Texas Family Time

After Vancouver Andrew had a defense trade show in Fort Worth so I took advantage of the open days to spend time with Zack, Amber and the kids.  I couldn't wait to see them all.  When we were at the aquarium in Vancouver we bought a few trinkets to bring to the kids and as we were leaving Andrew spied this sippy cup with animals on them that moved and made noises and nothing doing but he was buying one for Lilly.  He said, "what's the point in having grandkids if you can't spoil them!"  Isn't he cute?  So, I took Lilly her cup and showed her how the dolphin fins moved and made little noises and she wouldn't put it down after that.

Of course I was very excited to meet our newest member of the family, Brody Tyler, who is a little doll but of course I am very biased.  The first week we were there he was still pretty much just looking around and not too interactive yet but the next week he was making noises and blowing bubbles and you could really start to see his little personality coming out even at that early age. 

Lilly turned three in April so I asked Meagan to make a tutu for her and she absolutely loves it!  She calls it her "tutu train" and wears it everywhere.  She also made some great burp cloths and a wipey cover in sports fabric for Brody.

One of the last days we were there we met up with them and Mother was with me for some yummy Tex Mex and they finally came up with my grandparent name.  For the longest time we thought it would be "Bubbles" which is okay but I like what they thought up much better.  So, for the next generation it looks like I will be "Nana".  Zack calls me Nana banana but I don't care!  I think it helps Lilly remember me better.

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I also got to go and see Brandon perform the lead in a play while we were there which was really good.  It was called "In a Northern Landscape" and Mother went with me to see it.  It was a very dark play as the subject matter was about incest in a small rural family and at the end of the play Brandon is killed but I am still glad I got to see him perform they all did a really good job.

Then the week before I flew out Claudia and I went to Austin for a couple of days and met up with Brandon for dinner in San Marcos.  It was really good sit down with him and hear all about his school year and plans for the summer.

It was so good to see the two boys and I wish I would have been able to catch up with Justin too but it just wasn't going to work into this trip.  Hopefully, soon though.

The night before I flew out I got to have dinner with Jawana and Kimberly at Carraba's and it was a lot of fun.  I really miss my sister time and wish I could go with them this weekend to San Antonio because I know how much fun everyone is going to have and don't want to miss out on it.

Cassie came up to Dallas the weekend before I left and spent the night just in time to see the new litter of kitties.  I thought this picture was too cute not to share.  I was also the lucky recipient of some great clothes that she didn't want anymore.  Thanks Cassie they are going to work out great in europe next week.

Our trip to Vancouver

We went to Vancouver the second weekend in April to visit with part of the Houston family.  We arrived and the first evening were treated to sunset drinks and nibbles on Gordon and Kathleen's new home away from home.  It is an absolutely gorgeous Bavaria 40' yacht.  And it was really great to see Andrew relax and turn into "Vacation Andrew" on the first day of vacation.

I think we were in the house maybe an hour before Andrew just couldn't stand it anymore and we gave them the quilt that I made.  It was hoped they would use it on the boat to sit on the deck and watch the beautiful stars at night while they are out sailing.  I think they were happy with it and it looks really nice with the table cloth that Kathleen had made out of similar fabric.  Gordon gave Kathleen a mandolin for her birthday and he plays both the guitar and banjo.  Doesn't that sound like a lot of fun sailing around and spending your evenings playing songs together and singing?  They both seem so happy now that Gordon has been retired for over a year.

Simon (nephew) and Stephanie joined us for drinks a little later and can't really remember what percipitated this but Gordon and Simon both decided to shower Andrew with family "love"!  It was really hillarous and you probably just had to be there but bear in mind that Andrew is of the opinion that hugging and kissing is something one does with a someone of the female persuasion and certainly not with men even if they are related to you!

After our relaxing time on the boat Simon and Stephanie invited us back to their place for burgers.  Now to say that these were hands down some of the best burgers we have eaten really doesn't do them justice.  And for those of you who have had my burgers, you know that I make a mean burger but Simon definitely beats me in this category.  I did ask him how he makes them and he was happy to share his recipe that he has perfected.  Although they are were yummy, yummy, yummy, I don't think they would burgers I make very often just because we are trying to be good and there is definitely some "fat" in these burgers.  But boy, were they good.

And this must be what retirement looks like!  Actually, on Sunday, Kathleen thought it would be nice to have a turkey dinner with the whole family which turned out to be a really nice day.  We also had brunch at Kelly (niece) and Derek's new place and that was great too.  We had eggs benedict (one of my favorite breakfast foods ever) and fruit.

They seem very happy together and it definitely shows!

We only had a few days with the family but Andrew made the most of his time with relaxing activities like hanging out with Pooda in the back garden.

And on Monday we went have lunch looking out at a great view of the harbour and the nice sail boats with the city behind.   It was at Stamp's Landing where they used to have their boat docked.  We ate at The Wicklow and it was a good meal with great company.

Then we spent an afternoon at the Vancouver Aquarium and had a lot of fun looking at the interesting sea life.  They had some great trees there and I knew my sister, Kim, would disappointed if we didn't give one of them a hug for her.  So, here I am trying to get Andrew to join me in embracing nature.

I know it looks more like we playing hide and seek around the tree but that is because the trees are so big here!  You can tell Andrew was not too sure about this exercise especially with his brother looking on.  But in the end he likes to make me happy so didn't mind helping out with the tree hugging.