Catching up

A couple weeks ago we all went to Texas.  We all stayed in Austin the first night, at Karl's sister Katie's house.  It was a very nice sized house, but Sam later stated that it was a "teeny tiny house."  She's got a beautiful back yard with a nice vegetable and herb garden, and fruit trees.  Everything is so green there.  On Sunday, we drove down to New Braunfels and surprised Karl's brother David, who was the main reason for our trip (his high school graduation).  We hung out for a bit, and then drove down to Mathis/Sandia and spent the next two nights at the Ranch House with grandma Peggy and grandpa Dan (another reason for our trip).  We drove into Corpus on Monday, and visited the King family who was like family to us while we lived there.  Tuesday through Saturday were spent in New Braunfels.  We attended a dinner with the Knights of Columbus where Catherine got recognized for all her dedicated work with the Gabrielle project (a program that helps young mother's in crisis pregnancies).  It was sweet, because as she gave her speech, she was able to not just talk about her own experience, but she was also able to introduce Karl as living proof of her faith, and good choices.  There was an audible gasp when she said he was there, and many tears all around.  

I brought both cameras, and took no pictures.  We were so busy the whole time, I'd forget to grab either of the cameras, or my hands were so fully of clingy Violet, I couldn't take any pictures!   Anyway, let the lack of pictures be the proof of a good time, I was having too much fun to stop and take a picture!  What I do have is a few pictures of the boys on the way home from Texas.  Karl drove the boys there and back, and Violet and I flew (neither of us like driving too long, but Karl loves it).  On the way home, Karl stopped in Oklahoma and did a little family history research, and found some relatives in a forgotten cemetery.  They had a great time together, and the boys were really good.  I enjoyed a nearly solitary weekend with Violet.  We had a great time too, and the house stayed record clean for a record amount of time.  Woot! Woot!

When moms not there, you get to jump on the beds!

... and stay in you're pajama's all day, and make silly faces in almost all pictures taken.

Several weeks ago, our little black cat, Colette got out of the basement through a window that blew in during a windstorm, and we haven't seen her since.  She was a feral cat from birth, and we never were able to tame her.  She didn't really like anyone, except for  Violet and our cat Kitty, but we missed her presence, and we could tell Kitty did too.  So we got a new kitten.  His name is Toast, and he's only four or five weeks old.

Their first encounter.

Slightly annoyed, but not too bothered.

Their first nap together, not wanting to be too close yet.

And for the grand finale of this post.  Here are some pictures of Violet, with her hair done up pretty.  Her "bangs" if you can call them bangs, are growing out and bothering her, so I have to pin them back.  She would NOT hold still for a picture, so they're all a little blurry.