Weekend with the Grand-Parentals

Curt's mom and dad flew down to Houston on Friday and we had the best weekend. On Saturday morning we went to the Houston Museum of Natural Science. It was Jackson's first time to go since he was a little baby. (That's when Mom, Melissa and I took him along with us to see Body Worlds. Um, let's just say that if I hadn't been married at that point, I might have taken a vow of celibacy. If you've seen that exhibit you probably understand.)

Annabeth was given her first Cabbage Patch doll. She's holding "Myrtie Tonia" (really?) below. She was a big hit.

First we visited the butterfly center.

I told Jackson I wanted to take a picture in front of this thing so it would look like it was about to eat him. He was not amused! You have to admit that this is hilarious.

The most interesting and freakish part of the whole day was seeing all the bugs and spiders. This is a black widow.

Brown recluses...ugh! (Janelle, are you okay?)

Here's a tarantula. Above it was a sign that said, "Tarantulas make great pets!"

But it was all about the butterflies, baby.

Here's my mother-in-law purchasing a snack pack of bugs to take home to my nephew, Gavin.

Jackson was still not amused.

I was excited to see Jackson's face when he walked in the big room with all the dinosaur bones. He couldn't get over how big these creatures were.

We had lunch at Barry's pizza. I forgot to order our pizza deep dish and it was very unfortunate. Here's Annabeth playing with her new Poke-a-Dot book. (If you like pushing in the bumps on a drink top, you should get one of those.)

She looks sweet and innocent, doesn't she?

Wrong! Annabeth is at the peak of restaurant mischief.

Cozy and Steve, aka Nana and Pappaw.

There was lots of game playing all weekend, including Chutes and Ladders, Old Maid and Go Fish.

Curtis preached all three services at our church on Sunday. Afterward we had brunch at the Memorial City area Pappasito's and it was splendiferous. (Thanks, NancyMon!) My parents joined us and mom and I shared breakfast tacos and pecan pancakes. Houstonians, there's a reason why so many people are talking about this - it's great!

Steve and Cozy were flying out of Hobby Airport late this afternoon, so we decided to make a quick trip to Galveston since we would be so close to it. I'm not sure how, in all these years, we have never taken them there. We basically drove down the seawall to show them the ocean and then went straight to LaKing's, which has been my happy place this summer. Praise the Lord for pecan turtles.

Jackson found it impossible to close his mouth while eating saltwater taffy.

Then we tortured ourselves and walked down to the Elissa. Jackson and Curtis went on the boat while we stood in the shade and tried not to have a heat stroke. I gave Hubs the camera and this is the one picture he took.

Y'all, I have really tried not to go on and on about the heat but this is the time when Houstonians cannot have a conversation without mentioning it. I think it's fair to describe the state of our city as sluggish, downcast, wilting, and grumpy. It has been miserable.

This morning I got dressed for my run, then looked out the window and saw that it was sprinkling. Glory be! The Lord had heard our cries! A few minutes later it was gone. It had been a very short deliverance. I went on my run and came home looking like I'd fallen in the bayou wrestling with a nutria. My face was red for an hour.

A little while after we got home from our mini-road trip, I heard thunder! I looked out the window with great anticipation and saw huge dark clouds approaching. I've never been so happy to see a thunderstorm coming. Rain came down like one of those awesome showers at the Westin. The earth was dirty and sweaty (so were we) and we needed it! It's still raining and I can describe the last few hours as nothing less than glorious. If it weren't lightning, I would go out in the street and dance in it. Or maybe in my backyard.

We were sad to see Steve and Cozy go. It was a wonderful visit. I'm really thankful my kids have two sets of grandparents who love them so much. Watching Steve with my kids, I can see what a great dad he was to Curt and Lindsay when they were young. It explains a lot about why Jackson and Annabeth have such a hands-on daddy. Call me thankful! Cozy, you are an amazing mother-in-law and I love you so much. Thank you for taking your vacation days to come see us in plain ole, boring, sweltering Houston. We love you.