Texas Trip

Gabi has been drawing many pictures recently. Here are a few that we hung up on our refrigerator before we went to Texas. She said she drew a sea otter, and then Daddy verbally spelled "otter" so she could label it. For some reason, she loves to draw snowmen. One of these has heart-shaped buttons, which Gabi is very proud of.


Gabi's refrigerator drawings

Texas
The girls and I drove to Texas a few days before the family reunion so I could meet up with some of my high school friends. The girls enjoyed this extra time with their grandparents and uncles and aunt.


Gramma Jane collected stickers for Gabi


Alicia was the first person (besides Mommy) that Bella was happy with


Grampa watching Aunt Alicia with Bella


And now Grampa gets to hold the tired baby Bella

Long-lost Brandy!
One of the most exciting events this trip was the chance to see my very good high school friend, Brandy, who recently returned to Texas from New York. Brandy used to hang out at our house so often that my brother Brian called her his "sister." Brandy was the Lector at our wedding because we were instructed to pick a talented reader for that honor. (Otherwise she would have been a bridesmaid, of course!) After visiting with us, Brandy drove to Galveston to tour NASA and hang out on the beach with her mom for the weekend.


Brandy met the girls


Taking a group shot with my remote control


Gabi hugging Brandy goodbye

Swimming at Randall Mill
Uncle Brian joined the girls and me at Randall Mill to go swimming. What a fun pool, with slides and waterfalls and a lazy river!


Uncle Brian and Gabi


Gabi sliding down the frog slide


Bella liked sliding, too


Gabi walking through the waterfall


Bella flying through the waterfall


Bella loved walking through the fountains on this play structure


Bella catching Gabi as she exits the tunnel

More friends to visit
I enjoyed seeing a couple other high school friends, although my visits were too short.


Stephen and Alicia at their new apartment in DFW


Uncle Brian helping Bella "walk"


Bella waving "goodbye" (with both hands)


Allison and her husband recently moved to DFW from San Antonio


Katie, Melissa, and Sydney

I lingered at Syd's apartment until I was going to be extremely late picking up Michael from the airport. Fortunately, while I was on the way, Stephen volunteered to get Michael since he was closer to Dallas.