Summer is here!

At long last, thanks to Grandmama, we had a weekend away in Roatan, Honduras. It's not as third world as it sounds. We stayed in a very nice condo complex with amazing snorkeling right off the beach, and fresh meals just steps away. We left crayons and pencils for the local school children because those are desparately needed and appreciated.


World traveler arriving in Roatan. See the beautiful Carribean in the background?


Beach view


Riding with a fisherman turned water taxi to the next town for lunch. His wife took the picture. She didn't really know how to operate the camera, but I showed her the ropes. She'll go pro someday!

Island chickens!


Beautiful beach sunset

Meanwhile, summer moves on in Texas, which means peaches are ready to eat!


Shirts off for this peach fest!


Yum!


I love summer!

Summer is here

Summer fun has begun. We started Memorial Day weekend with a trip to a blackberry farm.


Fill up those buckets!


Jack is just going to eat his harvest


Wesley checking our progress


Mama made a delicious blackberry cobbler which the boys enjoyed after an afternoon at the pool. We also made blackberry ice cream, and froze some for later!


Boys having an early Texas peach during a break from swimming in our little backyard pool


Jack relaxing on the patio...in an outfit Mama made!


Playing on the patio in their helmets....Wesley's idea.

Just swinging on a Saturday afternoon

STS-132

Wesley and Daddy took a quick trip to Kennedy Space Center in hopes of seeing the launch of STS-132, the (potentially) last mission for Space Shuttle Atlantis.

DISCLAIMER: Pictures do not do this justice. It was an amazing experience with the crowds, the sights, the sounds, and the vibrations! If you can make the last two launches, I recommend it.

We could have been closer to the pad, but this location let us view the exhibits and have facilities (food, water, bathrooms, shade) that were not available at other viewing sites. The others were completely out in the open - no bathrooms, no anything. Not the best with a 4.5 year old!

We did a 3D IMAX movie, a Shuttle launch experience ride (that scared Wesley a little!), had lunch, and looked at the other space exhibits.


The only picture I took of Wesley!


Shuttle mockup


Rocket booster mockup


Liftoff!






We had some beach and pool time while we were there, and came home a day early...all in all, a great trip!

Happy Mother's Day!

We had a lovely Mother's Day. The boys greeted me with breakfast in bed, we went to church, and then had a nice lunch at Pappadeaux's. Richard took a few pictures, so we'll post those soon if they turned out.

In addition to some running sunglasses from all 3 boys, Wesley gave me some lovely gifts from school - a rose, a frame he made (with a picture of us both inside - so cute!), and this little questionnaire that the teachers had them do. As you can see, they did not edit the responses at all! (55, seriously?) But it is QUITE a treasure.

PS - "Do clubs" refers to my book club, NOT going out clubbing or anything. :)

Happy Birthday, Jack!

Jack is two! We celebrated with a small family get together at a house we rented in Galveston. Here are a few pics.


Splashing in the waves


Jack loves the beach!


Strolling


Digging and building


Cousins


Happy Birthday!


Cupcakes!


Strawberry - my favorite!

Rodeo Time!

It's that time again, and thankfully Spring has arrived in perfect sync.



Time for sunglasses! Wesley loves his, as you will see...


Tractor driver surveying his crops


Watching a milking demonstration


Jack taking a look at the fowl


Eye-to-eye with a llama


Wesley making friends with a baby goat


Hugs!


The Annual Chicken Coop Picture


Big tractor, big tire, little Jack



Taking turns on the big tractor


Learning how to feed chickens and collect eggs - old hat for them!


Wesley planting a tomato 'seed'


Milking a cow...they were able to sell their 'produce' at a farmers market and get 'money' to buy a snack at the end of this exhibit - new this year and well done!


Wesley on the big slide by himself!



On the 'ferrious' wheel with Mama


Tired boy post-rodeo nap