Houston and San Francisco and Santa Fe and Lyons |
On the return to Houston, a three day stop in San Francisco was in order. Lombardi Street, better known to us as 'twisty-curvey street' below, and to the right is the Golden Gate Bridge. |
Annaliese and Christopher went to look at St. John's in Santa Fe, NM. Then they went to Estes Park to see Andrew and his family. Below you see Annaliese with Nicholas, Thomas, and Anna. The book, Not Norman, is by a friend of ours that just happens to also live in Jakarta! |
Andrew, Annaliese, and Jonathon, the youngest Hart, trying to enjoy the merry-go-round. Anna, below, enjoys the attention afforded an only daughter. |
Christopher took Annaliese and Barbie to see Trinity University in San Antonio. They were most impressed with the new Fine Arts center. |
These pictures below are from a favorite vacation we take every year for the last 7 or 8 years. SCHLITTERBAHN! if you have never been, you need to consider it. It is very relaxing, not too expensive, great fun, a lovely setting (the old park is our favorite), and our favorite vacation (yes, yes, repetitious). We go to New Braunfels and stay at the resort. We prefer rooms in the 440-430 area. We go with the Jirciks, who somehow didn't make it onto the camera this year, so no photos of them. Pictured is Arianna, Christopher, and Sophie about to be hauled up, way up, and then let loose on a giant swing. Believe you me, they screamed a lot. The other two pictures are of Gracie and Gracie and Alissa. Christopher just happened to stroll out of our room and who was floating by? Gracie, Liz, Annie, and Alissa. This year, Annaliese brought Emily M. and Arianna brought Sophie. In addition to the Jirciks, Liz Dennis and two of her daughters came. We have traditions that have to be followed... One night, we all eat together, sometimes at a restaurant and sometimes at the resort (grilling, ordering pizza, etc..) The other night, the adults go to The Huisache Grill in New Braunfels and have a very nice meal. This year, Alissa had pecan-encrusted pork chops and so did Christopher. The spinach salad was quite good. That night, the kids have pizza and run around the resort, swimming, playing at the arcade, and watching TV. When we first arrive, we always start at the new park, because it is our least-favorite and if you don't get there early to go to the top of master-blaster, you will have to wait about an hour for a minute-long ride. Ho-hum. Then we go (around noon or so) to the other new-ish park, Blastenhof. We like it because it has the Crystal River, complete with colorful alligators. And then around 4pm, we go to the old park and that's pretty much where we stay all the next day. The day after that, we go to either Prince Solms Park and float on the river or we go to Gruene and eat lunch and sometimes we do both! |
Not pictured: "AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhh! |
Arianna and friends... Elizabeth, Francesca, and Jessie. They spent the night one night last week. If you didn't know it, brown is very popular this year. Also pictured is the Herricks' dog. Lucy. Lucy is a delightful dog, with a pleasant disposition. She is very well-behaved and playful. We are house-sitting for the Herricks and Lucy and the cat, Mai. It has been a great experience. Just being able to unpack, sleep late, and not worry about anyone else's schedule have made the vacation fabulous. And for this vacation, we aren't even doing much. Just being in Houston. Today we worked in the yard! Weeded, weed-whacked, watered, fertilized, and put in some fall garden tomato plants. This morning, Annaliese had her four wisdom teeth removed. She has faired quite well, it seems. Only a minimum of swelling so far, and she is not complaining of pain. It's time, in fact, for her next dose of meds... ta ta. |
Arianna and her girlfriends. Sophie, Grace, and Francesca. |