Time out in Texas

We arrived Thursday evening around 5pm. We called Kevin's aunt and got shortcut directions which, in the long run, got us off I-10 and out of the middle of a police chase that happened seconds after we got off the interstate. Talk about luck. Since it was so late, we decided to order pizza and chill for the rest of the night. Friday, Tressa took Megan clothes shopping at Kohl's and I tagged along. We were going to go get pedicures and manicures but we took longer than expected in Kohl's and we needed to go to the grocery store too. After we got groceries put away, we decided to go swimming and went over to Tressa's friend, Julie's house. She has an inground pool and happened to be out of town on vacation so we had the pool to ourselves. Christopher got used to the water and ended up swimming by himself. He had floaties on and they seemed to help him. He even jumped off in the pool by himself after going to the bathroom. That was scary but he did great.

Saturday, we wanted to do the zoo, but it was over 100 degrees out here so that was out. We decided to stay in and play Wii for a while. We all took turns at bowling and later grilled t-bone steaks and portabello mushrooms for the 4th. We later went to the upstairs room and went out the window onto the roof and watched fireworks everywhere. I even saw a shooting star!! It was so cool....seemed like it was a scene out of a movie.

Sunday, we took a trip to downtown Houston to the Downtown Aquarium. We got all day passes and went through the inside exhibit. It was so cool. There was also a station where you could touch sting rays and horseshoe crabs. I touched a stingray but couldn't get a crab to come close enough for me to touch. The kids didn't want to do either!! LOL! The last thing we saw inside were white tigers. They were so pretty. We went out the exit and got in line to ride the ferris wheel and the kids rode the aquarium carousel which had sharks, alligators, sea horses, and dolphins instead of horses. We were hot after so we got bottle water and made our way to the car for the trek home. We were also a bit hungry so we stopped at this place called Willie's IceHouse and got some food. Kevin and I got cheeseburgers and fries. I had monterey jack cheese on mine and I do believe it was the best burger I have ever had.

Today, Tressa, Megan, and I went to a nail and spa salon and got the spa pedicures and manicures. Megan got her nails painted a hot pink color and the vietnamese lady painted flowery designs on her fingernails and big toe-nails. Tressa and I got our toenails painted a darker pink and we also got solar nails or as Mississippians call them, French nails. It was so cool. I enjoyed feeling girly for a while. The pedicure was awesome!! Right now, I am learning how to type good with these nails. It is kinda funny feeling, LOL! But, I think they look awesome!

Right now, we are waiting on gumbo to get done and we are going to have salad along with it. I also learned a new dip that I plan on making at Megan's birthday party. I learned it from the grocery store. Yep, that's right. The H-E-B store in Houston. It is something else. There is a section in the middle where they cook stuff everyday and let people sample it. Friday, they had this dip for sample and it is so good. I can't wait for everyone to try it.

Ok I need to get off here. I will update more later. Have a good Monday night!!

Walkin' In Memphis...part 3

These are some photos I took while we were out walking on Beale Street and riding the trolley car. Enjoy!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Walkin' in Memphis, part 2.

We managed to make it to the wedding hall 10 minutes before it started. Megan and I got to go into the bride's dressing room and meet Bethany. She looked so beautiful. The gown was gorgeous!! We stepped back outside and found adequate seating. The ceremony finally got underway and it was lovely. The environment was astonishing! There were lights everywhere, beautiful flower arrangements, and great music....lots of great love songs!!

Kevin, Lee, and I were sitting at a table talking, after the ceremony, when the dj burst out with some T.I. The looks on our face were probably priceless, LOL! In addition to T.I., the dj played various music from T-Pain to Taylor Swift. It was awesome!! Bethany finally was able to break away for a few minutes and came over and sat and talked to us a bit. She was so excited to meet us all. We finally got introduced to her new husband, Clint. He is a very handsome guy and also a Corporal in the U.S. Marines. Wow! He is set to depart to Japan in January, thus the sudden nuptuals. She wanted to be with him, since he had been gone away from her already for a year. Can't say I don't blame her. So now legally she can join him where-ever he gets stationed. She told us that they would be in Japan til at least June and then come back to the States, probably to South Carolina. We all hated that we wouldn't see her for a while but she promised that we would keep in touch through phone calls and email. Shortly thereafter, the limo arrived and the bride and groom were ready to go. Everyone lit sparklers and the lucky couple ran through them to the car. They all went to the Fox and Hound English Pub for an after-wedding celebration. Kevin, the kids, and I made the 2 hour trip home.

I think the whole evening went pretty well. She seems like a very nice and fun person to be around and I really can't wait until we see her again. I got tons of great pics of her with the guys and kids and will have to post those soon too.

Right now, I need a shower! Laters! :-)

Finally made it!

Well, after a great morning shower, I sit here in an office chair, with my feet propped up on a bed and my laptop in my lap, inside room 110 of the Doubletree Hotel in East Memphis. Kevin's cousin, Bethany, works here and the room we are in was a complimentary room. It has 2 double beds. Last night, Kevin, his brother Lee, their cousin, Terrel (or T.K. as we call him), Megan, Christopher, and I all camped out in the room. The kiddos and I were in one bed, T.K. and Lee shared the other bed and Kevin slept sitting up in a chair with ottoman....that's nothing new for him since he sleeps sitting up on the couch at home. LOL! Bethany is the cousin that I have been talking about. They haven't seen her since she was around 1 or 2 years old and now we are gonna meet her and attend her wedding tomorrow afternoon. The guys and I wanted to do some sightseeing and things, so Kevin's aunt Tressa is on her way here to pick up Megan and Christopher so we don't have to lug them around with us. I think we are gonna go to Beale Street since I have never been before and eat at a place called Rum Boogie Cafe. Lee says we will go inside the Hard Rock Cafe too so I can see in there.

Chris and Megan opened presents from Tressa last night. Megan got a Hannah Montana Dance set. It contains 2 Hannah Montana wigs, 2 headsets, 2 dance mats, and a dvd. I told her she could play by herself at home and with Maddie when she comes over again. Chris got a remote control car hauler with 2 cars. The cars EVEN have their OWN remotes. It is so neat!! Of course we didn't have batteries, so he will have to wait til we find some.

The ride here was quicker than expected. We came in (Philip's girlfriend) Katy's van. It gets great gas mileage. Kevin and I both agreed that we would love to have one of those vans. Just got back to the post...had to google Bank of America for T.K.

I know I am ready to go eat...my tummy is growling lol! I will post more later and pics to if I can figure out how to put them on here!! :)

This is Melissa, signing off! Peace out!