Monday, August 16, 2010

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.

35 comments:

3girlsmom said...

Skin. Crawling.
And still cannot get over the bug snack vending machine. Whatthejunk.

Amber said...

YAY for visits from family! I look forward each time a set of parents come to visit. So, glad you had such a fabulous time!

Marla Taviano said...

It makes my heart smile when people have wonderful in-laws. I know that dynamic is so tough for so many. Sharing your joy, friend!

Courtney (Women Living Well) said...

Ooooo it looks like so much fun!!! GREAT pics! I especially loved the new cabbage patch doll!!! That was my favorite toy when I was a little girl!!!

The spiders I could do without but wow those butterflies - amazing!
Courtney

Kiki said...

Sounds like a great weekend! And Annabeth is so cute with that Cabbage Patch doll! And her hair is so long!

Heather said...

I feel the same way about my parents and in-laws--such a blessing to watch them love on my kiddos!! I went running at 5 AM on Friday because I have just been dying in the heat (Even at 6 or 7) and it was NOT ANY BETTER. Seriously. If you get up and your alarm goes off with a "4" at the beginning, you should at LEAST be rewarded with a LITTLE less sweat or humidity. That was not the case. It was BRUTAL. I felt a little sick from the heat the rest of the day. I told my husband I was done whining about it (now that it has been three days!) so I sure hope he doesn't read this comment!! ha!
Praying for cooler weather SOON!!!

Lauren said...

Nathan proposed to me at that butterfly exhibit. :)

Kelly said...

This is my first time posting on your blog, but I love reading!
Tell your sweet Anna Beth that my first cabbage patch doll's name was Marty Tina, so maybe ours are long lost cousins! :-)

marty h said...

Good in-laws are a gift from God! I was also blessed with great ones.

Marc and Charity said...

What a fun weekend! Do you feel as if Chutes and Ladders is the longest game in history? Bailey and I played it just last night and it was never ending!!!

Tara G. said...

How wonderful to have family in town!! My youngest loves babies more than her big sister did and it's just so fun! We were going to take the kids to the Creation Museum in KY to see the dinosaurs and all when we were back last month, but a broken bone (on the road when we stopped for lunch), some ER visits and my jet-crazy son's ho-hum reaction at the AF Museum near base deterred us. We'll wait until we come home in 2 years!

Barbara Head said...

Amanda, you are amazing!! I love your gift of words and I love peeking at your family. I feel very much like a voyeaur!! Keep on keeping on letting us see your sweet, lovely family.

Fran said...

Spiders are all but disgusting. Butterflies amaze me. Dinosaurs are just plain wild that they existed.

Love the pix Amanda. Looks like a perfect weekend!!!

And, we are dying from the heat in TN as well. Flat out sick of it. I'm dying for fall and winter.

Have a super day!
Hugs,
Fran

Bobbie said...

Your weekend sounds like an awesome visit. Jackson & Annabeth grow more adorable with each season of their lives. Love the one of Jackson, hands in pocket, looking at the dinosaurs! And Annabeth at Barry's!! So much fun.

It's VERY fair to describe the 'state of our city as sluggish, downcast, wilting, and grumpy.' We've been saying the same thing for the last couple of weeks. But yesterday's loud thunder didn't bring more than 5 minutes of a shower! I'm really ready for football weather.

Enjoy the last few days of summer and we'll all pray for early Fall weather!!

Lauren said...

Aw, so fun, Amanda! What a special time with Curtis’ parents!!!!

Lisa said...

Amanda, love your posts and pictures are awesome. I'm flying into Houston in about three weeks, then its up to Huntsville to tour the college.... Any recommendations for "GREAT" mexican food???

Nancy Mon said...

I'm so glad y'all went to brunch. We saw Susan and her friends on Saturday morning. I'm addicted to those pecan pancakes.

Traci said...

Okay Amanda you have to tell me- how in the world are you all wearing jeans in this heat? It's been over 100 here and the humidity is ridiculous- I know Houston has to be lava at this point- and I keep seeing pictures of Texans with jeans on- are y'all impervious to heat? It's impressive!

Kristen Maddux said...

Oh my goodness, you are crackin me up with the "Bodies" exhibition! Even tho I was married, I still had to stifle a giggle the whole time thru it. I was there with a group way more mature than me, so I didn't say a word (til I got home!) but you bringing that up brings back the memory. Hilarious!

Kristen said...

wow, what a fun weekend!!

Angela said...

Okay. Amanda, how did you even look at those spiders? I am now going to have nightmares. Yikes! I scrolled past really fast! ha

Great weekend...love the pics.

Glad you had such a great time!!!!

brad, amanda, and brody said...

Hey, I'm Amanda Jones too! And I live in Houston as well. Someone told me about your blog, so I wanted to leave a quick note.

PS- I hate spiders too

newjonesfamily.blogspot.com

Traci said...

Your post made me cry. You are so blessed your kids have 2 sets of amazing grandparents. I hope my kids don't know what they are missing. What a fun weekend! Love the pictures, especially the one with Annabeth's sweet head on the table and Jackson's mouth full of taffy :-).

Shelli Littleton said...

I love this post, Amanda! I was so hoping that the rain would prevent you from having to run ... you see how highly I favor a work-out! Blast! ... disappointed to hear that rain shower was short lived! Oh, we got the rain here last night in Fort Worth. We were watching a movie ... all jumped up when we heard the rain and wind and looked out the window ... my husband hollers for us girls to "go to the closet" ... tornado? I'm thinking ... no siren is going off. But, like good girls, we all head to the closet. :) No tornado! Have mercy!

Just got back from taking the girls to the newly renovated Fort Worth museum ... it was great! I loved the planetarium ... but my neck is still hurting from looking up so long!

Love ya!

Deirdre said...

next time you are gonna post SPIDER pics please warn a girl! DANG my skin is crawling......

Lindsee Lou said...

One of the main reasons I did NOT sleep in Belize was because of the threat of Tarantulas in our dorm, in the shower, on our porch, etc. No thank you! Looks like a fabulous weekend!

Chantelle said...

Great fun! (minus the spiders) BLECK!

April said...

We bought a pack of Larvettes at that vending machine a few years ago and gave them to my sister for Christmas!

The Johnsons said...

I love that you have a special relationship with your in-laws. So glad you had a good visit! Of all the times I've been to Galveston I've never been on the Strip or to LaKings. I keep wondering what I'm missing and hoping I'll get myself there one day!

Kelli said...

What a wonderful weekend you and your In- laws blessed each other with!!!! :)

Kat @ Inspired To Action said...

Ah, Houston weather. I know your misery well.

My husband and I moved to Houston after college and as we were INTENT on paying off college loans we lived like misers.

We lived in The Woodlands (the poor part) and I worked at KSBJ in Humble. That summer we chose NOT to fix the AC in our car. I commuted 45 minutes each way.

In Houston. In August. With no AC.

I think we deserve a medal from Dave Ramsey for that.

It sounds like you have wonderful and dedicated in-laws. Because they could have waited to visit in the Fall. That's love. :-)

Angie said...

Myrtle Tonia, too funny. My younger sister ended up with a Cabbage Patch Kid baby named "Dave David." They must have some random name generator, since surely no actual person would have chosen that name.

katiegfromtennessee said...

Eventful weekend for you:) Fun to read:)

JayCee said...

"I don't like spiders and snakes...."

Missy said...

1 - Can you believe that Walker said he heard on the radio that this has been a record breaking COOL summer? I know, right?

2 - My brother got bit once by a brown recluse and ended up in the hospital for a week from a staph infection from the bite. That's my brown recluse story for ya.