TEXAS

I'm finally to the Texas part of our vacation in my 'chronological" posts. 

We had two wonderful weeks in Florida and then headed to our son's house in Texas. 

Yeeeeeeeeeeee-Hawwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

He was just stationed at Fort Hood last month...so they'd only been there for 3 weeks before we arrived.

Bear and Winge came to pick us up and when we left the Austin airport - stopped to eat delicious BBQ - at my request - at this little restaurant before we even left the city. YUM!

Their house is awesome and they had a guest bedroom set up for the first time in their marriage - in honor of our coming. OMGoodness...they're all grown up!!!

We got treated to dinner at this funky cajun restaurant later in the week.

We loved every second of being there with him and his wonderful wife. 

My hubby makes alligators out of metal and I must write a blog post on his art because they're incredible. He had this one 

This one's named Taxi because he was made from a taxi door - purchased here in Barranquilla from a donkey cart. He doesn't have his feet or wheels on in this pix.

in the suitcase (tail tucked and feet bent under) for a month before we left in anticipation of bringing it to the kids. :) Winge got a kick out of walking him in the back yard. 

Bear had a couple of days off before he had to report for duty so we went puppy-dog shopping. 

This sweet two year old - 

later named Tazzie - 

because she's an Australian Cattle Dog - 

was in the pound and after bringing her home and to the Vet...

That's yard sale stuff over there behind Tazzie.

we realized she was sick. 

Thankfully, Bear's heart is bigger than Texas and he rescued her in more ways than one. The latest report is that she's gaining weight and thriving.

Since this is their first house, they were ready for pets

and one night while Winge was working (at her temporary job)...

Bear went to fetch a kitten advertised on Craigslist. :)

So we had a house full of love.

I have to admit, 

I totally got into having the critters around and they took to us humans and eventually to each other just like they (we) belonged together.

They named the kitty Cooper and after he taught that girly dog who was the boss...

they're best of friends.

We did a lot of shopping - mostly at yard sales - and lots of eating while there 

Actually...we didn't eat here and it's in Austin...but close enough.

and managed to only gain a couple pounds. YAY! The kids eat good, sensible food so we did too for the most part. I did a little work on my art journal every day...

and we just had a wonderful, relaxed time...basking in the pure joy of being with the kids.

We celebrated Jerry's 65th Birthday while there and Winge baked him a German Chocolate cake to die for - from scratch and hung balloons and made over Dad like he should be made over.

Bear will possibly (probably) be deployed again late this year to Afghanistan. 

That makes his third deployment in just over five years in the Army. 

I believe he will thrive as he has been doing 

and that Winge will stay strong while keeping the home fires burning.

I'm so proud, We're so proud of both of them...

we just don't know how we can say it enough.

All too soon our two weeks had flown by and Cooper helped us pack our bags.

Bear and Winge drove us back to Austin 

where we spent a beautiful day walking around South Congress Ave.

Artsy Fartsy. Right up my alley!

Create your life ya'all...

annie!