A Care in the World: Deep in the Heart of Texas

When Joseph's parents left for their mission last summer, we promised our older kids we would take them to see Nanny and Grandpa while they served in Houston. We knew nothing about the city but were eager to see Ruth Ann and Neil and especially where and how they are serving. We took Bentley and Cares in May which was kind of perfect with it being their birthday month. It was also the last week of activities before summer break at the institute where the LeBarons are working.

Thursday May 1st we popped on the airplane and flew to Texas—I had never been!

Traveling with these two was so easy and so fun! They carry their own bags, pack their own entertainment and sit sweetly in their seats the whole flight—ahhhh so nice!

Plus they are best buddies :)

We met Nanny and Grandpa at the airport and it was a happy reunion. The we were off to downtown Houston for some museum exploring. The first spot we hit was the Museum of Natural Science:

Found this street to match our cute girl as we wandered around:

Then we hit the Children's Museum:

It was such a fun spot! The hubby and I even got to play a little ourselves which never happens when we have our crazy Luke along with us!

We stopped at a little taco shop near the museums for some dinner and then drove back up to Huntsville to settle in at Ruth Ann and Neil's apartment. We were pretty worn out by about 9:00 pm that night so we all crashed early.

The next morning Ruth Ann made us the most delicious buttermilk waffles and syrup with her new Texas waffle iron. Cares was pounding out her sleep (as usual—but doesn't she look sweet?) One reason I adore about Neil so much is that he knows me so well and had their fridge stocked with icy cold Diet Mountain Dew right when we arrived! I have the best in-laws.

That day Ruth and Neil hosted their weekly Friday Forum complete with a guest speaker and a delicious lunch (provided by the amazing Ruth Ann of course). We were over at the institute a few hours early to get things set-up and help with meal prep and then we spent some time wandering around campus and exploring Sam Houston State University.

The speaker was the Houston Temple Matron and she did an excellent job. We were there to hear her along with a handful of other students and it was fun to meet the college kids Ruth Ann and Neil have spent so much time with this past year. Of course Nanny's lunch (Navajo tacos) was totally delicious too.

After lunch clean-up we walked across the street to the Sam Houston Folk Festival. We got there just before it was done for the day so it was nice and calm and we got to try all sorts of cool things. Cares learned the proper way to curtsey and tried weaving some fluffy wool into yarn. We also painted with oil and water, made beaded bracelets and made our own candles in dipping wax.

We also tried the coolest looking snack—a huge potato swirl which was fried and salted. Oh, so yummy! I didn't grab a picture of it (as we inhaled it pretty quickly ;) but it looks just like this (a pic from the internet):

The park where they held the festival had some cool old cabins and lots of gorgeous, shady trees—and really is right across the street from the university. Such a pretty afternoon. We ended the day with t-shirt shopping, huge smoothies, a rest back at Nanny's watching The Bourne Identity, and dinner at Double Dave's for pizza and pepperoni rolls (try them if you're ever in Texas—we saw Double Dave's all over Houston).