WARNING: I am about to make a HUGE blog post with a ton of pictures. It has been months since my last post and I have a very good reason!!! :)
Chris had been looking for a new job opportunity for quite some time and had applied several places. Then one day he received an email back from Baker Hughes for an interview. Despite already taking a job with another company he decided to go to the interview. He felt if he didn't that he would regret it forever. Baker Hughes is such an amazing and well established company...how could he not go on the interview? The interview required him to stay over night at a hotel and took 2 days. Whenever he got home from the interview he couldn't wait to let me in on the juicy details. Long story short...more money, income doubles in a year or two, great benefits andddd the job was in Bakersfield, CA. As soon as he got to that part of the story I said..."Nope, no way. We are NOT moving to California". That must've been a punch to the gut for Chris. :-/ I felt a little guilty and as if I was being a little irrational and unfair about this wonderful job offer. So over the course of the next couple weeks we gave it some more thought, discussed it with all of our friends and family and got some really great advice. After weighing pros and cons some more Chris decided he wanted to take the job. Once we announced this news to everyone we got an overwhelming amount of support. It was absolutely incredible to know that we had so many people backing us up on this. I think it was most difficult for our Moms to accept but they came around. :) My Mom gave us a 2-year limit...but only time will tell when we will be back to Texas. I have never been more proud of Chris! He is one of the hardest workers I know and has put in so many hours and made so many sacrifices to be given an opportunity like this. What a dream come true!
Chris had been looking for a new job opportunity for quite some time and had applied several places. Then one day he received an email back from Baker Hughes for an interview. Despite already taking a job with another company he decided to go to the interview. He felt if he didn't that he would regret it forever. Baker Hughes is such an amazing and well established company...how could he not go on the interview? The interview required him to stay over night at a hotel and took 2 days. Whenever he got home from the interview he couldn't wait to let me in on the juicy details. Long story short...more money, income doubles in a year or two, great benefits andddd the job was in Bakersfield, CA. As soon as he got to that part of the story I said..."Nope, no way. We are NOT moving to California". That must've been a punch to the gut for Chris. :-/ I felt a little guilty and as if I was being a little irrational and unfair about this wonderful job offer. So over the course of the next couple weeks we gave it some more thought, discussed it with all of our friends and family and got some really great advice. After weighing pros and cons some more Chris decided he wanted to take the job. Once we announced this news to everyone we got an overwhelming amount of support. It was absolutely incredible to know that we had so many people backing us up on this. I think it was most difficult for our Moms to accept but they came around. :) My Mom gave us a 2-year limit...but only time will tell when we will be back to Texas. I have never been more proud of Chris! He is one of the hardest workers I know and has put in so many hours and made so many sacrifices to be given an opportunity like this. What a dream come true!
On September 27th Chris left for Bakersfield, CA with all our things in tow and our 2 dogs, Mia and Molly. I stayed behind due to previously planned vacations and joined him on November 15th. My Mom flew to Bakersfield with me and helped me get settled in. We unpacked the rest of the boxes, put up curtains, got furniture, etc. She helped make our house a home and I am so grateful!!! Below are pictures of the events that took place after Chris was given the job and leading up to my move to Bakersfield.
The weekend following Chris's interview we made a trip to San Antonio/Austin to see my sister. Naturally when we told her about the job offer she begged us not to leave. At this point we hadn't made our decision yet. I will admit this trip did make it really difficult. Texas is the best state with the best people after all! <3
The weekend following Chris's interview we made a trip to San Antonio/Austin to see my sister. Naturally when we told her about the job offer she begged us not to leave. At this point we hadn't made our decision yet. I will admit this trip did make it really difficult. Texas is the best state with the best people after all! <3
We had to give our answer to Baker Hughes by the next week and as I previously stated, Chris accepted the job. About a month after taking the job Chris was told he had to be in California by the end of September. Things were rush, rush, rush after that. The day before he left a good friend and I hosted a going away party for Chris. The turn out was amazing! Chris was incredibly touched that so many people showed up!
I know Chris wasn't too upset about missing our Harry Potter party the following weekend...but we were. He was going to be our Ronald Weasley...even though he has no idea who Ron is, haha. We had planned this party far in advance in anticipation of our trip to Harry Potter World at the end of October. Everyone had such a blast geeking out over this party!
This trip was DEFINITELY one that Chris was so sorry he missed and we missed him too. :( We had made plans months in advance to go to Red River Showdown game in Dallas with my sister, my friend Kevin, his cousin and his cousin's wife. His cousin is a UT Alumni so him and his wife came from Maryland to see the game. My good friend, Kandace, ended up taking Chris's spot. She was for sure a great replacement! <3 The Red River Showdown is one of the best games I have ever attended! We had a great time even though we lost (whomp whomp). We walked around the state fair afterwards and ate food that is REALLY terrible for you. After walking around for hours, we went back to our hotel room and vegetated for the rest of the night, haha
I couldn't leave without seeing my angel (my beautiful niece) one more time. My Mom, brother, older sister, her boyfriend and I all went to see Kayleigh at gymnastics. She was precious as usual! We then took her to dinner and then to the pumpkin patch and proceeded to take 1,000 pictures. Totally worth it! Love her so much!
My Aunt Windee hosted a wonderful Ladies Lunch at her house in my honor a couple weekends before I left. This was a great opportunity for me to see some of my wonderful family before I left. We played a longggg game of Phase 10 (as per the usual), ate delicious food and just talked. It was beautiful and perfect! <3
Now...for the trip that REALLY delayed my move to California with Chris...Universal Studios Orlando for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Now, this is my second time going to Universal this year. It sounds ridiculous...I know. But after my first visit in June (Chris couldn't make it due to work) I begged that we make another trip so he could experience it...also I had JUST missed the opening of Diagon Alley and was dieing to go back and see it (hehe). But once again, he had to miss it! Darn!!! One day honey, one day! The beauty of going to Harry Potter World this second time was that I had read almost every book in the series this time around. On my first trip I had only seen the movies and was mocked and teased by every Harry Potter fan because of this. I recently finished the books and I can't believe I ever waited so long. I am a Harry Potter fan for life now! <3 I was blessed to be able to go on this trip with my best friend, Jessica, her husband, my sister, Katie and my Mom. HUFFLEPUFF FA LIFE!!!
Lastly...my going away party. My party was the weekend before I left. My sister, Mom and best friend, Jessica, planned and hosted it. It was amazing and the perfect tribute to Texas. It was a western theme and was filled with country music, love, tons of food, tons of sweets, booze and some of my FAVORITE people. I couldn't of been happier!
I think this goes without saying but I miss Texas very much. We are having a blast in Bakersfield though and plan to see other places in Cali and make many more memories.We will be back in Texas for a little bit in April for Tommy and April's wedding (HIP HIP HOORAY!) and then we also have a trip planned to Park City, Utah in August....more blogs on those exciting trips will be in the future.
Love and miss all my homies! XOXOXOXO
