Fun Besides Food

Hermann Park was beyond crowded. We completely lucked out getting a "parking spot." No one seemed to care that half the car was on the curb. The kids got on the paddle boats.

Alayna choose to swim with the ducks. She can say, "Quack, Quack!"

We went running most mornings on the 3 1/2 mile lake run.

Near the end is a work-out park. Gail challenged us to the 90 second plank. Dawna came close.Sammie went nearly 5 minutes! Great form!

Pullups with Alayna.
Crunches with Sammie.
Pushups with Drew.The boys went to a shooting course near George Bush Park. Games & NCAA Tournament Brackets. Reminds us of our days in Provo, when we would stay up until 4am playing Settlers of Catan or watching episodes of 24...during the week...with jobs to go to the next day!

Come Back Soon!

St Patrick's Day

Samantha has been on a rainbow kick for since before her birthday in October. She can't pick just one color...she wants the whole rainbow. Anything she colors is in a rainbow design. And, all her drawings are rainbows. It's pretty cute. I bought rainbow glitter paint from the grocery store, and she thought I was the best mom ever. It's amazing what $4 can do for my self esteem.Even Alayna tried her hand at painting.The leprechaun snuck into our house. Everyone had stickers all over their faces...including Alayna! He left his footprints everywhere! Sammie followed his path. That silly leprechaun turned all the milk & OJ green! He even rearranged a few things.At the end of a rainbow...was a special treat. Happy St Patrick's Day!

Rodeo & Jason Aldean

A visit to Houston is not complete without braving the mass crowds of people for an event. The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo during Spring Break will about make you loose your mind.

We braved all the crazy rides...whether or not we were feeling brave.
Sammie and I made it to her favorite carnival ride.Alayna had her first trip to the farm. She loved every minute of it! She carried her own basket, broke all the rules and insisted on doing it twice...I think it had something to do with the treats.We also visited the petting zoo. Alayna is not afraid of anything!Grandma & Papa made it to the pig races with Samantha & Alayna.My dad has an unapologetic man-crush for Jason Aldean.The concert did not disappoint.
The look on Summer's face says it all..."Sammie is SO fun, despite the fact that she never stops!"

Spring Break with the Herrs

Basically, the entire week was planned around food...we actually did activities as well, but what we ate took precedence.

Picnic @ Hermann Park

Empanada's @ Marini's

Deep Fried Anything @ Houston Rodeo

Smoked Turkey Leg @ Houston Rodeo

Pork Chop Friday @ Perry's Steakhouse

BBQ @ The Swinging Door

Crawfish Boil

Cinnamon Roll Tutorial

ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run

WE DID IT!

Blake has been looking forward to this race for an entire year!!! Last February, he was talked into running in this 10k with ZERO preparation. He ran it in 1:14. Around May, he started exercising and training for this years redemption.His goal = under 50 minutes
Official Time = 49:40 with 7:59 mile

This was my first race ever, and everyone knows I am just not into this kinda thing. I will admit, it was fun...I can see what all the excitement is about. I was a far cry from training or really getting ready for this. I usually run about 3 miles, once a week...and walk with Alayna a few more times a week. Basically, 6 miles is the furthest I have EVER ran.
My goal = DO NOT STOP RUNNING and beat Blake's time last year.
Official Time = 1:10:00 with 11:15 mile.

We made a great weekend out of this. We were able to have my mom and dad come along. We stayed at the Hilton on Friday night. Rode scooters around downtown to find somewhere appropriate to eat dinner, swam in the pool and stayed up late. Blake and I walked down to the race the next morning, while the everyone else had breakfast and lined up on the streets for the runners and rodeo parade. Blake was able to see them while running...but I gave up when I couldn't find them at the predetermined cross street. We met back for more swimming (HOT TUB) and then found a late lunch at Hefley's Bar.

Stake Conference & Peckam Park

It has been raining for days! We were so happy for the sunshine that we made a park day out of a Sunday afternoon.

We brought all kinds of cheap, plastic toys.

Even Aunt Deesh joined us.

Papa manned the camp stove cooking hot dogs and corn on the cob.

Alayna explored.

And, Samantha was 'tending. That is what she calls pretending...which she can do throughout the whole day. She has the best imagination. She is usually acting out scenes from a movie. And yes, the plastic horseshoe around her neck is a prop.
Scooter Bandits went for a ride around the lake.

Pretty sure this is her first Oreo.

Peek-a-boo!

Most of the pictures I try to take either have heads and faces staring at the ground like this...seriously?! What are they looking at?Or, right up close and personal with the lens.

It really does that 100 shots to get one.
Fun afternoon!