Last week, we packed the car and headed to Houston for five days to see my brother marry a girl who is more incredible than I ever dreamed. I had been looking forward to this trip for months, and even though it was exhausting, we had the best time seeing family and friends. I cannot express how much I miss that city because of the people I know who live there.
We left Wednesday afternoon and most of our drive was through rain. Once we got Allison settled in Norman, we didn't have to stop again until we got out of Dallas. Jackson was such a trooper! We found an outdoor playground and a bouncy castle at a Sonic. It was the only playground we could find, but since the rain had stopped, we decided to deal with the wet slides. It was actually really fun. While we were all four jumping in the wet bouncy castle, it started to rain again. We didn't care. It was only a drizzle. It was one of those moments when you stop and "soak" it all in because you realize that your family is so precious and times like this must be cherished. (I didn't actually jump with Allison. I just held her while the guys made us move up and down.)
We got to Jason's mom's house around ten o'clock. Jackson was so excited to see Grandma and her dogs and cats. (Jason's mom is such an animal lover and she'd gotten two puppies since the last time we'd been to Houston.) Megan and her boyfriend James came over to see us before we went to bed, and Jessica woke from the squeals of her excited nephew. Thursday morning, we got to see Ryan. We hadn't seen Jessica or Ryan since February!!
Uncle Ryan and Allison:
Jackson is a huge lover of cars. I'm serious about this. He is not your typical boy. His love for cars goes way beyond typical. Whenever he meets someone, he wants to know what kind of car they drive - make and model! When people come to our house, he always wants to look inside of their cars. He knows where the keys go, how to start it, how to operate the windshield wipers, lights, hazards and emergency break, and where to pop the hood and gas door. He especially likes it whenever people let him check out the engines of their cars. Ryan bought a Nissan 350Z Nizmo (with 406 Horsepower!). Jackson had been looking forward to seeing this car for months. Thursday morning, he got his wish:
For the rest of our trip, if Ryan was around, Jackson was all about convincing him to let him get in his car. And Ryan is so awesome, he willingly obliged nearly every time! He is an amazing uncle and really loves our kids:)
After the boys had a drive in Ryan's car, we drove to Sugar Land to eat lunch with Ryan, Meredith and Madalyn and to see their new house. I adore my niece. I can't believe how much she's changed since August. She's at such a fun stage! We ate lunch at Panera, and across the street there was a Whole Foods Market. I LOVE Whole Foods. The feeling I get when I walk into Whole Foods is the same feeling some girls get when they walk into Bloomingdale's, Saks or Neiman Marcus. I love the site of all of the fresh produce when you first walk into the store. And the bins. Oh, I love buying things in bulk. I bought 40 lbs. of grains while I was there! (And I will use every bit of it. I'm not one to buy and then not use it. I only bought what I needed.) I could spend hours walking the aisles of that store. Many things are overpriced...I do realize that...but I love their variety. It's the place I like to go to buy the hard-to-find stuff.
Fun times with Mad Suzy:
Jackson LOVES Madalyn:
Super Baby!
Peek-a-boo:
Late Thursday afternoon, we left Meredith's house and drove to Friendswood to spend the evening with a family that we adore as much as our own - the Egerts. Beau and Allison met and started dating at the same time Jason and I did (December 1997). In fact, Jason and Beau both went back to Baylor after Christmas break knowing who they were going to marry. We were all four in each others' weddings. We had our firstborn children only 10 weeks apart and by the hand of God we happened to live only 15 minutes from each other when they were born. Now, we've just had our second children only 8 weeks apart. Being with them was so therapeutic. It was like medicine for my soul. My heart aches sometimes because we miss them so much. Whenever we're together, it's like we haven't been apart for very long. They are those kind of friends...and so much more.
Miss Grace:
Mr. Lane...and Grace making sure that he looks at the camera:
Our kiddos - Jackson, Lane, Grace and Allison:
Me and Allison with our babies:
Lane and Allison:
Fun times with Uncle Beau:
Friday, Jason and Jackson spent the day having a blast at Grandma's, and Allison and I spent the day with my sisters decorating for Ronald and Christy's wedding. (From what I hear, Jackson slammed Megan's boyfriend's finger in a car door. Not good.)
