Vacation: Day 5

This morning we left Aunt Jana's apartment & headed for home. After breakfast at Shipley's Donuts, David slept until we arrived in Brenham where we visited the Antique Rose Emporium. The demonstration gardens were beautiful!

There were little lizards everywhere! This one was in the cactus garden... notice the leave it's sitting on? We got 2 roses and 2 herbs.



From there, we went to College Station and visited the train exhibit at the George Bush Library on the A&M campus.

David & Dad look at the tiny model train.

I think this one was "garden size" aka "David Sized!"

David & Dad check out the signal display on the lawn.

We drove through Temple & needed a diaper stop, so Dad was happy to stop at the Santa Fe Depot. All of the display cars that had previously been at the railroad museum were now at the station & apparently the museum was inside, but it was closed today. Look closely to see David & Dad peeking through the fence to the working tracks.





Dad helps David climb up onto the platform on this old locomotive.

Below is a video I took with my camera inside the steam locomotive as David & Dad turned knobs, pulled levers, and pretended to drive the train.

Video Hosting - Upload Video - Photo Sharing

Here is David by the wheels of the steam train. We stopped for gas at the yellow place in Belton, then drove through the UMHB campus. I haven't been there since we moved from there about 6 years ago! Brought back some good memories...

They've built a new apartment complex back behind McLane. This is a picture of the entrance. I like how they tied some history into the place! (sprinklers were going is why it looks cloudy)

After leaving Temple, we continued homeward! Supper was DQ in San Saba and we arrived back home about 10:30pm... with David awake!

Vacation: Day 4.2

I'm having serious problems with these pictures... keep watching to see if I can get more photos to add...



Here are Aunt Myrna and Grana.



Mom & Dad cut a rug! I can't believe this actually happened! I'm glad Jana was there to photograph it!!! I can't remember the song. I think it was Frank Sinatra.


The flowers were absolutely beautiful - all fresh.


OK, here's what happened - I plugged my camera in to charge so it wouldn't run down at the wedding. Then left it there.

I'll post some pictures when Aunt Jana sends me her photos... Until then... Josh & Jill got married, David did fine during the ceremony (but did get scared when the trumpet started the bridal procession), it was beautiful, reception was fun. Check back later for more details.

Vacation: Day 4.1

I think I will scream if this doesn't work this time - and you readers will just have to do without these pictures!!!



The flowers at the reception were breathtaking! Each table had flowers in a different antique bowl or pitcher or crystal bowl.


The cousins: Dad, Josh (the groom), and Aunt Jana

It had been a while since they'd been together. The other cousins on this side didn't make it to the wedding.

The cakes were also beautiful. Bride's cake was red velvet & the groom's was delicious chocolate!

David dancing with Aunt Jana. He sure did enjoy his time with her!

David took about an hour nap during the reception, held by Aunt Marlene.

When he woke up, he got his second wind! He & Aunt Jana did a little chair dancing - and David was really hamming it up!

Vacation: Day 3

This is Lavery, 3 months old.

Sure is hard to leave your best friends house when you've been there less than 24-hours and haven't seen her since last summer! At least we have free mobile-to-mobile! : )

We decided to take some group pictures before we pulled out.







Tia Taya & Uncle Matty with
Lavery & Sarina

Dad & Mom with
David

Tia Taya & Mom with
Lavery, David & Sarina

This one was tricky!

David & Sarina both headed for the ball!

The video below was taken outside just before we left their house.



Video Hosting - Upload Video - Photo Sharing


We went back to Aunt Jana's and then headed to Surfside Beach. Unfortunately, the weather was not stellar. As you can see in the photos, the wind was very strong, it was high tide, the waves were pretty tall, and the seaweed on the beach was deep.



Aunt Jana, David & Dad

David did have some fun on the beach, though. He put some shells in his bucket. But he hated when the seaweed washed around his feet. (Mom hates that, too)




David & Dad walking back. David wasn't sure about that sand! Guess we need to go to the beach more often!




After showering off & changing back into his dry clothes, David was very happy!




He was especially happy when we went over to the playground! This was his first corkscrew slide! And yes, he loved it!




The ride back to Aunt Jana's.

For supper, Aunt Jana's boyfriend, Mitch, met us at Good Company Seafood. Aunt Jana & Dad ate raw oysters for an appetizer. (This totally grossed out Mom & Mitch!) Mom had fried shrimp, of course, and Dad had mesquite grilled shrimp with verde salsa. Both were absolutely delicious!

Where Are We Now?

