Feels Good to get Out of The Woodlands.

Today we set out to explore the towns around us.  The Woodlands is a picture perfect place...but sometimes too picture perfect.  I needed to get away, see some old buildings, cows, crooked streets, and people!  We headed to Montgomery Antique festival.  What a treat.  Not only were there tons of tents with antiques, but the town seems to be geared toward that market all year round.  The shops are old Texas homes.  Just how I imagined..Spanish moss draped trees, very crooked wide old floorboards, super tall old glass windows, tin ceilings in the kitchens...just gorgeous!  The kids even enjoyed looking at all the interesting things from the past.
I enjoyed the true Texans as well!  We asked a lady for some advice and she answered, "Well, that's up to y'alls."  Yup, y'all has a plural tense! Hard to believe we were only about 25 minutes from home!

Some rye bread I baked.  Yum.

Ethan stealing to second.

An average week...

Let's not forget school.

Love this pitcher!

Our Texas adventure to Montgomery.

Love this porch, and the little girl on it!

I had to drag Ethan and Scott out of the creepy doll room.

Neat little restaurant.

Our new little buddy.  Hanging in someones yard.

Love this bud vase I got!

Check out how sweet this table cloth is.  Score!

Daddy's Know Fun!

Last week the kids and I took a long, long bike ride.  What made it fun for them was stopping at the playgrounds we encountered.  I just enjoyed the freedom of the bike paths, and the weather...and of course the company!
    This past weekend (while I was away) the kids enjoyed some serious fun with Scott.  He took them to a Friday night baseball game at the Astros Stadium!  They were playing the Red Sox!!!!  The Red Sox won, and there were fireworks at the end of the game.  The kids will remember that night always.
Ethan's team The Brewers also had a game this past weekend...and they WON!  Ethan pitched them out of a hole, and he got the game ball from his coach...but I'm not bragging...

Lego explosion.  Looks like Fiona was caught in the crossfire.

Some seriously dark skies here recently.  Pool almost overflowed!

These pictures were taken in the same day!  Weather clears fast as it comes in!

Such a monkey.

My favorite spot in the Woodlands.

Dad's weekend with kids.

Great seats!

Meeting Astro.

New Mama's, Soon to be Mama's, and Old Hats...

This past weekend I flew to Tampa to surprise my friend Hallie for her 40th birthday!  Lillie had the bright idea about a month ago...and we have been planning ever since.  I arrived Friday morning.  Hallie's husband Emiliano picked me up at the airport while Hallie was busy at work (as a 4th/5th grade science and math teacher).  Lillie was already at the hotel, and the two of us enjoyed the early afternoon exploring Tampa.  The hotel had complimentary Museum of Modern Art tickets...so after lunch we ventured there.  Did I mention Olive was with us!?  I have been dying to meet this precious baby!  The trip was not only to celebrate Hallie's birthday, but also to meet Lillie's daughter who turns 6 months this week, and to see Hallie's growing belly!  She is due with her first baby this August!  So many great memories were made!  I am so lucky to have these friends in my life...since kindergarten...  To see them as mommies has been a dream of theirs, and mine for a while now, and I cannot express how very happy I was to hear them chatting about all the newness of their experiences, and to know the joy they are in for.

Le Meridien...fabulous hotel.

Museum Modern Art.

Me and Lillie

OMG!  Olive!!!

We surprised Hallie with a pedicure...and ourselves!

Yup.  40.  How did that happen?

Thai food birthday dinner.  Yum.

The new family!  Lillie, Paul and Olive.

Emiliano getting some practice before his little girl arrives in August.

Hallie, Emiliano and growing baby girl.

On Sunday we went to the Thai temple for insanely delicious Thai food.

Veggie, rice noodle soup.  

Hallie and Olive.

Our last few hours together at the temple.  I miss everyone already...

Look at those Tomatoes!

The weather has been humid and hot one second, breezy and sunny and cool the next, swimming weather, hiking weather, sweatshirt weather and the next second tank top weather... I thought New England was ever changing...Texas is pretty dramatic!  What I do love is that just about anyone around here can have a green thumb.  Plants go crazy with the sun and humidity, and I very rarely have to water.  Our tomatoes have been growing huge since the day I planted them.  I think we will be ready to pick a few in the next week.  Our hot peppers are ready to harvest now!
 I took the family to Hobby Lobby yesterday after Ethan's game (they lost, but Ethan had his best game yet). I have been hearing about this place since we landed, and it did not disappoint.  It is Micheal's, Jo Anns, and Homegoods all rolled into one.  HUGE!  Scott went bananas buying western themed decor for his office.  I had to beg him to leave..he outlasted us all.  Shocker!

Fiona and Paul in a serious battleship game!

Did you know there are monkeys in TX?

Needed a little review on math terms...

Huge tomatoes!

My main man and I snuggling this morning.

Hobby Lobby happiness.

Hobby Lobby also carries rocket powered cars...who knew?

Scott got it for Ethan?

3-2-1...blast off!