again for a wonderful time Lindsey!

Celebrations Part 2

Following up on the earlier post, Brooke is another one of my best friends.

Brooke and I also go all the way back to 7th grade. I so wish I had some pictures of Brooke, Kristen and myself then. I remember one in particular where Miller and I were wearing rugby shirts (probably from Harolds or Limited Too) and I believe Brooke was in a plaid - dark green, navy of course. Ha - I am going to have to look for that.

Anyway, like Kristen, Brooke and I have had several fun-filled years of friendship! In high school, we worked together at Mama's Pizza. She actually called my parents when I got arrested for selling alcohol to a minor there - which was later expunged and completely ridiculous for those of you just know hearing about this story. But she is that kind of friend. We decided to be roommates freshmen year at Texas Tech and that went so well, we decided to do it for the next 3 years. She is the perfect roommate and an amazing friend. Some words I would use to describe her: cool, laid back, trendy, responsible, smart, selfless. Oh and a fabulous cook!

Brooke has had big reasons to celebrate lately! She and her husband, Grant just had a baby girl. Sweet Rowan came into the world on February 16, 2009. It is killing me I haven't gotten to snuggle with her yet! Just 2 more weeks!! She is absolutely precious! I love these hands crossed.

Prior to her arrival, we had several celebratory showers! It was so special to see your friend take on the role of motherhood and prepare over those 9 months. She did it so gracefully! Here are some fun pics:

The decorations were so cute and the food was delicious!

Her mom made her a special frame with several family heirlooms. It was beautiful!

Thought these decorations were so cool!

We are so excited for your family!

Celebrations Part 1

We have had so many reasons to celebrate lately! God is so good!! However, I am a little behind on documenting!

Kristen (or Miller as I call her) is one of my best friends and has been since 7th grade when I moved to FW. I vividly remember her asking me to spend the night the second weekend I was there. My mom almost didn't let me go because she had no idea who Kristen was until my stepdad stepped in and said, 'no worries, I went to middle school with her parents!' I love that about FW! So many friendships that go way back. Kristen and I were also roommates out in Lubbock. When we came back here, she opened a bridal boutique and I bought my wedding gown from her. She was a bridesmaid in my wedding and I am looking forward to standing up there with her in her wedding. We have shared some very special memories over the years and her friendship means SO much to me!

I am really happy for Kristen as she is getting married to Stuart in a few weeks. It broke my heart to move away so close to her wedding, but I cannot wait to get back and celebrate with them both. They are wonderful, caring people whom Dave and I both love spending time with.

I have not only loved hearing all the planning details of Kristen's wedding, but also attending her showers! She has fabulous taste ~ it is so fun to see what she has picked out, and even more fun to spend that quality time with her and our girl friends before her big day!

Here are some fun pics!Lindsey and MillerLove these girls! Miller, Cougar and Donatella

Here is my mom and Kristen

No idea what Brooke and I are talking about, but are moms don't look interested. ;-)
Kathy, Gretchen, Brooke and MarissaLove you Miller!