Spring Break for the Houston Kids! Yeah! We kept it local again. I was hoping to go to Austin for a few days but it just didn’t work out.
The boys greatest desire was to sleep in every day because that is a treat to them. One day Aaron and the boys went to Top Golf. Zac took the opportunity to hit golf balls and a round of golf with some of his team mates. Another day, the boys went shot basketballs at the church. Good times.
Jessie, Izzy and I went to the dog park almost every day. Monday, we took our bikes with us to ride at the bike park that is also near the dog park. Jessie and her friend decided no bike park, the bike path was sufficient so I went with her friend’s sister. The bike park entrance had been impacted by Hurricane Harvey. It was washed away in the Brazos River. However, a new entrance was constructed. Besides the entrance and maybe the first 100 feet of trail missing, the rest of the bike park was unscathed. Happy dance! The last day we went to the dog park, Thursday, we planned a picnic and one of the moms brought a giant kite to fly. Jessie and her friends were entertained for almost 2 hours flying the kite. The weather has been beautiful. Not too hot. No humidity. Nice to going walking and biking on the green space every day with Jessie and Izzy.
We planned some family activities too. We had two family movie nights watching, Murder on the Orient Express and Ferdinand. We went to Brazos Bend State Park, an alligator and bird sanctuary, where you can ride your bikes within feet of the alligators. There were 15+ out sunning themselves and the first time we came across one on the trail we all came to a screeching stop. They don’t do much so we took pictures and enjoyed the afternoon riding through the park. We also made it to the Houston Rodeo, quite the event in Houston. Three weeks of non-stop competition and the NRG Stadium is filled to capacity with spectators there to watch the rodeo and a concert. They bring in big names each night, mostly country music, but we lucked out with One Republic. Outside the stadium, they have a massive carnival going on with ride after ride, every kind of state fair food, and thousands upon thousands of people. It was a zoo of people. The calf chasing and the way they did their mutton busting was really well done. Another favorite for us to watch was the wagon racing as part of the Rodeo. Worth going to once, not sure we’d ever make it yearly activity like most Houstonians.
My dad usually comes in town to visit for Spring Break. My kids asked when he was coming and I was the bearer of bad news that he wasn’t. He didn’t come because he is in the process of selling his house so he can move in with my oldest sister. Living there will put him closer to three of my siblings. A big adjustment but less stress of maintaining a home and yard. It will be good for him.
On Friday, the boys went to youth conference for the weekend (Simmons Ranch just outside of Houston). I volunteered to be a driver…..two hours up and two hours back. The theme was Peace in Christ. They had several workshops and the keynote was a church member that is a meteorologist for Fox News who spoke on surviving Spiritual Storms. They had a fireside by the “Tree of Life” and ended the conference with a color chalk war. Not sure how they tied the color chalk war into the theme but I’m sure they did. ;)
Aaron got another ticket riding his bike this morning. UUUGH! Officer pulled him over in an unmarked police car, not a soul on the road, he looked side to side, went right through a stop sign, red light on, siren used, pulled up behind him. The exact same officer as last time. He hasn’t had a ticket in a car in over 24 years and he’s had two on his bike in the last eight months; no luck of the Irish for him today. Apparently, they go on his driving record, not a happy camper about that. Yes, he feels like an idiot but live and learn.
Life is moving right along. :)