Our recent trip to Houston:

The kids and I drove down to Houston to visit Uncle Bryant for the first time in almost a year! He was back and we weren't missing it for the world! Here are a few highlights from our trip.

Consider this a plug for the Houston Childrens Museum. I used to go all the time as a child and loved it. But then they renovated it...and it is absolutely a childs dreamland. I think the creators of this place recognized, acutely, how much a child wants to have all the opportunities of adults. They promise that and more when you walk in the door, and they deliver! It was a blast.

Did you ever want to be a vet? Well, even a 3 year old can! Play with X-Rays, charts, lab coats, brushes, hairdryers, scales, kennels etc...its all here.

Want to be a chef, a waiter or a restaurant manager? You can do that too.

Or how about sit on a park bench with two snuggly grandparents?

Paint a picture of mud? That's Georgies specialty!

Isaac says this is his favorite picture. I loved it too! He sat right down and didn't hesitate for even a second to put his brush to work.

Almost all of the things we listed above cost money so you must go to the bank and withdraw some funds.

Georgie didn't want to leave the lego table in the science section. Gaga was patient enough to build tower after tower with her. Gigi's got her number!

Dad, Isaac and I became obsessed with building little vehicles that would fly in this vacuum/pipe thingy...can you tell I learned a lot!

The most memorable part of the day was watching Isaac and Georgie go through this obstacle course where, at the end, Isaac would help Georgie down..

down...

down...

down...

He felt like such a hero and she thought that he was. I went to help her after the first try because I was afraid he would drop her. They would have none of that. They felt so independent of me and for the first time, together, they didn't need Mom or Dad!! How GLORIOUS for them!!

Just a shot of my Dad and I...don't we look alike (minus my lazy eye;) I don't get many pictures of or with him. Love you, Dad.

Our visit to Houston also marked Georgies first teeth cleaning. I know what you're thinking, "who on earth posts about teeth cleanings?" Well when your Papa is the dentist, teeth cleanings are a big deal!

Georgie loved having her teeth tickled! And when my Dad is doing the job, it feels almost as gentle as a tickle! Thanks Dad!

Isaac joined the ranks as well with teeth cleaning #3!

But the real reason for our visit was this guy right here:

He came back from Singapore, India, Yemen etc. in true Bryant form,

with gifts for me and the kids. How many brothers are this thoughful?:) Here's a shot of Georgies Indian Princess dress!!

Bye Uncle Bryant, Papa, Gaga, Aunt Kathy, Aunt Reta and Grandma Nina! Thanks for spending your time with us!

Isaacs birthday weekend in Houston

A month or so ago I gave Isaac a few options of things he could choose to do for his birthday:

 1). have a party with friends or

2). go to San Antonio and visit Sea World and Samuel

JOey and I thought he would surely pick the latter option but he came up with...

3).  go to Houston and visit Gaga and Papa.  Man he loves Gaga and Papa!  So, on friday night we headed for Houston.  Since it is an 8 hour drive not much went on friday night...a few welcome hugs and then right to bed.  But on Saturday morning Isaac was greeted with quite an amazing surprise.  While Papa was out taking a jog around the block;) a knock came at our door and, randomly, the Imperial March began playing.  "What is going on here?" we all thought.  Isaac opened the door only to find his greatest fear staring right back at him:

DARTH VADER!!

He came to ask Isaac if he could come to his birthday party.  

Isaac, being the nice boy that he is, said, nervously, "sure".

They talked for a minute and Isaac seemed to be warming up to Darth.  After he left Isaac ran outside to see if he could see any sign of his ship.  Nope...nothin'!  A few minutes later Isaac put his little face up to my ear and whispered, "I think its Papa" and then gave me this "shhh, it's a secret" smile!

One of the highlights of our trip was getting to snuggle with baby Ryder, my cousin Aly's new baby boy born just 2 days previous to our visit.  Being with him gave me the itch...uh-oh...

We never make it to Houston without a trip to our favorite restaurant!  Lupe's Tortilla.  MMM Fajitas!

Here's a random picture of Gigi and her personality twin, Arie.  

On Sunday we had a birthday party!  

Complete with a Yoda cake!

Those in attendance were:  Aly, Kelly, Liam, Arie, Ryder, Aunt Kathy, Uncle Rick, Gaga, Papa, Nina Grandma, Horace and Jamie, and Taylor Burnett

After Isaac opened some great presents Darth Vader came back for his visit and Liam and Isaac fought with the light sabers he brought for them.

Monday morning, Isaac's actually birthday, with Gaga

Getting loves from my 5 year old!

The secret was revealed...Darth really was papa!  Or is Papa Darth?

Still catching up...

For the third week of February the kids and I drove down to Houston with Gaga and Papa.  A few days after we arrived Adam and his family came down for California's "winter break".  I did a poor job documenting our trip (as always) but here's the best of what I got:

We spent most of our days needing sunglasses.

Isaac and Max enjoyed a sporting game of karate.

And they let Gaga play for a little while too.  Look at those stances.  Mr. Miagee {sp} would be proud!

It is rare to have a visit with Papa without a car being washed.

  The grandkids LOVE it!

Pretty Girls.

The center of our entertainment.

Mom, Grandma Nina, Will and Adam.

Getting creative with two swings.

If she were looking at me and didn't have a blue tire chip on her chin this

 would have been a really cute picture.

YEA!!  

Grandma Nina's here!

The best thing about Grandma Nina, at this point in my life, is that she watches my kids for me.  She loves to hold the little babies, push the toddlers on the swing or sit on a bench watching the older ones throw bread to the ducks in the pond.  Most of the time she even brings the bread.  The kids love her because she is calming.  She walks slowly, is never in a rush and is content just to be.  That's definitely something I don't offer them.  

The duck pond in Mom and Dad's backyard, another center of our entertainment.  It almost makes it worth moving from 13306 King Circle.

Pettey Boys...

forever in Houston sporting attire!

Sisters...

my Aunt Reta is one of the most generous people I know.

A girl after my own heart

I love seeing Max all grown up. 

Six is such a good age.  Or maybe Max just makes it seem so.  He is so good to Isaac.  I think Isaac always feels a little bit cooler after being with him.

Speaking of idols, here's Georgie being carried around by hers...Reese.  Reese loved it at first but I think by the end of the week she was ready to be rid of her sidekick.  

Grandma Nina...the worlds greatest great grandma!  I put this in gold because she is "golden" (my siblings and cousins will really appreciate that statement).

Can someone please get this girl a little sibling?  

She would make the PERFECT big sister!