Thanksgiving in AZ part 2

We really enjoyed our trip to Arizona. I am glad that Naomi and I had 3 days off so we could spend 4 quality days in Arizona. We had lots of fun and made some great memories. Some of the fun we had were the girls playing in Grandpa's sandbox. Kaylee making up a interesting way of playing chess. The girls going to Show Low to see all of their cousins. It was their cousin Avery's birthday. She just turned 4. (David and I did not go with them that day. David wanted to rest. And I spent the whole day Saturday grading papers. YUCK!!!) I also got to spend time with my best friend. Too bad, I did not take any pictures of her and I. Shanna, guess I have to come back so we can take some pictures of us. All in all we really enjoyed our time. We left early Sunday morning and drove all day back to Texas. It makes for a long day but our girls are terrific travelers!!! Don't know when we will back that way again. Hopefully, it will be sooner rather than later!! Here are some pictures of some of our fun:

Kaylee in the sandbox
Naomi in the sandbox

Kaylee playing her interesting version of chess with David

Grandma and the girls with snow in Show Low

Kaylee with Hendrix

Naomi with Hendrix

L to R: Kaylee, Lillian, Avery, and Naomi. (Kaylee, Lillian, and Avery are all 4)

Thanksgiving in AZ

Since the end of August beginning of September, David and I had been tossing back and forth the idea of going to Safford for Thanksgiving. In David's early feel for who was going to be where for Thanksgiving, we learned that David's sister Lecia was going to travel to Safford for Thanksgiving. Since we thought David's parents were going to be at their place for Thanksgiving, we thought we would surprise his family and show up. We were not sure if we could go but finally we decided to just go for it because David really needed to see his family and I needed a break from the stress at home. However, we got a very startling monkey wrench that Monday night when we found out plans had changed and David's parents were traveling up to Lecia's for Thanksgiving. OH NO!!! Now we did not know if we were going after all and the girls and the car were pretty much packed. Long story short, we had to let the cat out of the bag and tell his parents our plans. His parents kindly rearranged their Thanksgiving plans and decided to stay in Safford so we could come out and visit. So Tuesday right after my last class, we headed off to Arizona. David and I switched off driving throughout the night and we got to Safford early Wednesday morning. We really enjoyed ourselves. Thanksgiving dinner was delicious. I made my mom's absolutely scrumptious stuffing. The turkey we brought with us tasted wonderful. (Funny story: David's mom said she would have to buy a turkey. I told her don't worry about it I have a turkey in my freezer outside so we brought it in a cooler with us!!) I made my sweet potato casserole. David's mom made the greenbean casserole. And then of course we had rolls and the relish platter. What a great Thanksgiving!!! And then of course later that night there was the pie.

David helping his Dad stuff the turkey
Sitting down to eat

More eating pictures

Kaylee and her pie (no cool whip for her)

Naomi and her pie (Extra cool whip, please!!!)

Visit Part 3

Yesterday, we headed back to Lake Jackson to make another attempt at visiting the Sea Center. This time it was open. And we really enjoyed ourselves. The Sea Center is a cooperative effort with Texas Parks and Wildlife and Dow Chemical. It is set up to educate people on the different saltwater/freshwater habitats of Texas. The building itself has different marine exhibits set up. Outside it has a wetland walkway and the fish hatcheries. You have to schedule an appointment to see the fish hatchery so we did not see that part but we saw everything else. It was definitely worth the drive down there and best of all it is free to the public. In fact, I would love to figure out how I can bring my Aquatic Science classes down there for a field trip. I already bring them to Galveston so I would have to figure out how to convince my principal to let me go on two.

Grandma & Grandpa Brown (watch out there is a shark behind you)

David and I with the girls

Grandpa Brown and the girls


Naomi doing a rubbing of a sea horse



The touch tank

Visit Part 2

Today we decided to go down to Lake Jackson to visit the Sea Center. However, once we got there we found out that it was closed because their air conditioner was broke and would not be open until tomorrow. We did not want to have a wasted trip so we decided to continue on to Surfside and then take the Bluewater Highway to Galveston. On our way through Surfside we found a public access beach that was really nice. So we stopped and played in the surf and on the beach for awhile before continuing on our journey. The girls fell asleep after playing on the beach so we did not stop in Galveston. But we enjoyed our scenic drive on the Bluewater Highway.

Grandma and Grandpa Brown in the surf

Kaylee enjoying the water

Naomi enjoying the waves

A visit with Grandma and Grandpa Brown Pt 1

After 3 year of begging, we finally got Grandma and Grandpa Brown to come back to Texas and visit. They got into town 1 o'clock Wednesday morning. Wednesday we stayed around the house for most of the day. Yesterday Pop-pop (Braithwaite) acted as our chauffer and he brought us down to Kemah. We thought the girls would love to run in the fountain there at Kemah. But for some reason the fountain was not working at its best so we loaded back up and headed to Galveston for a ferry ride. There is a ferry that goes across to the Bolivar penisula. The girls love going on the ferry. They like to stand on the bow. Especially on the way back when the water splashes up on the bow and they get soaking wet.

Playing in the fountain at Kemah

Grandma, Grandpa Brown and the girls on the ferry

Pop-pop, Grandpa Brown and the girls