Weekends - Packin' it all in

We packed in just about as much fun as we could in to this little day.  We started with the art festival at Tomball High School where BOTH of my girls had pieces of art work on display.  Rachel has been selected every year but this was a first for Audrey.  They were really excited!

Rachel

Audrey

After the art show we headed to High Meadow Ranch to swim. 

We ended up at Ogie's Grill for burgers and fries around 1:00. 

This is one of Claire's genuine smiles. 

She does not just do this for the camera.

  It is a face that I see every day one hundred times a day and

 I never get sick of it!

This was a special Saturday for miss Claire because she attended her FIRST EVER Birthday party!  She was SOOOOO excited!

Around 7:00 we headed out to Brenham Texas, home of Blue Bell ice cream for their 122nd annual Maifest.  That's ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO YEARS!  Amazing.  It was such a pleasant night, cool and clear with a nice breeze.

Apparently there was a super moon that night and I did manage to take a photo. 

The kids did not stop moving the entire night.  In fact, they spend the majority of the night spinning around in circles in one form or another.   

Weekends - Dates to Remember

One of my favorite dates we have had in a while started off with swimming and tennis up in Magnolia.  Dusk is at its best on the winding roads of High Meadow ranch.  The trees slowly turn to silhouettes against the sky as it changes from blue to pink to orange and red to black.  

We chased tennis balls around the court as the sun began to set in the western sky.  

(He may look irritated at my picture taking but he really loves me:)

We have driven past this little joint hundreds of times and feeling adventurous as we were, 

we decided to try it out.  It is located in the middle of nowhere along the side of a country road. 

I took this off of their website (yes, they have a website)

After painful consideration I ordered "Big Harry's Dam good taco." 

We knew we were in for it when they brought us oyster crackers and goldfish crackers

 with Cajun seasoning for an appetizer.   

The whole evening was a cultural experience.

 Let's just say that if we had driven up on a hog with leather pants and tattoos we

 would have fit right in.  

We sat outside and laughed while we enjoyed the perfect weather.  

We ended our night rocking on the patio in red rocking chairs and taking in the breeze. 

 (Then, we may or may not have played a prank on our good friends involving an inflatable cow). 

Weekends - Sunkissed

I'll have a Saturday at the pool . . .

. . . and chase it down with a scoop of ice cream.

Weekends - Big Fun in Small Towns

Lately, I have been all about small towns.  James and I hate crowds and when you live in the fourth largest city in the US you are bound to run into a few.  Our solution . . . downtown Tomball.  We have really been enjoying this little old town.  They hold a lot of activities at the "depot" in the town square.  This cute little soda shoppe opened up a few weeks ago and made it extra inviting. 

We also tried out a local Mexican food restuarant. 

 The atmosphere was great but the food . . . not so much. 

 

Weekends . . . a series.

 I have had the hardest time getting around to posting on my blog lately.  Blame it on the busyness of having four kids and the exhaustion that sets in once I finally get everyone in bed; blame it on Claire's cyclical sickness and ensuing asthma attacks, blame it on whatever you want.  The truth is, I miss it.  I like to post things as they happen.  I don't like to play catch up.  It feels like the moment has past and my heart is no longer in it.  But, because I have been loving my weekends lately with my family I want to post about the last few.  James has been working every Saturday for the last year until recently.  Between rediscovering the novelty of a bona fide weekend, and having kids that are another year older, read: no more diapers or naps, we are having some great weekends around here!

Two short weeks ago James and I headed outside on a 65 degree day to the Woodlands.  Here we are two weeks later and it is already in the 90's!  It was the first date we have had in a month!  Claire had been so sick we couldn't leave her.  It was so nice to get out in the fresh air just the two of us.  We spent the day strolling around outside at Market Street and eating lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. 

These are AMAZING!  I will drive the 45 minutes to the Woodlands just to get them.  They are Thai lettuce tacos and they are so low fat and SO delicious!

I saw these while window shopping and thought they were perfect.  

We ended our date with a leisurely drive through our favorite country neighborhood.  Windows down.