Austin reminds us of Boston!

One of the highlights of my parents visit was our road-trip to Austin.  Scott rented a van and we headed out late morning Tuesday with a stop at the George Bush Presidential Library on the way.  I had never visited a presidential library, and had no idea what to expect. Was it really a library?  Would I be board out of my skull?  Kids and I were pleasantly surprised to find it was neither.  It was a great, interactive museum dedicated to the four years of George Bush's presidency.  Perhaps with a bit of a bias toward the amazing republican man...but definitely interesting.  My dad was in heaven.  Seriously.  We all really enjoyed the city of Austin.  It is a great size, and full of original shops.  The night we were there we attended "The Trail of Lights".  Pretty much what it sounds like...only bigger than you can imagine.  The next day we headed to the Capitol Building.  I was also very pleasantly surprised with this little educational journey as well!  We spent a few hours wandering those halls!  Such a gorgeous old building.
When we returned to The Woodlands we enjoyed some lazy days by the fire.  Sewing, playing games, watching traditional Christmas movies.  One night we lit a fire in the fire pit and then enjoyed the hot tub.  On my parents last night here we ate a delicious meal at "Jasper's" on the waterway and took a beautiful stroll through the city to admire all the lights.  Gammy and Gampy are missed a great deal.  They had worked themselves into our routine, and have left an empty spot in our home.  BUT having Christmas right around the corner has made the sadness much more bearable!

Entrance to the Presidential Library.

Gampy's new favorite movie!

We watched a 20 minute introductory movie before exploring the museum.

Gampy and kids claim the game was "rigged."

Fiona for president!!!!!

Ethan for president!!!!!

Gammy for president!!!!

Me for president!!!!!!!!

My dad really looks up to this guy.

The rotunda to the Capitol building.

Where the house of representatives meet once every two years for 150 days.

Press conference room.  This guy had something to say...

What comes to mind when you look at the floor mosaic in the Capitol building?

He loves his sissy.

Oh boy!  We climbed a mountain in Texas!

View of Austin.

Christmas number one about to take place.

Yay for new coats!

Chicken noodle soup in front of the fire.

This was in the driveway before heading out on our road trip.

Kids selecting this years ornament.

Shopping in Austin is great!

Out to eat at a fried chicken joint.  Gammy couldn't eat the chicken...too spicy!

This was at the "Trail of Lights"

We found a super bazaar on our way home from Austin!

Best present ever!  New Drone from my parents.

Finished our biggest puzzle ever.  750 pieces!!!

Ethan won, barely.  It went on for two days.

Mmmmm... we also got a new waffle maker!

Nap time for gampy.

Patagonia club.

Ethan's "mulch" angel.

No comment.

A cold day for cutting down our tree...

The kids and I decided to go ahead and get a tree before Gammy and Gampy arrived, and then wait to decorate it with them.  We kept seeing signs for "The Red Caboose Tree Farm" on our way to riding lessons.  So, that was where we went on our way home from another successful canter filled lesson!  What fun!  It was a real experience.  Tractor ride out to the trees, hand-saws waiting, and a whole lot of beautiful trees to choose from.   Fiona and Ethan cut our tree all on their own!  Ultimately we went with a 7 foot Texas pine. Totally different type of tree from the ones back home, but we are happy with how the branches hold the ornaments.  After the tree selection we were driven (by tractor) to the barn that had the biggest goat I have ever seen!  We saw billy goats, bunnies and parrots?  Yup.  About ten parrots, each in their own cages, out among the grounds.
Three days later Gammy and Gampy arrived!  I had only put the lights on the tree.  Fiona, Ethan, Mom and Dad did all the rest.  I am so happy with the result.  For much of my parents visit the weather was cold, and it really did feel like Christmas this past Saturday morning when we had our Hennessey Christmas!

Note the warning about fire ants!

Good old tractor ride.

I had Fiona stand guard at our tree while I did one last review...

Oh yeah, this is the one!

Hard work pays off.

I get to do the "grunt" work.

Um, hi mister goat.

What a huge body you have!

Look at your monsterous head...

We came, and we conquered.

Decorating with my parents.

Our first dinner with Gammy and Gampy in months!