Spring Break in Texas

Last Sunday, we returned home from a delightful week in Texas for Spring Break. While it was between 30 and 40 degrees here, it was in the 70's and 80's there. I loved it!!

We drove down there and stopped at Nauvoo for a few hours on the way as well as Adam-ondi-ahman and Liberty Jail. It was neat stopping at those places and the kids always love going to Nauvoo to see the old-timey homes and hear about the history there. It is really amazing what those early saints went through. I had never been to Liberty Jail and it is incredible what Joseph Smith and the other men imprisoned there had to endure. What an easy and blessed life I lead.

The girls and Jonathan with a sister missionary in front of the weaving loom where they weave the rugs that they use in Nauvoo.

Caroline kissing and playing with a baby doll.

Jonathan holding up buckets used for water.

Hubble and Jonathan at Adam-ondi-ahman.

Once we got into Texas, we LOVED seeing the bluebonnets lining the highways. The kids would yell whenever they spied bluebonnets. It brought back all kinds of childhood memories of going to the country to see the bluebonnets. So of course, we had to take a few pictures in the bluebonnets.

In Houston, we celebrated Brynn's birthday with her cousins at Hubble's parents' house. She was really excited to be able to have a "family" birthday party (I don't think she's ever been able to celebrate her birthday with cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents). The kids had a great time swimming in their pool and Aunt Tzeitel made an amazing butterfly cake and fairy cupcakes.

At Brynn's party, we also had races on all the little jeeps/motorcycles/ATVs that belonged to her cousins. Caroline loved the tough ATV while her cousin Carter preferred the girly motorcycle. Poor Uncle Joe - not thrilled about his only son liking the pink bike.

Hubble's family has begun to have an annual murder mystery dinner and they were kind enough to put it off this year till we came in to town. The theme was "Murder at the Deadwood Saloon." So I donned some western duds to become "Black Barbara" (an outlaw) and Hubble was "Poker Mac" (a poker dealer). The kids dressed western and played with cousins while the adults acted out our parts, said our dialogues and guessed at who killed "Mitch Maverick" (Uncle Joe). We had a great time!

We also went down to the Aquarium in downtown Houston for lunch one day. The kids loved seeing the fish, sharks, eels and rays swim while we ate lunch as well as riding the ferris wheel afterwards.

Another day, we took our annual trip to Brenham to see the Bluebell Ice cream Factory. We love driving through the country to get there (seeing more bluebonnets, of course) and watching how they make our favorite ice cream (and eating it too)!

On a couple of the mornings while we were there, I needed to go for a run and Hubble's dad, Carey, wanted to take his ponies for a drive and the kids wanted to ride in the carriage. So we would map out how far we wanted to go and get ready and set out. I would lead, running, with Carey and the carriage behind me a little ways and then Hubble's mom, Cheryl, would bring up the rear in her truck with her emergency blinkers flashing. It was hilarious to see the looks we got. We were our own little parade... I should've waved a flag or something in the front.

For a lot of the week, we really enjoyed just hanging out at Hubble's parents' wonderful home. The kids swam every day. Hubble bought a bow and arrow and a BB gun and set up different targets around and taught the girls how to shoot. Julia was our little Annie Oakley with the gun while Brynn preferred the bow. We also brought home a little turtle that was found in the pond at their house and "Sam" now has a new home in an aquarium in our basement. Altogether, it was a magical week and we hated to leave.