Lately: Winter Edition

What a month this has been! It's the end of January, but this was the first week both my boys were in school for a full five days, due to winter holidays, sick days, and more snow in Houston. It's been a roller coaster around here!

Here's a peek at some of what we've been up to lately:  

Henry had to take the ISEE test earlier this month. It was HARD but he rocked it and we are so proud! 

An ICEE after the ISEE

While Henry was taking the test, Will and I were running errands, including a stop at our local game shop for more Yugioh cards.  

Dinner that night was a meat pie -- Henry's request for a special dinner. It was so good!

Gene was out of town for a wedding over MLK weekend, so the boys and I ventured out to run errands, visit museums and eat. Mai's is one of our favorite spots for Vietnamese food.  

On Marathon Sunday, we got out to cheer on our friends, including one of Henry's Cub Scout buddies who ran the 1/2 marathon with his mom! The marathon route is just blocks from our house, so it's convenient (but man, it was a cold morning!).  

And then this happened:  snow in Houston for the third time this winter!

The boys missed another two days of school and had a five-day weekend. We were all going a bit stir-crazy by the end of it! 

We kept busy by cooking (always). I made Dutch babies for the first time in years! 

And Gene made individual meat pies with leftover dough and other odds and ends he found in the fridge. 

We didn't brush our hair and played many games of Scrabble. 

We tormented Ruby by crowning her with a paper crown from her most recent BarkBox.

Last week, our school celebrated books with our annual Bluebonnet Breakfast. The Texas Bluebonnet Award is chosen by kids in grades 3-6 who read at least 5 of the 20 Bluebonnet nominees. Henry read all 20 again this year, and was honored with a medal and certificate. 

His favorite book was The Last Kids on Earth, which was also the winner at our school.  Next month, we'll see which book collected the most votes throughout the state! 

What have you been up to lately?  

Winter Break, Part Two

Winter break (week three) is over and everyone is back at school! It was a long winter break, but it was really fun to spend time together as a family and also have one-on-one time with each of my boys. Here's a peek at some of what we were up to during the second part of winter break!

2017 ended with a splash, literally! We were all at our friends' annual NYE party when Will burst in and told us that Henry had fallen in the pool. Will loves to tell jokes about this kind of thing, so we weren't sure if we could believe him -- until we went outside in the 40 degree weather to find a sopping wet Henry. We borrowed some clothes and came right home -- it was 9:30 anyway, and we don't like to stay out late on New Year's Eve.  

Sad Henry with a bundle of wet clothes

New Year's Day candy making 

after the all-morning long brew session

Thanks for the candy chemistry kit, Gramma and Grampa!

We sent Will back to school last Tuesday, and Henry and I met Gramma and Grampa for a visit to the science museum. I knew Grampa would love the "Trains Over Texas" exhibit!

Grampa's model trains at home (he set up them for the boys for Christmas)

After lunch, Henry and Grampa played Scrabble. It was a tough game, but Grampa won (always!).

That night, we had more snow in Houston! 

It was really a tiny amount, but Henry went out (in his bare feet) and gathered every bit he could. 

Snow 2018 (this is very likely every bit that fell in the backyard!)

Wednesday was a boring, errand-running day. We went to two libraries, got Henry new sneakers, bought sushi for lunch, and shopped at Pottery Barn. Henry is actually quite the shopper and helped me find some new decor:

We are trying to spruce up the house! There are some little areas that have been bugging me -- the pillows on the love seat, the bookcases -- so I am trying to find things I like and make the whole place look more pulled together. It is definitely an ongoing process!

On Thursday, Henry and I joined Gramma and Grampa at the MFAH. The exhibit HOME -- So Different, So Appealing features art by Latino and Latin American artists who explore what home means, especially in relation to immigration, poverty, and politics. It was absolutely fascinating!

Back at Gramma and Grampa's house, Henry helped Gramma make some cookies. 

One of Henry's biggest requests of the week was to head down to Brazos Bend State Park. This is truly his happy place!

It was so cold at the beginning of the week, so we pushed our visit to Friday, which ended up being a gorgeous, partly sunny day in the 50s. The park was so quiet (except for the many birds) and peaceful and we honestly had the best time together! We hiked nearly four miles on three different trails and it was just delightful.

Elm Lake Loop

Horseshoe Lake Loop

Creekfield Lake Trail 

I hope your 2018 is off to a wonderful start!

Adventures in Brewing

Gene has been itching to brew beer since law school, and he has brewed with friends on several occasions, but he had a bad track record (beer exploding and ruining apartments), so I have never been too keen on it. Last year, his brother got him a beginner brewing kit, and it was fun, but this year, he was determined to spend some of his Christmas money on real brewing equipment. He and our friend Joel (who owns a brewery and knows his way around brewing equipment) spent a couple of hours last weekend helping Gene pick out exactly what he needs to brew a low-alcohol brown ale.

Gene's shiny new pot

The whole set up on New Year's Day. Gene swears that the cold temps (highs in the low 30s) helped the brewing process. I wouldn't know one way or the other, so I am tempted to believe him!

Beer!

Gene's helpers

Gene used the spent grain to bake dog biscuits for Ruby. She is a huge fan!!

Check back with us in a month or so and we may have some beer to share!