The birthday girl and decorating boss:
Meredith and I found other uses for leftover tulle:
Wearing our baby girls:
As soon as we were done decorating, Melissa and I ran out the door for a quick mani and pedi. It was her birthday and I loved spending that time with her. We had the rehearsal that evening and then my family went and celebrated Melissa's birthday. We had planned to go to Chuy's, but the wait was so long and our children were fading fast. (Our children that had to be up early the next morning to walk down the aisle at 1100.) Our best option was Chipotle. Don't get me wrong, I like Chipotle, but I was hoping for something a little nicer for Melissa's birthday. It actually turned out really well because it wasn't crowded, we weren't worrying about a waiter trying to turn the table, and our children had freedom to move around (although they all stayed in their seats - amazing).
PaPa and Allison:
Melissa's family - Dawson, Melissa, Landon, Jonathan, and Colin:
Isn't our birthday queen beautiful? Melissa is in a house full of boys. She very much acts like a queen and normally we give her such a hard time; but, on her birthday, we gave her full reign!
I love photos of blowing out birthday candles:
Madalyn loves her PaPa:
Dawson and his missing teeth:
Sisters! Melissa, Me and Meredith - in birth order:
Making fun of our mom - we love you, Mom!:
Saturday was wonderful. I have never seen my brother love the way he loves Christy. It was awesome to watch because it reminded me so much of my wedding day and my sisters' wedding days. All day long, I kept thinking, "Ronald, this is the way it is supposed to be." I was so happy for them. If you could meet Christy, you would be in love with her just as much as my family is. She is perfect for my brother and she loves and respects him in a way that makes the Lord so pleased. It's the way He wants her to love and respect him, and it's an example to all of us. My family loves her and she loves us, which is so exciting. Our arms were wide open to her and she came running. I don't know if she'll ever know what that has meant to us, especially to us sisters, but we are so grateful.
Mom and Dad:
Jonathan and Melissa:
Jason and Adrienne:
Ryan, Meredith and Madalyn:
The Exum Four:
My little angels:
The love each other. I will constantly remind them of these days when the sibling rivalry starts!
My cousin Aaron holding Alli:
Groom and Father-of-the-Groom:
The Cry Room - a lifesaver for our boys:
Aunt Sharon, cousin Clint and his wife Amber:
Little Landon:
Danna and Madalyn:
Aunt Darla and cousins Sarah and Rachel:
Uncle Dirk, Aunt Marilyn and cousin Nathan:
Aunt Verna and cousins Aaron and Blake:
Melissa and a tuckered out Landon:
My favorite people! That gate supplied great entertainment!:
Jonathan and Colin:
Grammie and a not-too-happy Alli:
PaPa and Alli:
Isn't she a vision?! Before the Miss became a Mrs.:
Here comes his bride:
I, Ronald, take thee Christy...
And two became one:
What God has joined together, let man not separate:
(Mom, your hair was glowing. Mer, thanks for taking the camera for me!)
Ronald and his ring bearers:
A great toast and a great gift from the Father-of-the-Bride:
And this is how she likes to hang:
My Jackson:
And finally, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Metting:
"Dad, where is our surprise?"
A few seconds late:
Mrs. Metting, you have a limousine to escort you around town...courtesy of your husband!
Perfect choice of shoes:
Caught in the act!
Gottcha...again:
Wedding cake and PaPa, what more could he ask for:
After the wedding, our foursome headed back to Jason's mom's to spend the evening with her, which meant more fun for Jackson with Grandma's dogs and Uncle Ryan's car.
"Uncle Ryan, let's go get in your car!"
We grabbed a few photos of the girls before Ryan and Meredith headed back to Sugar Land:
Sunday, we rested! We hung out at my parents all day watching football, playing, and talking. Monday, we drove back to Oklahoma...again, in the rain. And that night, I was never more happy to be at home in my bed. We both miss Houston and would love to return there someday, but there is still no place like home!
