Memorial Day Weekend

On Memorial Day weekend Mark arranged last minute for us to go and stay at a B&B. It was an adorable house called the Homestead House. A man moved from Houston and renovated 2 properties on a few acres in Burton, Tx which is 12 miles or so south of Round Top and SW of Brenham. It was a wonderful get away and the kids surprisingly loved it. They were into all the little Americana knicknacks. The gardens between the houses were lovely. We spend some time in the house, then went to Round Top for dinner at Royers. After dinner we played at a local park and then we went home to do some reading in the log cabin reading room! We were served a wonderful breakfast in the owners house of fruit, cheese, granola, bacon, pancakes, eggs, meats and juices. We even made it home on Monday in time to go to a GCC party at Pastor Dan's house, which was fun fun fun. The kids were understandingly a little rough on Tuesday!

My sweet girls in matching dresses with matching sodas. 

The house was an original log cabin that has been added to. The owner has filled it up with Americana decor mixed with Catholic images and statues. Here is Matthew with a living room soldier/angel. 

An interesting room

This is a barn type building between the owners house and our guest house. 

A bathtub planter! 

Off to dinner in Round Top 

A dinner at a great place called Royers. It is small and a bit of a dive, but the food is wonderful and you have to make a reservation or you will be forced to wait for a long time. 

Momma and Laura 

I love my dad. 

Playing in a tree in the square in Round Top. 

Saturday waffles

Laura getting her turn to stir.

Saturday Waffles with Dad

Making waffles with daddy. This is something we do every Saturday. A little decadent, but the memory will be worth it.

Day in Houston

Jamba Juice for well, Jamba Juice. Yum Yum. Later we went over to see our old neighbors, they were not in, but I got a big treat - our old house has been leased out and was empty. I went up and looked in the windows and I could smell it, the house has a unique earthy smell that I knew for 6 years. Matthew remembered times playing in the yard with Lily. It was nice to be there. One day perhaps we could buy it back. I brought 3 of my kids home to that house from the hospital. It is sentimental.

Miller Outdoor Theatre

We went into Houston to see the AD Players 'James and the Giant Peach', at the Miller Outdoor Theatre. It was awesome. We had a picnic afterwards while getting up the courage to go and meet the cast! The back of the mom you see is my friend Dana who does a great homeschool blog.

Lily's wildflowers that she and her dad planted back in October. I made the little sign.

3 little fairys 

Death in the family

My grandmother passed away yesterday. She was 90 years old. My dad will have to find ways to fill in the time he has spent attending to her in her long death process. A sad freedom. At least she got to meet Matthew when he was 9 months old. She almost lived to see the rest of my brood as we are going there in the summer. But God knew her days.

Wedding Anniversary - May 12

My very handsome husband of 11 years. With the 3 big kids cared we went into Houston for the day and bought a sofa at our favorite store 'Cierra'. Then after lunch at a cool place in Montrose hit the art galleries, Barnes and Nobles, dinner at Cafe Lux. It was a very Mark and Shoney day.

Lily hugging a flower. Did I say we named her well? The girl cannot pass up a flower. 

My precious Laura. She is so full of personality and life. 

Matthew and dad on their way to Matthew's first robotics competition. He was part of a team that built lego robots that have to move pebbles around for points. His team didn't win, but he got a medal anyhow! 

Enjoying the lovely weather and feeding the fish in our pond. 

Matthew took this picture of Annie and me. 

Many a sippy cup have I handed out! 

Laura found my old face paints, in college I was a professional face painter. We had fun painting Lily and Laura. Matthew even painted on the girls. Here Lily is being a cat! I think I need a little practice in the art.