Apartments: A View from the Window

I was going to write a nice post about how the abandoned apartments across the street were ordered to be torn down by the city, but it looks like Swamplot beat me to it. 

Residents of our neighborhood have been rallying for years for the apartments to be torn down with limited success.  Before that nice chain link fence was installed around the parameter, apparently it was the hideout of miscreants and vandals. Jason and I had hesitations about the apartments when we were looking to buy this house, but we were told the apartments were going to be rehabilitated.  Looks like that's not going to happen.  I just hope some nice single family homes get built there (high hopes, I know) and not any type of commercial property.  Maybe some more trees will be planted to shield us from the future Walmart.

P.S.  Notice that our windows haven't changed?  That's a whole story of its own.

Easter 2011

When Jason and I started dating in high school, I quickly learned that Easter was a big holiday in his family.  It usually meant a whole weekend of fun and family.  Easter eggs, water balloons/ water guns, pinatas, cascarones (confetti eggs), and good food abounded.  Every year, we try to head south to see everyone. 

This year, we had had the pleasure of enjoying his Aunt Beba's new pool and patio.

The boys swam and played.

Beba and her nephews.  When did Jason's younger brothers outgrow him?

The adults always have a good time too.  There is always sooo much food at these gatherings.  This year, we had a variety of chips and dips, deviled eggs, BBQ fajitas (beef, chicken, & pork)/ sausage/ chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, Spanish rice, beans, and probably about six different desserts.  Yum.





After lunch, we headed outside for the pinata and cascarones.

Similar to opening presents at Christmas, we start with the youngest and work up.  This year, the poor pinata didn't make it past Jason.  Jason's cousins, Kelley and Andrew, didn't even get a whack in.

 

Then the confetti egg war started.  Everyone is fair game.

Remnants of the day.

This morning, we went to church and my mom made a delicious lunch of ham, potato salad, green beans, strawberry shortcake, and apple pie for us and my grandparents.  We wrapped the visit up with a Skype call with Trey, Melanie, and baby Luke.  It was a great way to end a very enjoyable weekend. 

Fail

Some things just don't go as planned...

Like this tomato plant that succumbed to pests and drought.

Or dishing out $370 to repair your A/C that randomly decided to blow up.  On a Sunday.  When it is hot.  And no one is available to fix it. 

MS 150

Sorry for the blurry cell phone picture, but it was the best I could do at 5:45 am this morning.  Anyways, my wonderful, talented, athletic, handsome husband (hehe... I needed to make up for my cranky 5:45 am attitude this morning) is riding the MS 150 tour from Houston to Austin this weekend.  I am very proud of him.  I also hope he survives.  With minimal injuries. 

Meanwhile, I am holding down the fort.  Our new sunroom windows were scheduled to be installed today, but it appears that it is not going to be an easy one day installation, so we had to reschedule for another time. 

Keep all of the riders in mind tomorrow... they still have halfway to go.  And if you feel moved to do so, you can donate to help create a world free of MS by clicking here.

10 days

Wow.  What could be so important that I actually make a mid-week post? 

Maybe this little dude.

I had to be up in Dallas for work meetings, so I spent an afternoon and part of the morning hanging out with Luke and Melanie.

Yep, he's a pretty cute little 10 day old.

And then I totally got to leave when he started doing this.  Hehe.  :)

Spring Garden Update

It's been three short weeks since we planted our spring garden, and our plants have really taken off.

We have strawberries.  And blackberries.

We have tomatoes.  And will have peppers soon enough.

Our lettuce is thriving and our tomato plants have quadrupled in size.

These plants are doing great as well.  Anyone need mint?  We have plenty.

We do have issues with pests on one of the eggplants, the strawberries, and the tomatoes.  They are invisible and eat small little holes.  Not sure what they are, or how to get rid of them.  I rather not use pestisides, so I don't know what I'm going to do.  Hope the heat kills them?

Variations of a Sleeping Baby Boy

My Christmas present to myself = totally worth it. 

Seriously, I can't imagine being able to capture pictures like this with a point-and-shoot camera.  These are straight out of the camera (no editing) and were taken at night in a dimly lit hospital room without a flash.  It amazes me that they came out so clear.  I've only had the camera 3 months and use probably 20% of its capabilities.  I can't wait to learn more about my camera and further develop my photography skills.  It's turning out to be a really fun hobby.  Plus, I have the best new photography subject to play with.  :)

P.S.  The Rebel T3i recently came out.  Who loves me?

Pass the Baby Burrito

The title of this post was going to be much more sentimental, but after looking through all of my photos, it looks like all we've done for the past 48 hours is pass the baby around.  Oh wait, that is all we've done.  But can you blame us?  He's the first baby in our immediate little family.  He's going to be one spoiled booger. 

Even though April 1st was his due date, Melanie was convinced he wasn't coming until she was scheduled to be induced on Monday.  Around 5 pm on Friday, I get a call from Trey saying they were heading to the hospital.  Quickly followed by a, "April Fools... we're just hanging out."  So around 9:30 pm when my parents called to tell me that Melanie was having contractions and that she and Trey were at the hospital, I said "Yea sure, good one.  I'm not falling for this again."  But, sure enough, Trey confirmed it around 11 pm.  I went to sleep, and didn't hear anything for awhile, but I woke up around 4 am and texted to see if everything was going okay.  Trey texted back at 4:19 am, "We are pushing!"  Now I'm not really sure what Trey was "pushing," but it took everything I had not to text back, "And texting!" 

At 4:46 am, Luke Henry made his appearance.  All 7 lbs 14 ounces of him.


Sure buddy.  Just lay there and look cute.  Radar and KC (the grand-dog & cat)
already know they are now second tier.  You don't have to rub it in.



Proud (and tired) parents.

Now everyone stare at the baby and go, "Awwwww."

Don't worry, kid.  We all look at my dad with a confused face like that.  It only gets weirder from here, I promise.



Beaming.

How does baby look on me?

Bath time was traumatizing.  But mommy made everything okay.

Love.



 Proud grandparents.

Group shot.


All jokes aside, it's been a wonderful 48 hours. Welcome to the family, Luke. You are already so loved.