It's A Nice Place For Nice People

The foundations are done on Michels' project so our friend Jamie (far left), drilling superintendent, is leaving Big Spring today.  We held our own brand of a hail and farewell last night.  Farewell, Jamie, you lucky duck!

The Week In Big Spring

It's been a hot week here!  So we've been outside at parks and just our own patio enjoying bubbles and chalk (thanks Burchs and Amma & Boppa!).

We also had a dear friend and Michels coworker from Neenah visiting, Aaron.  We were all thrilled to see him - the girls especially.

 When he invited them swimming at his hotel pool, the squeal could be heard around the county.  What a treat, especially from the 90+ degree temps!

We ended his visit with dinner at our favorite BBQ joint, KD's in Midland. 

I think it's fair to say we're ending the week a bit worn out! 

Table Progress

Chris and Daddy made lots of progress on the dining room table construction this weekend!

 

Final sizing of the boards

 More planning

Cutting dowels to be used to join the boards

 And finally it's ready to be joined and glued!  This is the layout.  Gorgeous, isn't it?!

Then on to drilling the holes where the dowels will be inserted for joining

 A sanity check that dowels and boards fit together

 Finally glue on the first 2 boards!

Then lots of pounding and grunting

 Finally clamps and the first seam is drying.  Yippee!

 Aren't they doing a marvelous job?!

More Bluebonnets

There were even more bluebonnets out last week in Brenham than over Easter!

Finally a shot with both girls smiling and looking in the same direction! 

As I mentioned, bluebonnets are a Texas childhood tradition. Here are a few shots of Alexis and me from 1988 (ages 7 and 4)!

Back in Brenham

We spent an unexpected week in Brenham last week but filled it with an amazing number of fun things.

 

Park playtime

The girls first official tour of Blue Bell

 Ring around the rosie at Wine Down at Pleasant Hill

 The Bluebonnet Festival where Natalie got her face painted for the second time

 And Saturday playtime with the Aldermans

We're not sure if it was the extra time or what but most remarkably Sludge finally decided to grace Natalie with her friendship.

It was another great and packed week!

Bluebonnets

It's springtime in Texas - the time when roadsides, fields, and hills turn blue and come alive with thousands of our state flower, the bluebonnet.  It's gorgeous.

 They're a quintessential part of Texas life - mantels are adorned with pictures of kids in the bluebonnets.  Most families do it annually and you can watch kids grow and change through the series of pictures.  Being in Texas this spring gave us the first chance we've ever had to do this with our girls and it meant the world to me to check off one more box on their lists of Texas must-do's.

Natalie actually took these two.

 Please pardon the fact that there are so many pictures. It's a Texas mom thing.