Fat Pants and Heaven on Earth

We were SO excited to have Therese, Luis, and Cian come visit us from NYC on Easter weekend.  It is hard to believe that it had been over 2 years since we had seen them last - it was the morning we moved here to Houston because we stayed at their place the night before and Luis drove us to the airport.  The kids have all grown so much, but the good times and friendships haven't changed at all.  It was like we had just seen them the week before.

When we planned their visit a couple of months ago, I got an email from Therese saying, "I will get to be on the blog!" …. so, this post is for her!  She made the blog (and I think she made the longest post ever, too!)!  Any of you who would also like to be featured on the blog are more than welcome to visit, as well!!!

(All of these photos are a combo of my camera and then my phone, Luis' phone, and Therese's phone!)

They arrived on Thursday afternoon, so we all walked over to get Leighton from school together and then played outside for a while before dinner.  It was at this point that the beers and wine started flowing and by the end of the night, I was thinking I'd have to head back to Trader Joe's to restock our supply for the rest of the weekend!  After dinner, we all enjoyed a chocolate cake (I did my research - chocolate is Cian and Luis' fav!).  It was probably at this point that I brought up that we'd all need some serious fat pants by the end of their visit!

And then we decided that Therese and I needed a picture together.

And then boys wanted to be included.

And Riley, too.  Oh, yeah - and Roy.  He wanted to teach Leighton about photo bombing.

The next day we went out for burgers for lunch (which may or may not have been the beginning of the end for poor Roy … more about that later) and attempted to go to the zoo and Hermann Park, but it was PACKED.  So, we went to Fire Truck Park for a bit.

After a while, the kids all started complaining about the heat and asking to go home to swim.  The mommies and Luis didn't brave the water, but Roy and the kids did!

Luis kicked back into full-on vacation mode!

While we cleaned up the kitchen after dinner, the kids went off to play.  I spotted them looking all cute doing the Tag space maps together and tried to quickly snap a picture, but they caught me coming and looked up - still cute though!

And then they went back to playing some more.

The next day we went to the zoo in good time to get a parking spot.  Yay us!  We rode the train first.

And saw the newest art installation.  Riley was quick to point it out the other day because it's pink.  But it is pink what exactly?? Pink poop????

Then we were off to the zoo.  Luis got a kick out of this sign at the entrance:

And we all had a great time wandering around checking things out and being silly.

Hey!  Look!  I was there, too!

It was right around this point that Roy shared with me that he wasn't feeling so great.  Uh oh.  But he insisted we continue on.  So we rode the carousel.

And then back to Hermann Park for the 'sticks' art installation (we didn't go see the poop one!).  Roy was really not feeling well at this point, but I had been promising Riley I'd take her ALL morning.

This picture makes me laugh.  Cian was hot and wanting to go home to swim.  Somehow Leighton got a sore eye.  But miss Riley was raring to go for a funny photo!

Leighton perked up though and had a great time with Riley running away from me.

And then we decided we better get everyone, especially Roy, home.  So back to the cars we headed.

When we got home, Roy went to bed while we took the kids out to the pool.  Sweet little Riley got her toenail and toe hurt on the door on the way out and took a while to get over it.  But she did eventually!

After dinner, the kids used leftover icing (royal AND buttercream!) to decorate some leftover easter cookies from the ones I had made.

And then it was Easter Sunday (and Riley could FINALLY wear the Easter dress she got from Samantha and Ava a few months ago!)!  Luckily Roy was finally feeling ok to get up and walk around with us for the egg hunt.  And he had some watermelon out by the pool.  But I think that was as much as he could stomach that day.

Ready …

Set ….

Go!

Leighton kept taking Riley the pink and purple and yellow eggs.  What a sweet brother.

There's a funny story behind this!

The Easter Bunny knew to bring Cadbury (the good, imported, kind!) eggs, as is Cian's Easter tradition!

After the hunt, Luis and Therese took the kids for a walk up to Office Max for something for the computer.  But Therese snuck Riley into Old Navy to spoil her with a new dress and a shirt for Leighton and random other spoiling things for the kids!

I met them up there after finishing my baking and left Roy to rest some more.  When we got home, we tried to get a picture of me and the kids.  But, Leighton's tooth was sore and making him grumpy.  This was as good as we could get!

For lunch/afternoon snack, I made some deviled egg chickies like the kids want every year and made some with avocado, lime, and cilantro as well.

And beer time for Luis! And if you are counting, this is outfit #4 for Riley for the day.

And play time for the kids.

Leighton went inside to tape under his eyes to look like a 'real' athlete!

After dinner, it was time for dessert.  I made this one for Therese.  She told me her fav desserts were raspberry vanilla.  After her first bite, she declared this tart 'Heaven on Earth'!

And a glow stick bath with their new glow sticks from the Easter Bunny.

Monday was our last day together.  Leighton was at school and Roy was at work, but Cian and Riley payed and then the rest of us headed downtown to check out the tunnels and to have lunch.

The Houston office building of the bank Therese works for.

All visitors should try a Kolache, if the opportunity presents itself.

All visitors MUST try a Shipley Donut!

We had lunch and the outdoor Nikos Nikos.  GREAT spot!  And mango margarita for lunch?  Yes please!

For dinner we went to El Ranchero.  Therese and I walked - trying a little bit to reduce the need for fat pants!  There were MORE margaritas!  And the heaviest beer mug on the planet.  And luckily Roy had some of his appetite back by then, but no beer or margaritas for him.

The next morning we had to say goodbye.  Hopefully, we will see each other soon.