Texas Trip, Houston Leg

We needed to head to warmer climes this spring break, and we had a new niece/cousin to meet in Houston, so the choice was easy to book a trip to Texas again. I've gotta say that spring is probably the best time to visit Texas, and it's always a little hard to leave. (We've already been snowed upon since our return a couple of days ago.) We flew out of Jackson, WY this time, and look what we drove through to get to the airport!

It's becoming our tradition to stop in Brenham on the ranch-to-Houston route for several reasons. I think it's the best spot for early bluebonnets and there is some delicious ice cream to be devoured! We love both very much; there's no better Texas welcome!

...except maybe from this squirrel! (where we picked up some pecan goodies)

Once we got to Houston, we wasted no time in meeting sweet Adeline! She is so quiet and happy most of the time or else she has her eyebrows raised in surprise. She was just past the three-month mark, which is the start of the fun, in my opinion. 

O and H were both newly congested upon our arrival, so we imposed a minimum distance rule to keep Addie away from our germs. (We spent a good part of Saturday afternoon at a clinic with Owen for an ear infection. So sad to be sick on vacation! Oh, and Hadley licked the bottom of her boot after the airport travel, and was not feeling well a few days later. Coincidence? I think not!)

Unfortunately, that ruled out a true "cousins" pic. I think this is the best we got of all 3 of them together!

But that didn't stop them from trying to relive their baby days with some of her stuff!

We made it out to our friends' brewery on Saturday (just one week before their big one year anniversary). They seem to be doing well, and it was fun to reunite with a few old college buddies. Even Addie joined us!

And there are always walks to the playgrounds near D&J's house. Uncky Dan showed the kids how to fly down the path to the park. The "cold front" didn't deter these Idaho kids!

Sunday was for Dim Sum and Discovery Green. Owen ate a fair amount of dumplings; Hadley stuck to carbs and dessert. Can't say we were surprised!

Discovery Green is an interesting, little park in the middle of downtown Houston. They had a unique art installation of spinning tops, "Los Trompos", that the kids enjoyed;

A fun playground where Owen perfected his rope climb and Hadley crossed her first monkey bars;

You can see more of the tops in the background here.

And another large art installation that invited kids to climb and explore.

It was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for walking in the park.

We finished up with some shaved ice, which led to a 5-minute public dance solo by Owen in the middle of the plaza.  I recorded the last two minutes of it, but I'll save it for blackmail later. :)

Before we left town, we showed the kids where their Dad lived on Pagehurst and drove around the old neighborhood a bit, though Owen pleaded for us not to show where all of Daddy's friends used to live. Bo-ring!

As always, we enjoyed our Houston visit! Thanks for hosting us, Dan, Jenn, and Addie!