A bit behind

We've been busy with mother in town. I've been trying to make sure that we get out and about everyday seeing new things, places and of course, shops!

I'm sure she's tired. I know I am (but then I always am - thanks girls!). I bet she'll sleep for a week when she gets home given half the chance.

So, back to the bit behind bit.

We went to Houston over the weekend and enjoyed the zoo, Kemah boardwalk and the Galleria mall. Since then we've done some clothes shopping (sucks cause I'm back in the sugar saddle again!) and today we returned to the aquarium.

The girls have really taken to the visits with the fish. It gets busy and a bit tight in and around the tanks but they run from tank to tank screaming with such joy and happiness and wonder. It's so fun watching them. But then I also get a kick out of watching the otters too(my fave!).

Anyway, I'll post some hot and sweaty piccies of Houston (yes it was warm!) soon. One day I'll take some of the aquarium (when school goes back and it gets quieter there).

Before mum leaves.

So sad.

We'll all miss her...especially the girls.

But we'll see her for the family holiday next year but of course we have to organize it first! Last year it was Hawaii and I'm throwing my vote in for Cabo San Lucas! There it is - my vote. Anyone else?

Snow in Texas?

Well it's the version that is popular down here.
Cotton fields.
Kinda looks like snow doesn't it?

 This also another huge industry down here - wind energy! They're so big!

 They're everywhere!

 Seriously, everywhere! 

 So how did we find the places to take these piccies? Well we decided to take a shortcut on the way home from San Antonio. Who knew there were so many country roads and farm-to-market roads everywhere! I must admit that it gives me a better sense of security for getting out of the way of a hurricane with all of the escape routes to get out of its way.

Yay!

San Antonio - nice!

I'm a bit late in posting this but two weekends ago we all hopped in the minivan and headed to San Antonio two hours away. Along the way we stopped at Lake Corpus Christi for a quick squiz and decided to take the RV up there when the weather gets cooler. It was a nice lake and camping area and well worth a visit.

Anyway...

In two hours we got to town and quickly decided that despite the heat we were going to just head down to the Riverwalk to while away a couple of hours (not realizing how warm it truly was of course!)

I was impressed. The Riverwalk was a lovely developed area that encompassed modern convenience with a real sense of history. Close to the Alamo and convention center, there were lots of restaurants and more importantly (and oh, so unfortunately, stairs! Traipsing two kids, a double stroller and assorted bags etc up and down steps in major heat was not my idea of fun. And you should have seen how MANY bridges there were to go up and down!).

Also a big drawback for me was the amount of people that were enjoying the same thing we were as a lot of areas of the walkways did not have rails to stop a potential fall into the river (even though it's only 4ft in most places).

But, enough negativity. The place was b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l and certainly worth a visit again and again.

We had dinner at a BBQ place where the food wasn't great but it wasn't bad either. But it was a great place for the kids and that made it easier for mummy, daddy and grandy to eat and take 5.

 Lots of bridges (each requiring many steps up and down!) and tour boats.

 On one of those tour boats for a quick chug around the Riverwalk circuit. (We were pretty warm at this stage as you can see!)

 Some of the views from the boat. I am sorry but I do not remember what this is. Of course, it's bells but..you know what I mean! The heat rotted my brain that day!

 The mosaic at the convention center. It was huge!

The next day we headed to the Alamo. What a wonderful dedication to those who served and died defending it. I haven't seen the movie and my U.S. history is quite poor but it was very interesting and my god, what gardens!

The outside of the chapel.

 I don't remember what this building is but it was very interesting to look at and so, I took a piccie.

 We got there a bit before the chapel opened so mum and I went and checked out the wall whilst Stormy stayed in line. The girls enjoyed running back and forth in what we found out later was a part of the Alamo grounds.

 Mum standing near Davy Crockett's wall.

 Another part of the front of the chapel. I snapped this before entering and having to put my camera away before entering.

 This area is to the left of the Alamo and this tree was huge and provided such a lovely feeling to the space. The barracks that housed the hospital is behind Storm. 

 Koi! Not original but huge. I mean everything is bigger in TX isn't it?

 Just strolling around. Such beautiful gardens....

