In the middle of February, Mardi Gras celebrations hit Galveston, and since we really didn't know much about it or what to expect we thought an afternoon by the beach watching a parade would be a pleasant way to while away some time. Bearing in mind that although it was bright and sunny it was actually quite chilly, some of the costumes were, shall we just say....a little skimpy...personally I would have been freezing!...then there the gun touting boys clubs which were a little bizarre if I'm honest.
Anyway, we stood clinging to the girls hoods (to stop them diving under the wheels of vehicles and scrabbling around for necklaces!), while the floats drove past, desperately trying to catch the brightly colored plastic necklaces being thrown at us. Fearne managed to get a few before the floats driving passed petered out, so we thought aquick walk along the beach side to get warm again before driving home would be a good idea. Just as we got to a big gap between some huge motorhomes, the parade started again, but this time we were the only ones standing by the road, and we found ourselves being showered in necklaces.....there is something very addictive aboutcatching plastic tat being thrown atyou. The girls now have at least 40 necklaces each which have been put to good artistic use by being placed in a glass fishbowl! for all to see. I'm lookingforward to seeing the fishbowl on display once we're back in Scotland and being reminded of the fun we've had.
Henry turned one on the 23rd February, where has this past year gone. Our lovely little chilled out baby has become a cheeky wee chappy, who loves cars, pulling his sisters hair and throwing whopping tantrums when the iPad or mobile phone is removed from his sight or grasp! Finally in this last week he has decided that walking is useful and he's off wobbling around on his two little feet which look far too small to be able to support him!
At the beginning of March we went to Fredericksburg with some friends, primarily so that Chris and Barry could get some road biking practice in before they complete the MS150 bike ride from Houston to Austin at the end of April. Jill and I spent the weekend with the children just hanging out in the sunshine and WALKING, yes WALKING into town and to the park. I walked more in one weekend than I think I have walked in a year....and no I'm not lazy but Houston doesn't do pavements, and walking is not the done thing! Besides it really isn't safe!!!
Fredericksburg is a lovely little small town with breweries and plenty of wine tasting shops.....think pub-crawl in the UK and replace it with quaint little shops serving wine....unfortunately we didn't get to sample the wine as 6 small children in a shop with glasses and bottles is never going to have a pleasant outcome, so we kept on walking past, but next time!! We made the most of the long weekend away with dinning outside, live country and western music, decent food, (personally I don't rate food in Houston....or maybe Texas, I'm not sure!) 6 happy children, some interesting beers and Jill and my favourite find has to be the prickly pear margaritas, yummmm
The Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show also arrived in town a few weeks ago, and Chris managed to get some tickets through work to go last weekend, so we have now seen Bareback riding, team roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, calf scramble and barrel racing. We also saw a bit of mutton bustin' on the tv screens, little kids (5 and upwards!!!) riding loopy sheep!
...and now we're on Spring break.....I have never been so relieved to realise we have a week off, no getting up at 6am for school runs, no making packed lunches, no waking up Henry in the middle of the afternoon to do the second school run....suddenly I seem to have sufficient hours in the day to get things done, even if I do have 3 children needing to be occupied!
We haven't gone away like lots of friends (I'm secretly rather jealous!) but instead have cycled to the park most days near our house, lazed around in the garden in the afternoons as the weather has suddenly got lovely and warm, treated ourselves to lunch at the Rainforest Cafe, done some shopping for warm weather clothes and the girls have each chosen fabric for their beanbags that I'm in the process of making for their rooms....not bad for a few days. Although I did have to take them food shopping on Monday, which was just about okay, with a bit of bribery thrown in....having said that it did culminate in Henry throwing a bottle of beer out of the trolley as I was trying to thank the supervisor for coming to help me pack all the bags....fortunately it bounced! So just for the record Bud-lite bottles are baby proof!!!!!
New found freedom.....
Alison, Chris and Toby arrive in two weeks time, and in honor of their arrival we decided it was about time we bought some garden furniture and a new bbq. Mostly so that we can make the most of this lovely weather and pretend we're living the highlife by having a few drinks by the pool in the evening....nevermind the fact that the pool is still too cold to use and has been splashed in since September! Although if the weather carries on like this for a few weeks it'll be useable in no time at all.
I think thats it....I promise to try and update a bit more regularly....partly for my benefit as trying to catch up on over a months worth of activities is rather time consuming and the children are now watching the Aristocats for the second time...oops!
Love Freya xxxx
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