March 2013: Houston Vacation (Day 6 Easter Sunday)

Happy Easter!

Today was a wonderful Easter Sabbath. Kathryn's ward has some incredible singers and a concert pianist. Their ward choir performed several numbers from Handel's Messiah. We were also able to be present for Max's priesthood ordination. He joined Andrew as a Deacon today. Now if we could just get Andrew to join Max with some inches.

We had more family in town for Easter today. Cousins Clark and Carol joined us with their children. Annette and Eric joined us again. The feast was delicious with everyone pitching in to help make it so. Andrew loved the food so much he filled two plates and then second helpings for those plates. Then we were entertained by the kids and Brian on the piano. Brian took primary songs written in major keys and transposed them into minor keys while we sang along. It was a quite a fun evening.

March 2013: Happy Easter Martin Family

I miss these guys. Glad they had a fun day!

March 2013: Birthday Girls

These are two of my favorite friends. Happy Birthday Tracey! Happy birthday next week Sharon!

March 2013: Never Done Nana

It doesn't matter what home Rozanne visits, she is a saint and gets down on her hands and knees to clean. And these kids love to make a mess. I love this woman!

March 2013: Houston Vacation (Day 5)

Day five was a day of transitions. Roger left at 6am back to Oregon to begin work. Doug and Sarah left around 11am for the Roberts Easter celebration in Dallas. Brian arrived from Oregon in the afternoon. And Seamus and Bridget returned home from youth conference.

Stu took the brunt of the car/traveler duties. Thank you Stu! Kathryn and I took a five mile jog. Which is a really easy jog if you are talking with one of your favorite people in the world.

Then we cleaned up from all the company Nana, Lizzy, Sophie and I went for a little ladies shopping day. With stops at our favorite stores: TJMaxx and Target. The girls came away with gorgeous scarves and summer dresses. Stevie was an honorary girl and he was delightful!

Afterwards, we went back to the house where the Easter bunny had arrived and hid baskets for the kids which was followed by an Easter egg hunt.

Then, back in the pool for the kids while Nana and I supervised while Kathryn joined Bridget for the YW broadcast and Brian went to dinner with Stu and Seamus. It's been non-stop partying!

Ps-Stevie slept through the egg hint. Better luck next year! Stevie day cheese!

March 2013: Houston Vacation (Day 4)

The next day brought a special trip to the Houston temple. Kathryn and Stu live only two miles from the temple and the temple is on their same street. We went to the morning session and then came home to cousins Doug and Sarah's arrival. Stu made us yummy Texas French toast and the "joyful bedlam" was in full force.

We then let the kids go out in groups of four to decorate Easter eggs. Quite the talented group of artists.

The kids spent much of the afternoon swimming. It was overcast and only in the 70s. I didn't put sunblock on Stevie and the poor guy ended up with more shades of red. The cool temperatures didn't deter the swimming and they swam through dinner. Doug cooked us yummy burgers and hotdogs along with Rozanne's pistachio salad, a fruit salad and various chips that turned the kids hands orange.

Cousins Annette and Eric joined the party with their kids around three an the party was rocking! Lots of swimming and video games with cousins. That evening we took the kids to a park to burn off some energy prior to bed And they were wired. But the kids did settle down and sleep that night. And the adults watched the season finally to downton abbey. It was a fun day!

March 2013: Houston Vacation (Day 3)

Our third day of our trip took us to Alvin Texas to a Bayou Wildlife Preserve. Kathryn was able to get us a group rate that included a safari ride, food for the animals, a petting zoo and a ride on a horse. The kids loved it!

But you know what they say, "It's all fun and games until someone gets gored!" Which is what almost what happens to Roger when he was feeding an African bull that was in the thick of mating season. You know the other saying, "You mess with the bull you get the horn!" The bull shredded Roger's bucket and came within inches of slicing his neck. He was very lucky. Despite that episode the kids loved their day trip which we finished with a picnic lunch. So much fun.

Then that night we adults went out for real tex mex. Delicious!