Spring Break and Easter

With the baby coming just before summer, we are not making any big plans for summer vacation. So, I thought it fair to do something for for spring break.  We reserved a little cabin at Sea Rim State Park, on the coast really close to the Louisiana boarder

I made the reservation simply because it was near the beach and available during spring break, little realizing it was also mostly swampland inhabited by mosquitoes, poisonous snakes, and lots of alligators, not to mention lots of dead jellyfish along the beach.....Maybe not the greatest place to take small children, but we had fun anyway. Mom and Dad just had to be a little more vigilant with our small brood.

Our cabin overlooked the boat dock and waterway that went back into the marshes. We had a friendly alligator hanging out right next to us and we could see him out the windows cruising around. Needless to say, we didn't spend much time outside around the cabin.

The only morning he wasn't in sight, we let the kids do some "fishing"

which consisted of lots of splashing in puddles,

lots of patient waiting,

and finally a big catch! ... Somehow a minnow managed to skewer itself on Matt's hook.  We turned it into bait.

We did, however, have lots of fun catching crabs!

Michael, especially, had fun with this.  You simply lower a turkey neck into the water and wait a few minutes until you see the bobber starting to move, then slowly reel it in.  The crabs are so greedy they refuse to let go until they are well out of the water. Then they fall, plop, back in. --You lower the turkey neck back in the water and the process endlessly repeats itself.

One morning, (to avoid too much time around Mr. Alligator), we loaded up the crew and headed into Beaumont. We had a great time visiting the Fire Museum there. They had lots of fun, interactive exhibits

and some really cool old fire equipment.  I was quite impressed. They fit a lot of history into that little building.

The giant fire hydrant in the front was also quite impressive.

We also stopped by Spindletop and Gladys City Museum. (You can read a quick summary of the history here: https://www.priweb.org/ed/pgws/history/spindletop/spindletop.html ) We got to see a reenactment of the gusher, tour all the old buildings,

and play some fun "minute-to-win-it" games like fill the watering can with a sponge,

shave a balloon,

and, Joseph's favorite, the cow patty toss.

We did spend quite a bit of time on the beach swimming, building sandcastles, and beach combing ... but I wasn't thinking and didn't pack my phone/camera for the beach trips.  Oh, well.  The kids can't wait to go back .......but I think Mom is going to wait til the kids are bigger than bite-size.


Two weeks after Spring Break, we celebrated Easter!  We kept everything simple this year and had an Easter Egg hunt in our own back yard.  Of course, Nana and Popie and Uncle Stephan came over too.

A few days before, we hosted our playgroup to make Easter cupcakes

and, of course, we dyed eggs.

A Winter Get-Away and Michael's Birthday

For some odd reason, Matt and I always seem to plan our "romantic get-aways" in the middle of February, in really cold places. ...Last year it was New York, the time before that it was Washington, D.C.  This year, it was Baltimore.  At least this time, however, Matt wasn't working through the entire trip, and we had no small children in tow. (Hmmm. Maybe the term "romantic get-away" wasn't such a misnomer this time.) We had a wonderful time!

The first day, we drove up to Pennsylvania to visit Gettysburg.  While not exactly "fun," it was an amazing, solemn experience and one I highly recommend to anyone visiting that area. The amount of sacrifice shown -- by those who fought and by the families who let them go --was truly humbling. I will never look at war and military service in the same way again.

The second day, we drove into D.C. and spent some time touring the Smithsonian, particularly the National Art Gallery and the Air and Space museum.

We tried to go up the Washington Monument. We booked it from one end of the Mall to the other to get there before the last tour (For future reference,"booking it" when you are six months pregnant is not a good idea!) only to find that it was closed due to a broken elevator.....So sad!........But, we did walk around the base and snap some pics before walking (more slowly this time) all the way back to our car at the other end of the Mall.

On Sunday, we visited with one of my very best friends and her family. Sarah and I have known each other since 6th grade and roomed together in college, and it was wonderful to catch up a little.  Her mom (who served as our Primary chorister when we were kids and whom I absolutely adored) was coincidentally visiting at the same time, and it was fun to see her again, too. In fact, I was enjoying visiting so much, I forgot to take a picture. :(  Oh, well. The memories remain.

We had a late flight home on Monday, so we spent the day walking around the Baltimore Harbor. We toured several old ships there on display and had a lovely luncheon overlooking the water.

Then, it was time to come home. Home to my little ones, who were having a great time being watched by Grandma.  I was really happy to find them still up when we got home late that night, so I could give them big hugs and tuck them in as usual. I think I missed them as much as they missed me.

Know what else I missed? Michael's eighth birthday!  He was such a sweetie, he didn't make a big deal about.... Maybe because he ended up have three birthday parties instead of just one.  One on the big day, while Grandma was here. Another "family party" the following weekend. (We had a "friend party" planned, but had to postpone it because he got sick. But understandably, he didn't want to postpone opening his presents.)

Joseph promptly confiscated Michael's light saber and started whacking everything in sight with it.  We ended up having to buy another one just to avoid the bickering between the boys over it.

And a new scooter, just what he wanted.

Then finally the following weekend, was able to have some friends over for cake and playing at the Bounce House!

A few weeks later, my little boy was baptized!  I can't believe he is growing up so fast. I am so proud of the young man he is growing into! He is one of the most conscientious, kind and responsible little boys I have ever come across..... Not that I'm biased, or anything.

A few other happenings this winter:

One of Sadie's paintings from art class was chosen for the annual Klein ISD Rodeo Art Show. She won a blue ribbon for her painting "Sheep on a Hill."

And going along with the rodeo theme, the kids at school celebrated the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo with a rodeo dance at school.

I got to help with Michael's class Valentine's Party. (Poor Sadie was sick, and totally missed it.)

Ada, Joseph, and I visited the Mercer Arboretum, one of our favorite places, just as the spring flowers came into bloom. Beautiful!

I had told my dad that I wasn't up to doing any gardening this spring with the baby coming and everything.  He just couldn't stand the thought of all that good dirt going to waste, so of course he came over and planted it for me.

Six week later . . .

What can I say? He just has the magic touch.