April Album II: tu y yo

 

Our Texas adventure led us to my grandparents’ ranch in Kenedy, “tu y yo”, about an hour and a half outside of San Antonio.  Kenedy has always been a quiet, humble little town of around 3000 people.  My granny used to say it wasn’t rich enough for two “n’s”.  They’ve owned this ranch since the year I was born, and it used to hold around 20 cattle and my Aunt Boots’ horses.  In the past ten years or so, my grandfather stopped keeping cattle and his sister bought her own ranch in Pleasanton for her horses, so the ranch has been dedicated to hay production - until most recently.  The introduction of a new technology called “fracking” has allowed oil and natural gas extraction from the shale that covers most of this area in South Texas up to parts of North Dakota, including Kenedy.  Tu y yo now has an oil pump and natural gas tanks, with large trucks entering and exiting all parts of the day.  Ranches all over Karnes County have sprouted this new crop, along with new houses and fences, gates and roads. 

For Tu y yo, it’s a dramatic change, but it’s not in most ways.  It’s still a place to visit, drink a cold beer, work on a project outside, and wait for the best-tasting, mesquite-smoked-anything to be ready – Polish sausage from Falls City if I’m lucky.  My dad remarked, why is it that I can sit here and do nothing when there’s so much to be done?  Huh.  Maybe this is the only place you can really just be, and that’s always been part of its charm.

For me and the kids, it was a pure dose of Vitamin D.

Mom drove us out on the “Emily C” (named after Grampa’s late cousin) to see the oil well.  We were a circus!  A baby, two kids, Maybee-dog, Granny, Mom and me all rode this thing together.

We went on many treasure hunts.  Our findings: a large feather, an old wasp nest, small egg shells, cactus blooming, and three deer running! 

The kids enjoyed picking wildflowers.

We worked on potty-training…

Dean and Fiona got to ride in a red cart behind the Emily C – they couldn’t stop giggling!  They were bouncing around, and Granny kept hollering at Grampa to slow down!

It was a relaxing visit, lots of time spent outside under the mesquite tree, waiting for that Falls City sausage, enjoying each other’s company, just like always.

On to the coast…

April Album I: San Antonio

Oh, what a wonderful birthday month!  It started in San Antonio, where we basked in the sunshine with tons of playtime outdoors.  Before we arrived, I needed to buy shorts, short-sleeved shirts, and sandals for all of us.  It was strange not to be wearing our raincoats (or socks).  April in San Antonio is definitely the month to visit.
   
   
Leo got to meet his great-grandparents and great Aunt Mary - he enjoyed cuddle-time with everyone.  I loved taking these multiple-generation photos:
   

In the mornings, Leo liked to read the Express News with Nani and Gramps over coffee.

We also experienced a bit of San Antonio living: lots of trips to HEB (especially during sample Saturdays), visiting the zoo, and getting together with my old classmates from Texas A&M Landscape Architecture – Studio 99.

By the way, Dean was REALLY interested in looking at the animal pictures in the zoo map – we had to ask him to put it away so that he could enjoy the real animals.  He agreed to keep it in his pocket until lunchtime.  Here he’s planning our next route.

The night I met my friends from A&M, I realized in a panic that I needed Mom and Dad to accompany me.  I actually had thought I could manage my three kids at this restaurant/play-place on my own until about an hour before we got there.  I’m so grateful that my parents came with me… Thanks, Nani and Gramps! 
Look at us, twelve years and nine kids later.

One of the best events this month: Fiona became potty-trained!!  She had many cheerleaders to encourage her.  Mom and I giggled that she often declared from the potty, “I want Gramps!” 
More great events: Leo and I squeezed in as many naps as we could. 

We missed Matt terribly, but we made up for it with FaceTime phone calls almost daily. 
 
Our adventure in Texas continued on to my grandparents’ ranch in Kenedy and Padre Island…

February Album: Staying warm!

This February, we were preoccupied with keeping warm.  Though it didn’t rain for much of the month, brrrrr!!!  We had lots of ideas for staying warm.  Nani and Gramps also came to see us this month!

Valentine’s card-making!

Nani and Gramps visit!  We head to Oregon Museum of Science and Industry – Egypt exhibit.

Fiona’s favorite: the earthquake generator.  I stayed out.

We took Nani and Gramps to the Smith and Bybee Wetland Recreation area.  It was chilly!

  
After Nani and Gramps left, Dean and Fiona pretended they were also on a long road trip…

It snowed!

   
Curious George exhibit at the Portland Children’s Museum!

   
Keeping busy with floor puzzles! 

41 years

Every year, I marvel that my parents are two people that have been happily married for so long.  It is such a reason to celebrate!

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for setting the bar so high for a healthy, happy, and long-lasting marriage.  Happy anniversary.