My Box of Chocolates: Vacation

Well, we are back from an amazing week of rest and fun. We took of to Richard's sister and brother-in-law's house in Houston for the week and a fun-filled week it was! I grew up in a big city, but it is amazing to me how small town I have become. I had so much fun just going to the local HEB. It wasn't grocery shopping it was a shopping experience! Plus, I loved Starbucks on every corner, malls everywhere, fast food restaurants every where you turn, outlet malls, and of course my favorite Targets are everywhere!
The fun began as soon as we got there and went straight to Memorial in Houston for their VBS. The theme was the story of Esther and who better to play the King and Queen than Aunt Cindy and Uncle Aaron! Michal Kate went straight in her room and made instant friends, Noah struggled a little the first night and got better each night, Jack did fantastic the first night and went down hill from there!

Esther and Mordecai

King Xerxes and Queen Esther

The Queen and her princess or maybe it is Aunt Cindy and Emorie!

Several of the mornings Aunt Cindy took the kids on a walk to take the dogs! The kids thought this was great. One morning they went to the pond several blocks from their house. The kids got to feed the turtles and eat a little bread themselves. They were very tired when they got back to the house.

Noah with Stanley and Michal Kate with Daisey.

The kids at the pond.

Two days we spent out time before VBS at the neighborhood pool. It is so nice with two kiddie pools and one large pool. The water was the perfect temperature! (Well, Richard thought is was too warm, but the kids loved it.)

Michal Kate floating in the big pool.

Noah with Collin.

Both days we were at the pool Jack fell asleep. I am not sure what that was about being that he loves to play in the water and it wasn't even nap time yet!

Noah playing in the spray park at the pool

Emorie fell asleep in her float...visions of teenage years and her laying out on the water!

On Thursday we went to Galveston to the beach. Ike did wonders for the beaches there. I know it devastated several parts of Galveston, but it really did clean up the beach. This was this kids first time at the beach and they loved it, after getting over the salt in their eyes and mouth!

The fam at the beach!

I LOVE this picture, I couldn't have asked for much better!

These boys...I have loved them since I met them but they stole my heart this week. They went above and beyond their cousin duties with the kids. They played with them without complaint; for the most part! At the pool, beach, Kemah Bay, at their home...it didn't matter they were so sweet. We hear about Collin and Cade every day now!

Emorie sitting in a hole by our spot on the beach

The girls.

Another picture that I love, I just wish Em was a little bigger so she could have been in it!

On Friday morning Aunt Cindy was cleaning the sand out of Uncle Aaron's car which turned into a car wash. The kids loved it, and Michal Kate couldn't start talking about how happy Uncle Aaron was going to be!

Noah scrubbing the car.

And Michal Kate; love the hat!

Jack didn't do much washing as much as while he was supposed to be getting the car wet, he would get distracted and play in the hose.

Then the boys began spraying each other.

Friday afternoon we took off to the bay again...this time Kemah Bay. The kids loved all the rides and it was worth every penny to see the look on Noah and Cade's face as they rode the bouncer ride. I was worried about Noah riding the rides but he followed Collin everywhere and would go on everything Collin could take him on.

Here is Cade and Michal Kate walking to a ride.