Grandpa asked, "Where are you right now?" Right now we are in Aunt Jana's apartment in Houston. Woke up this morning at Tia Taya's house. Came back to Aunt Jana's this morning, she went with us to Surfside Beach (where we got attacked by seaweed & David did not like it!), came back to her apt to rest a little, went out for really good seafood, and are now back at the apt. Dad, Aunt Jana & Mitch are watching TV; David's in bed. Tomorrow Aunt Jana will go with us to the wedding. Not sure if Mitch is going. Forgot the camera-to-computer cable, so no pictures until we get back home! : (

OH - and our ECI Coordinator called today. We set up the OT eval for Tuesday, May 16.

Vacation: Day 2

Thursday: Aunt Jana had some finals today and tomorrow morning, we we took this time to go visit Tia Taya. This was the first time we'd met the newest family member - Lavery. Dad looks like a pro holding her, doesn't he? Does he look like he's getting ideas???




Sarina and David look at books. I thought it was hilarious how Sarina sits so pretty with her legs crossed, while David squats like a frog! David & Sarina are 2 months, 2 days apart in age.




While David took an afternoon nap, Sarina helped her Mama water the vegetables (and grass) in her garden!



Lavery napped in her stroller while their dog, Prolly, kept an eye on things. Prolly is a small dog... : ) half lab, half great pyrenees! He's a very sweet dog!






Back inside, Sarina finished her supper and crawled up in the chair with David while he shoveled macaroni & cheese into his mouth! Sarina also gave him a drink, holding his cup for him!







Tia Taya supervises bathtime. I was careful to make sure nothing was showing in these photos!!! In the second photo, David was splashing Sarina. We spent the night in an RV at Taya's house. They had borrowed it for her mom to stay in when Lavery was born. It was really nice!

Vacation: Day 1

Wednesday morning, we loaded up & hit the road. But first, we stopped by the fire station to get ice from the ice machine. They were having training, so all the trucks on this side of town were at the station.


This is pretty much how Wednesday went. We left at 10am and arrived at Aunt Jana's apartment about 6pm.

We're ok, just getting ready for a trip. We may or may not post again before we get back...

Saved by a Fireman

Before we get into the story, I wanted to show you David's new use for tomato cages!!! She blends in with the floor, but that's Tabi (the cat) inside the stack!


Isn't this an adorable face???

Well... Mom forgot to get some cash for Dad when she went to the bank, so on the way to MOPS tonight, Mom & David stopped by a convenience store for $4 cash. I guess with gas prices so high, this store found a more lucrative business (than gasoline) to be video slots. The "store" was FILLED with smoke and packed with people playing slots. Isn't this illegal in our state? Anyway, I was a little embarrassed for taking David in there, but he seemed to enjoy the colorful lights & music!

Back out at the car, I loaded him back into the carseat, tossed my purse in the front seat, and shut his door. As it latched, I realized that I had just pushed the lock button. Yes.... I just locked my baby inside the car at a slot machine store!!! Luckily my cell phone was in my pocket, so I called Dad, who was on duty at the fire station. OK, there's no luck involved. God was watching out for David. Again, I "lucked out" that he was actually there & not on a call. His Lt allowed him & his driver in the ambulance to go to our house, pick up the extra key, and come to the store to rescue us. I called my best friend while I waited to pass the time & keep me from crying! The ambulance got there pretty fast and our favorite fireman rescued David from his mother's absent-mindedness.

Later, when we visited Dad at the station, he taught me how to break the car window with the antenna.... just in case it ever happens again on a 100+ temperature day. Better a broken window than... enough said.

We finally made it to MOPS & both enjoyed it. Here is David's art project and the Moms arranged flowers for our craft.

Mom's Happy Birthday

Thanks to everyone who sent text messages and called wishing Mom happy birthday! You know you're a mother of a toddler when your perfect day included going to Hobby Lobby by yourself, taking a nap, and going to the Playhouse! : ) (which we recently found out will be closing at the end of the month!!) : (

As usual, David had a BALL at the Playhouse! Pun intended!

Here he is picking up chicks in the ball pit... hahaha, not really... he's picking up BALLS!!! : )

Mom concluded a great day with some creative activity! The webbing on this lawn chair was falling apart - doesn't this look better????

And yes, it does hold weight! The fabric lady at Hobby Lobby was skeptical about my project, giving two negative comments. I think the result negates her comments, though. I LOVE how it turned out!


Next, I built a garden shelf with some old wood. It doesn't show up very well at night against the fence, but I like how it turned out, too. I'm trying to make the yard more homey. I'll work on some more attractive displays on the shelf another day.