Houston: back to where we began

While we were in Houston, we did quite a bit of driving.   Some of this driving involved scouting out potential areas to move should be ever get transferred back.

This was really just an excuse to drive around and explore because a transfer in nowhere in the immediate future (at least we're hoping).

Anyways, while driving, we happened to be near the area where the church we got married is.

Andy and I never went to this church...to be honest we just thought is was a beautiful church and in a good location....and that fit the bill for us at the time.

Anyways, being the sentimental romantic that I am, I wanted to take Addison by and show her the church.  It was POURING down rain so I thought it was going to be a quick drive by.

We drove under the portico and I actually got out to try to see if it was unlocked by chance.  

(There were no cars to be seen in the parking lot)

It was, and Andy said, "You want to go in, don't you?"

Yes!  I hadn't been back in seven years and I just thought that would be so cool to show Addison since she has been extremely into wedding pictures lately.

That, and I was just being sentimental.

We got the kids out and once inside tried the sanctuary, which was open as well....but pitch black.

This church has the MOST BEAUTIFUL stained glass I've ever seen.  It was my favorite part.

So I just stood there for a minute in the black sanctuary with the thunder booming from outside and it was beautiful.

After a few minutes, the building manager came by to check us out.  Once he heard that we had gotten married there and were reminiscing, he offered to go in and turn all the lights on.

Then he took a few quick pictures for us.

Although they didn't turn out great, I love that we have these pictures with our kids on the same alter where we said "I do" almost 7 years ago.

It was seriously one of my favorite memories from our Houston trip.

I told y'all I'm sentimental!

Houston: Meeting the babies!

One of THE hardest parts about not being in Houston is not being around for the births of my closest friends' babies.  I got a text on November 27 that my best friend was giving birth to her TWO boys.  I have been going crazy for 3 months not getting to see and love on Cash & Walker.

I cannot tell you how happy it made me to finally lay eyes on them and hold them......not to mention just getting to catch up with Mark & Jacqueline.  It was heaven.  And so was Mark's cooking....that never gets old.

Can you believe that Cash was born at 33 weeks 3 months ago?

 I would say that this cutie has definitely caught up in growth!

Cash is a total mini Mark and Walker definitely looks more like Jacqueline.  They are so precious!

    Everytime I see these pictures, I can't help laughing because I feel like I'm looking at pictures of baby Mark Donat.  I mean, he's even got the same expressions~ it kills me!

 and Walker is just super sweet.

love getting to hug on these two!!

 and then cute little Davis!!!  Last time I saw this pumpkin, he was just 6 weeks old!  He is the happiest, sweetest love.....Sheila is so blessed!

 and then my sweet friend Kat just had her TWO little boys late January.  They actually had just come home from the NICU the week before we got to Houston!  I loved getting to hold precious Merrick & Taylor.  Let me say it again, I DETEST not being around to do this all the time!!

Houston: Nana's bathtub wins

I am the first to admit that I hate giving the kids a bath.

Ever since they were newborns, Andy and I have played by the "every other day" rule.

Unless they really get dirty....then rest assured, we will clean them.

We are just not fun, bath people.

For the past year or so, we have forgone baths for showers because it's just quicker.

I let Andy deal with all that efficiency cleaning.

But if we had a bath like Nana, I could definitely cross over.

Nana has the coolest tub ever, and I guarantee that next time we go to Houston, this is one of the things they'll be most excited about.

Houston...here we go!

 We just got back Tuesday night from a great 9 day trip to Houston.  It's always fun to get to take the kids back, let Nana & Poppy babysit, see friends, and eat a lot of great food.  We have only been getting to take the kids back once a year (because buying 4 plane tickets is not so cheap)...so we try to make the most of our time there and extend/cram in as much as possible.

 I have to say, since traveling last year with them (and holding Graham on my lap for the 3 1/2 hour flight), traveling has gotten about 100 times easier....thanks in part to Apple and the DVD player.

This is how they spent much of their time.            

 

 I actually got to read 2 magazines...amazing.

The kids adjusted quickly (too quickly) to the time change and were up bright and early the first morning.  They got to spend lots of good time with Poppy & Nana.

 And Graham also introduced Poppy to one of Apple's "gifts" to parents of young children.

 There was lots of reading time with Nana and lots of "show" watching thanks to the 7 days straight of rain we had while we were there.

The weather sure wasn't doing much for the "move back to Houston" campaign.

 The one day it DIDN'T rain, Nana took the kids down to feed the ducks.

Graham loved it.

 Then we took the kids up to my mom's old school.  She was principal there for over ten years when she retired a few years back (the year she became a Nana).

They surprised her with the honor this year of naming the library after her.

Addison was excited to meet everyone but I think she thought it was cooler that her picture was up on the wall.

 Much much more to come....

        

bun in the oven

Ha!  I gotcha....didn't I?

No, I'm not pregnant.

But Nina is and I took her pictures last weekend.

Yes I have another site to share those, but since this was my favorite shoot thus far, I had to post a sneak peek over here...

and then it's back to separating the two, I promise....because there will be many HOUSTON adventures to share soon, I'm sure.

 If you want to check out more pictures from the session,

hop on over HERE to that other little site.