Houston: Part 2

After we adults recovered from the festivities the night before, we decided to make it about the kids again. Time for Egg Hunt #1.

We met up with our old sunday school class who we miss greatly and enjoyed a HOT day at the park. Look, I will admit I have become a wimp.

I miss a lot about Houston.

Heat & Humidity is definitely not on the list.

The kids didn't seem to mind though.

Macie & Lexi were ready to go!

As were my own. This would be the only picture I have of Graham not throwing a fit.

Apparently, he was not a fan of the humidity as well.

And so it begins.

And he's done.

Addison & Beckett hugged each other all the time....prompted or not.

These two would be part of an arranged marriage had we lived in India.....and believed in that king of thing.

But we don't, so we can only hope.

Beckett's mom, Sheila is my kids' second mom.

She is forever picking one of them up anytime they need it and we all LOVE her for it.

She just wants to get in the practice for her #2 due in September....I am so excited for her, I cannot stand it!

You know what I really can't stand?

That I'm not going to be there for it!

Orchestrated Easter shot #1

Orchestrated Easter Shot #2.

Ok, too good, not to include.

These kinds of shots are even better than the ones that do turn out....which we had none of.

C'mon Addison, put your arm around your brother.....

Easter 2011 card

We decided Graham could use some cheering up, so we headed to Chuy's.

Can we just take a moment......

to remember, how AMAZINGLY AWESOME the queso and creamy jalapeno tasted.

Thank you Chuy's. Tex-Mex reigns supreme.

There are no words.

On to Pearland.....(that's south Houston yall)

They are considered within the same city, but nearly an hour & a half away.

But worth it to see famly!!

Addison and her great-grandma, GG.

Enjoying some couch time watching basketball, of course.

Dinner with Uncle Rob & Aunt Karen, GG, and the Harts.

So sweet

Then we continued down the road (after taking a 45 minute detour because "I know where I am going" by Andy) to Sarah & Mike's house. It was so fun for all the cousins to be together again!

I will just take a moment to say that this guy is giving me a run for my money right now.

It's true. Boys are different than girls.

He's into everything, on everything, under everything,

but I love him to pieces!!!

I would also like to take a moment to give props to Apple for creating the best babysitter in a pinch.

We played all day Monday and grilled out that night.

Correction: Mike grilled out.

Under the absolutely amazing pergola that he BUILT BY HAND himself.

And it was delicious.

Then the kids kept each other occupied while the adults tried to decompress from the day.

This would be the time when in OTHER families the wife asks the husband to take the kids up for a bath because she is so exhausted from dealing with them all day but the husband who is also so exhausted from working all day can think of a million other things he would rather be doing and then the three year old throws a fit because she doesn't want to go in bed and the mom goes upstairs to try to alleviate the situation but then argues with the husband about whether or not she is coddling the three year old and they end up fighting rather loudly in front of their own family, which would be truly embarrassing.

So you know, I'm glad that only happens in OTHER familes.

Houston: Part 1

We got back from a 10 day trip "home" to Houston late Saturday night. It was absolutely fabulous and SO great to see friends and family. We fit more into 10 days than I ever thought possible, so I'll have to break it up into several posts.

When we booked this trip months ago, we were able to use miles and decided to forgo a seat for Graham. Gotta get the free ticket while you still can, right?

We bought rounds of drinks for those who were sitting around us.

No we didn't, but we probably should have.

When we landed at 11pm in Texas (another stellar move on our part in the ticket buying dept.),

Addison was going through the airport double fist pumping saying, "Yea!!! Texas!!" over and over again. It was good to be back.

The first Friday we were there, Nana had all sorts of fun activities scheduled for her grandkids.

She had gotten live worms and a brand new pink fishing pole for Addison so that they could go fish out at the pond behind the house.

They were back 5 minutes later (I had wisely decided I was not up for fishing).

I asked, "Were the fish biting?"

"Not in the 45 seconds she was willing to stand there.", she replied.

Activity #2

Feeding the Ducks

this one was more of a success

Graham liked the ducks.

But he liked the bread more.

He would race the ducks for stale bread that was being thrown at them.

You would have thought I never feed this child.

Then he enjoyed some time with Poppy while we got ready to pack up and go to the Cocke's house.

Oh, it was SOOO good to see them!!! Graham loved getting to eat at the Big Boy table with Beckett.

The main reason we went back to Houston was to see one of my closest friends, Becky, get married. Without going into details, this wedding was one of most precious things I have ever witnessed.

Andy and I have known Becky and her family for almost 8 years. Three years ago, she went through an incredibly hard time that devastated not only her but those of us close to her. I have been so inspired to watch her be not only an incredible mom to her two precious boys, but also just grow and become such a secure, happy, and beautiful (she was always beautiful) person. Her faith has strengthened all of us around her and allowed her to be ready when God placed such an honorable, loving, and just plain awesome man into her and her boys' lives.

So you can see why this was not an ordinary wedding.

This was a celebration of a family and what God had provided for them.

I loved this bookshelf that was on display at the rehearsal dinner.

It's hard to get an appreciation from this picture, but it held so many symbols of this new family. There were so many cute pictures of Cory and the boys, grandparents, and symbols of what this wedding was bringing together. Look at the 4 pairs of shoes on the bottom shelf!! So precious.

It was held at a park that was just beautiful and of course, the kids were part of the celebration. Addison and Graham had so much fun running around and playing with kids they hadn't seen in 6 months.

And we had fun doing the same.....and eating.

Saturday, two of my close friends, Sheila & Kat, and I went to eat lunch at Black Walnut.

That way I could scratch Sante Fe salad off my list of "must have meals" before I leave the state.

Then we were off to pedicures!

Before we headed to the wedding ceremony for Becky & Cory.

There wasn't a dry eye in that chapel.

All happy tears of course.

Andy said he's cried 3 times in his life.

1. When his mom died

2. When Oklahoma State lost in the Final 4

3. When Becky, Cory, and her two boys said the blessing together at the reception.

I'll forgive him that our own wedding, nor the birth of our children apparently made the list.

Then it was time to celebrate!!!

Can I tell you how much fun that night was?

No, not really. Because I really can't put into words how INCREDIBLY AWESOME it was to have a night kid free, with all of your best friends together in one room celebrating.

Becky, me, Jacqueline, Sheila

Cue the music....

so happy, together.......

The reception was incredible. Becky did an unbelievable job.

Just add party planner to her resume.

We had Kirby's Steakhouse all to ourselves and the best food, music, decor.......

It's just really too bad, there were no drinks being served.

I kid.

The pic didn't turn out, but I wanted to get one of Becky beginning her toast.

This is about as good as date night gets.

Much, much more to come.....