 A quaint fountain that made it so lovely and cool.

 Well maybe not as cool as we'd like it to be....

We stayed a while checking out the gardens and then headed for lunch before drving home. In all we had a great 24 hours in San Antonio. I look forward to heading up there again.

A way to spend an hour or two in CC

It was warm so we decided that because I needed to go to the bank we might as well combine the trek across the bridge with a visit to Bayfront Splash Park.

I had seen this park when we went to the America Bank Center to get the tickets for Barney (yea, come on July 19th!) and I actually thought it was a water fountain that people were just playing in...you know, randomly. Anyway, after finding out that it was an official splash park (several days later) I decided that it was a place that I'd like to check out and when we did on Tuesday it was a pleasant surprise.

It was, as you can guess from the name, on the bayfront and lined by some tall palms. It was quite wide but not deep (only about 2-2 1/2 foot at the deepest against the wall) with fountain-y jets periodically spraying out water in various heights/lengths. The end that you could walk in was a beach entry so it suited the girls fantastically. It also had a non-slip pebble type surface that saved me from what I am sure would have been several heart attacks/stresses should it have been different. It wasn't too busy and since it was free I am glad we got there early. My only criticism (and mum's too) was that there wasn't enough shade. It gets warm in the sun as Storm can tell you from experience (he was playing golf when mum and I took the kids to the splash park. He came home sunstroke and felt quite ill all yesterday and last night.)

Unfortunately, my battery on the camera died halfway though the time there and I must apologize for not cleaning my lens appropriately after it was touched by one of the kiddoes greasy fingers (gotta love suncreen!). We'll definitely go back there and also visit a couple of others around "the bend" to get the feel of what really suits us all.

 Goes to show you that even at two years of age you are extremely capable of pulling your cozzie out of your...well you can tell from the pic.

 The girls are getting their confidence back around water which is great but it's taking a while. I think that they're scared of falling over (remember these girls can fall over whilst standing still!) So they're happy having water poured over them and holding hands in the water.

 And of course, what's a trip to the splash park without stomping on the bubbles? So much fun to be had!

 Yep, this is the end of the piccies but you can imagine that they went a lot along the lines of the previous ones. No biggie. I'm sure there'll be plenty of opportunity to take more in the not-to-distant future.

P.S. - It was the 4th the other day (doh!) and as the fireworks don't come on until 9.30pm it was just too late for us to take the kiddoes to see the display off the U.S. Lexington. We had a nice casual one ending up having drinkies with the next-door neighbours after dinner. We made dessert (kahlua trifle - I wasn't buying sherry for one dessert) and decorated in a rather traditional fashion. See?

Mum and I enjoyed it immensely. I do like a good trifle and this one sure was good. Mmmmmm.....

Birthday girls

Can you believe these precious girls are two?

I can't.

 We didn't have a party. But there were balloons and presents...

 And those blowey thing-a-ma-jigs...

 This year was different to last in the fact that the girls actually opened their own presents. Syd especially was very enthusiastic in a very neat sort of way. Every time she ripped a piece of paper from the present, said piece was placed beside her in a row. So neat...now if I could only get her to do it with everything...

 Enjoying their new piece of technology.

 Especially when Dad show's you how to use it.

 The official birthday piccie - Kendall

 Sydney.

 Gotta love a teaset especially when it plays songs.

 Yes, all presents came in twos.

 A big shout-out to Aunty Katie who sent the Woman's Weekly Birthday Cakes - vintage edition over to us (thanks so much as I have such great memories of mum making these cakes and have wanted this cookbook for ages!).

 I had originally planned on making the koala but made a last minute change to the Miss Piggy.

 Two sets of candles! I know we went all out!

 Gotta love the precious expression.

 Guess who discovered how tasty frosting/icing can be?

 Cake too!

 Oops...sugar high!

  Syd had her side to me so I couldn't get very good piccies of her in her sugared up state. Gotta love birthdays!

It's just about the time that these little precious' were pulled from my belly two years ago. I think that I'm going to be a mother like Billy Crystal's one from City Slickers. You know the one who calls up right at the time of birth giving a blow-by-blow rundown of that fateful day. Sigh..my babies.