Happy Birthday to Ty

Ty you are the man of the day!  Hope you have a great 7th birthday!

Your Mom was so happy that your Dad came home from playing baseball for your birth.  I can’t help but think your wife might someday be in the same predicament.

Some things we love about our Ty Daniel:

• you are an awesome athlete and fierce competitor
• you have a bright mind and have a special knack for math and logic
• you nearly always try your best both at school and at play

Ty, your Papa and I look forward to watching you continue to grow and pray that you seek God first in everything you do.  We love you Ty Daniel!

Guys Camping Trip

Steve and Austin took an overnight trip to Huntsville where they camped on a friend’s land.  They set up a tent, roasted hot dogs over a campfire and best of all they fished in the bass pond.

Austin getting things set up in the tent.

  

 

Austin’s fishing line got tangled and it took him quite some time to get it unraveled.

Steve and Austin caught a couple of good sized bass and left them in the water overnight and….

This is what they found in the morning….turtles had eaten a good portion of the fish!

Better luck next time.

Master Bath Remodel

We recently remodeled our 18-year-old bathroom, hopefully to last until we move from this house.  It is a small bathroom (by modern terms), but very functional for us.  Here is a bad photo of our bathroom shortly after we moved into our house.

White cabinets, cultured marble tub/shower, sinks and counters, light box and very large mirror.  Following are some photos of the updated bathroom.  We just tried to bring the bathroom into the 21st century.

 

 

Now we have a walk-in shower and easy-to-care-for and long-lasting finishes.  Hopefully this bathroom will take us through our golden years and serve us until we move into assisted living!

I updated the bed linens in the master bedroom, but decided we needed an update on one more thing.

Note the RED headboard.  So I found some plans online and Steve built me a new headboard.

I am very pleased with the outcome and I am hoping that he will build us some more furniture soon.

Hike in Bastrop State Park

After walking in Round Top, we decided to go over to Bastrop State Park.  The day was cloudy and pleasant, just right for a hike.

 

Checking the map for a trail to an overlook.

 

Leading the way.

            

         

At our destination.          

Andrew checks his watch and it is time to head back to the car.

It was a pleasant walk.  While we were walking we decided that this was a good time of year for a hike…in another month it may be too hot.

In and Around Round Top

After lunch on Mother’s Day at Royer’s Cafe we decided we needed to walk off our pie so we took a walk around Round Top.  First we took a quick photo of the Alexanders outside the cafe.

The following are some of the sites in Round Top:

  

We took a break in a courtyard between the art galleries.  Here is Kylie with her dad and also with Papa.

Kylie has a style all her own and that day it included stickers on her face.  She wears what she enjoys and what is comfortable for her and doesn’t care what others may think. Love your individuality Kylie!

We would love to go back to Round Top when there is a music concert and when more of their unique stores are open. 

Mother’s Day at Royers Cafe

We met Shauna, Mark and family at Royers Cafe in Round Top for a Mother’s Day lunch and also to celebrate Kylie’s 10th birthday.

Steve and I had been to Round Top, but had never had lunch at Royer’s.  We arrived before the Alexanders so we took in the outside ambience of the cafe.

   

This is Bud Royer….a colorful character and a friend of Mark’s.  He was in a Bible study with Bud this past year.  He came outside to welcome everyone.

These speak for themselves.  I say “yuck”.

The Alexanders arrived and Kylie was dressed for the occasion.

In the center of the table with the condiments they even included reader glasses for those customers that need them (Steve)!

 

After we ordered and while we were waiting on our lunch, Kylie opened her birthday gifts from Nanie and Papa which included  a couple of gift cards which she seemed to be excited about.

We all chose the Sunday special, buttermilk/garlic batter fried chicken, and topped it off with pie for dessert.

As you can see it was hard to choose.  We chose: chocolate cream with chocolate chips, dutch apple and strawberry-rhubarb.  The pie was absolutely delicious!!

 

We will be definitely meeting at Royers Cafe again.  We had a great time and the meal was fantastic.

Thinking Blue

We found out a couple of weeks ago that Melissa and David are expecting a baby BOY!  That will make grandson number five for us and Kylie will keep her rightful place as the one and only princess granddaughter…..at least for now!

Isn’t he cute?  We are looking forward to meeting little James in September.  Sure hope your mommy and daddy are taking good care of you while you are in Europe.  Melissa and David are enjoying a “Babymoon” this week in France so baby boy is an early world traveler.  We did not have an ultrasound when I was pregnant so I have always been intrigued by the sneak peak we have gotten of our grandchildren.  A great reminder of the miracle of birth.

Welcome to Double Digits Kylie!

This comes as a special wish for a very Happy 10th Birthday to Kylie!

There are many special things that we love about Kylie…including:

• You are our one and only princess granddaughter
• you are very active and athletic
• you have many friends because you are so much fun to be with!
• you have a quick and inquisitive mind
• you love Jesus and look for ways to share your faith with others

Kylie, God has blessed you with many talents.  We pray this verse for you: Colossians 1:10  “that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."

Terral Diaper Shower

The Onya Sisters thought we had “outgrown” baby showers but were more than happy to shower Tina and honor her as the newest grandmother.  She is expecting her first granddaughter around May 14th.  We began by enjoying a meal together, followed by Tina delighting in each gift of baby essentials…mostly diapers!  I think little Gabrielle Christine will find them most useful.

LaJuan giving Tina some pointers.

Julie reading about “Lolly” (Grandma Tina)

Tina reading her cards and enjoying her gifts

Trying on one of the new baby dresses on the doll

Below are a couple of photos of the whole group.  We always have such a great time together.

The cake was delicious and we all had to try LaJuan’s cake cutter.  It was cool.

Before the evening was over we were looking for an excuse to have another party.  Several of the group are headed to Destin later this month.  Maybe they will send me some photos to post so we can keep up with the antics of the Onyas.