Houston Zoo

Before we were to meet The Speyerer's at the zoo, we stopped at a restaurant for breakfast. We for some wrong information and the restaurant was not open this morning, as it was NYE.  The Café and Bakery was, so we got some coffee and pastries.  As we were waiting on our coffee, Em was watching the pastries being made.  Later a man approached us and said he was photographer and wanted to share a photo he took of Em. Pretty cook I think.

The Houston Zoo.  Pretty awesome.  And considering we have The Audubon Zoo to compare it to.

 We thought this was pretty cool.  We saw this dog in the enclosed part of the Elephant Domain.  They were getting baths and this dog was in there with the handlers.  We saw this sign...

 These cats were unreal. So beautiful.

 This baby Giraffe was so darn cute. 

 Lee took the girls to feed the Giraffe's, but you can't see them from this angle.

The girls had a great time running almost the entire zoo. They are looking forward to spending the next few days together hanging out and playing.

Our time in Houston

It's been way to long since we have made a trip to Houston.  We decided New Year's was a prefect time to hang out with The Speyerer's.  We drove in the Wednesday before New Year's and got a very early start.  We were in Texas for noon.  We planned a night just the three of us and were meeting up with Rachel on Thursday and staying thru Sunday.

 Our first stop into town was The Houston Center Green Gardens.  These greens are right by Minute Maid Stadium and the Art Installations change a few times a year.  You know us... suckers for Art.

 This exhibit was pretty cool.  The round things are concave pieces of stone and there is one at the other end about 40 yards apart.  If you sit in one and another person sits in the other, you can whisper and the other person can hear what you are saying perfectly.  It's amazing and was developed and built by a sound engineer.  Fun stuff.

 We left Discovery Green Park and went to Highland Village to do some shopping.  Of course there was a visit to the Sprinkles ATM, as the line to get in was 20 people deep.

 And then we went to The Galleria.  Spent most of our time standing in lines, as it was extremely crowded.  Emerson and Denny had a great time ice skating.

 Almost busted it...

After a good night sleep, we met The Speyerer's at The Houston Zoo. 

Our Christmas to them

So Christmas Eve Eve, Lila and Courtney came over to let the girls exchange gifts.  What these two didn't know is that the adults had a present for them.  They opened together a Cruise Ship Ornament and we surprised them with a one week Disney Cruise.  The pictures say it all.  This is Lila's first Disney Cruise and the fact that they will experience it together is priceless.  #makinmemories

Christmas 2015

Merry Christmas Ya'll!  What a whirlwind of a holiday break. Lots of fun with friends and family. Our Christmas Eve was filled with Bakin' for Jesus, Church and then onto my Parents house.  And somehow we got no pictures taken with Kaka and Papa and none of us as a family.  I told Denny to help me remember to get pictures of Em in front of our Christmas tree before Mass on Christmas Eve and on Christmas morning.  Well at least we did that!

Christmas morning...before daylight!!  Duncan is listening very intently in case there is something in the letter about him.

She got a Polaroid SNAP Camera.  She had a lot of fun who that.  Several of the pictures posted here are from that camera. She also got a Selfie Stick but that was broken by the end of the night.

Emerson at Kaka's Christmas morning.  And again, no pics.

Onto Denny's parents house for Lunch.  We never think to take pics at Denny's parents, so I did do a good job of accomplishing that!

Em, Roman and Gabby.

Em, Graham and Grayson at Stacie's.

And back at our house for dinner with Ann and Mallory.

 And Mallory

 And Michael

We had a great Christmas and hope everyone else did also.  Looking forward to healthy and happy 2016.
We spent a long New Years in Houston with Rachel, Lee and Katherine.  That post to come soon.

Bakin' for Jesus 2015

As is our Christmas Eve tradition, we bake, or craft, in honor of Jesus's Birthday.  This year she wanted to make Gingerbread cookies.  So, in her PJ's she cut, baked and decorated gingerbread cookies.

Emerson said this one was wearing an ugly Christmas sweater.  I thought it was kind of funny!

The Nutcracker

Another fun activity we have done over the break was a Mother/Daughter Lunch.  A group of 4th grade moms got the girls together for lunch, a gift exchange and then we sat together and watched The Nutcracker.  And what made it even more special is the Lila was in it.  She was a Cook, so that was pretty exciting for the girls to cheer on their friend.