A Week in H-Town

We're finally back home, I have 8,000 loads of laundry to do and 2,000 dishes in the sink.  But it's good to be home.  I missed my bed.  So last week I posted about going camping on the Guadalupe, although it's not really camping when you have a cabin.  Whatever.  After our fun camping trip... Jeff and I drove down to Houston to watch Tiff's kids for a week.  They went to China for 2 weeks and only took the 3 older kids.  We volunteered to take the 4 little ones.  They kept us pretty busy.  We got there last last Friday and stayed until this last Saturday since Jeff had to hurry home since school started yesterday.  This time there were hardly any mishaps.  No cups bouncing off my head.  No microwaves full of flames or bleeding animals.  In fact, I would go so far as to say it was fun.  I got to see some favorite friends, go jogging, meet friends for lunch and swim any time we wanted. We tried to do something fun with the kids every day, and we did.  In between sessions of Jeff making them clean from his recliner throne.  Saturday was swimming and ice cream.  Sunday was the Karma Memorial Day BBQ ... that get's it's own post, should Tyson ever email me pictures :)   Monday was our own celebration of Decoration day... and the rest of the week just blurred.  Jeff and I had no idea what day it was half the time.  Such is the blessing of vacation. ... did I just call this a vacation?  ... aw. That's sad.  But it was a break from school and desert so I guess it counts.  So roughly, this is our week in pictures:

We introduced Olivia to her first watermelon.  Not a fan.

The other kids oinkus poinkussed the rest of it though... they loved it.  In fact, they ate the whole thing.

Storie ended up smashing hers on her forehead.  I have no idea why my sisters children are obsessed with smashing food in their faces, but this isn't the first time a plate of something has gone in their face.

Heather is the best ever and came over a few times.  She puts up with a lot.

This girl never takes a bad picture!  She was the oldest of the youngest set of Tiffany's kids... and without the 3 big kids around, shone like a bright star! It was like she knew she got to be the leader or something, because she was such a different kid. She was SO helpful... I mean, not that she isn't always, but it was just different this time.  She dressed Andie every day, she found all the lost stuff, she was so sweet.  None of the kids fought, they just played with each other and did what they were asked.  It was honestly so much fun.  Kids should never get bigger than 9. 

Like my bangs?  I had this brilliant idea to cut them myself.  I don't wanna talk about it.

Tristan understands presents.  He was super excited... we had a mini party for his birthday.

We took Chunky on a cruise...

And he really enjoyed Tristan's birthday.. party dog in the house tonight!

Tristan and Andie are self sufficient.  I had just changed their diapers and was looking for pajamas when I heard a cupboard door open... then I heard a box fall on the floor.  Then I heard crinkling.

We got caught in a rain storm...

And I got to play with this little guy.

Some friends invited us over (ok I invited us over) to go fishing.  Storie and Jeff got to go fishing with Jeff, so they were professionals.

Jeff made breakfast burritos ...

We played dress up with Miller.  ... I will say this dog is lucky to be alive.  I went joggin one morning and he escaped.  I thought, "Well, maybe I'll just let him go with me unleashed and it'll be OK." That was a dumb idea.... but he and I have done that before and he was pretty good.  Let's just say this time me and 2 other people almost drowned him on purpose.  Stupid. Dog.

And, since we only bathed the kids once while we were there I thought I'd document it.  You don't have to bathe them if they go swimming, right? 

What I am leaving out is Storie's graduation and the ballet recital... and our drive with the 5 kids back to West Texasand some vomit karma .  But we'll save that for another day.