You are currently browsing the daily archive for April 4, 2009.
My good friends Josie and Peter cut short their vacation to New Orleans to take the train to Houston and visit with us for a quick weekend. On Saturday we went to the Space Center Houston where their friend Scorch dreamed of flying on the Space Shuttle.
Scorch on the Flight Deck
Josie and Peter below the Atlas V Rocket
Sunday, we took them to Brazos Bend, this time remembering the binoculars. We saw not only a lot of alligators but also a new bird for Mike and I – a White-Faced Ibis.
Scorch at Brazos Bend
Alligator
White-faced Ibis
For Spring Break we decided to camp for the first half and rent a beach house for the second half. We started at Guadalupe River State Park. We brought a friend of Austin’s, Sam, with us. The boys had a great time exploring along the cliffs and skipping rocks in the river. They even tried to swim, but the water was too cold to stay in long.
Brandon, Austin and Sam
On Monday, we went ziplining outside Wimberly, TX. It was great fun, and not nearly as scary as I expected.
After ziplining, we headed to one of our favorite state parks, Enchanted Rock. We checked on our geocache while the boys hiked around, played badmitten with other teenagers at the campground, and attempted to temporarily redirect the course of the stream which flowed nearby. The area around the park has been experiencing a draught, and it was dryer than I had ever seen it. Most of the grass in the campground was a crispy brown. The only flowers blooming were cacti.
Blooming Cactus
The last three nights were spent at a beach house in Corpus Christi. On Thursday, Mike, Sam and Austin went windsurfing at Bird Island Basin (in wetsuits!) while Brandon and I played at the beach. Friday we visited the Texas State Aquarium in the morning and then rented Boogie Boards for an afternoon playing in the surf.
Saturday we drove home, grateful for our own beds and clean clothes.
The weekend after Kit’s visit, I flew up to Washington with my mom. We spent the first few nights at Aunt Kate and Uncle Hal’s home. Hal took us to the Museum of Glass in Tacoma. They have a pedestrian bridge next door with glass by Chihuly. One section has a wall filled with glass sculptures, while another has glass objects suspended in the ceiling. The organic, sea-life-inspired works were fascinating.
Portion of Chihuly Glass Wall of Scuptures
Portion of Chihuly Glass Ceiling
Hal and Mom Outside of the Hot Shop
Saturday night I got a rare chance to have dinner with some of my cousins. It was wonderful to get to meet their spouses and children.
On Sunday we drove down to Shelton to visit my paternal grandparents. They are doing well. I went fishing with my grandfather at low tide, but found it too cold to keep at it for long. Grandpa caught a beautiful silver trout and we called it a day. The following morning we went for a quick walk before we left for the airport. It is such a beautiful part of the world.
