And Jared is 8!!! Birthday Time!

Well -- an unexpected trip down to Temple for Jared's birthday.  Matt was supposed to make it to Dallas this weekend, but flights did not work out and so we got up and headed south to help Jared celebrate his special day.

We were lucky enough to have some time to visit with Jen and Louis before the work getting ready for the party set in.  I think I am actually showing them some posts in this blog.  Too funny.

Rebekah had an upcoming audition for band and so we made her give us a concert and it was soooo good.  Jen took a video and I am hoping to get a copy of it and if I do, I will add it to this page later.  She has a set of drums and a marimba and we were blessed to hear her play both.  She absolutely hates performing for us and having her picture taken sends her into a state of refusal.  Such a teenager.

Now it was time to work so that we could put together his party.

Jen was doing a really cute "Bugs" party and everything was part of the theme.  It was being held at the gymnastics studio and so as we finished we loaded the cars and headed out to set everything up before the guests got here.

The kids had such a good time in the studio playing on the equipment.  I loved watching all the climbing that was taking place and had to get involved whether it was smart or not.

It is always fun to get together with family and I love these moments.  Mister appears to be wondering what someone is up to while I am treated to a special moment with the birthday boy.

A trip out to dinner ended the day and then the long drive back to Dallas.  So glad we went and were able to be part of the day.

A Little Culture Please

We have been members of the Dallas Museum of Art for many years and the changes they have recently made prompted a visit for us.  With the new "free membership" program now in place, we wondered how the previous "paid" ones were being handled.  After a stop at the desk which answered our questions, we went up to the permanent collections and spent a couple of hours admiring, discussing and learning from many of the great masters of the past.  When a clock appears, Mister's fascination with them usually allows me a chance to take a break.  It was a nice afternoon and I cannot wait to go back later this month when the Chagall exhibit opens.

Scott's Birthday

I refuse to believe that my kidlets are getting older.  I am willing to celebrate with them, but it's starting to make me feel old.  Jen and Louis drove 2 hours last night to join Cass, Scott, Mister, and I for a dinner in Scott's honor.  We went to Tillmans Roadhouse in the Bishop Arts District and had such a fun time and the food was pretty dang good too.  No birthday cake, but we did have S'mores made with homemade graham crackers, homemade marshmallows, and dark chocolate.  Divine.  It is one of the house specialties and not to be missed if you ever go there.  I am thankful for these moments with my children and their spouses.  They do not happen very often and I treasure them as always.  Happy Birthday Scott -- We love ya tons.  Mister and Lady

An Updo For the Entryway

Every  six months or so we try and do something fun for the house.  The birds in the yard were starting to squawk and glare at us so we went off to get them some bird seed at Lowe's.  While there, we wandered up and down the aisles and found a couple of lights that we really liked and would match the colors in our home.  They didn't have them in stock so we went home and ordered them.  One is for the entryway and the other will go over the dining room table.  The entryway one is finished and I sure do like it.  The dining room will take a bit longer as Mister has to totally move the existing connection and the make ceiling repairs of course.  Isn't it pretty though?

Caribbean - Anguilla/ Puerto Rico/Home Days 5 and 6

Our last day -- today the rooster lets us sleep in -- how nice.  We then clean up the villa and pack our stuff for the trip home.  We have to run a few errands like gas for the car, bank for cash for the ferry, etc.  As we are driving into The Valley to go to the bank, I ask Mister to pull over so that I can snap a picture of the goats.  I have not mentioned the goats -- they are EVERYWHERE.  We laughed as we drove because I would say, "Goats on the road."






While in The Valley, we found the Valley Bistro and stopped in for brunch.  It was perfectly delightful and we visited with a local realtor who shared information with us on purchasing land on the island.  This little cafe is perfect - next trip we will try their late night crepes.

Dang, it is time to return the car and catch our ferry.  One last look back at our villa from the ferry pier and it was time to go.

Our ferry ride takes us back to St. Martin and a cab ride to the airport for our flight to San Juan.

It was hard to say good-bye to Anguilla.  We know that we will return and hopefully soon.

 Next view - San Juan.

We arrive in San Juan and a quick cab ride later are back in Old San Juan.  After checking into the Sheraton, we go directly to the Cafe Cuatro Sombras for a repeat visit.  From there, a short walk through the city takes us to St. Germain for dinner.  We order a dinner for two which is amazing and thoroughly enjoy our evening there.  This is a great place and comes highly recommended by us.  After dinner, we check out the Old Harbor Brewery, a local microbrewery.






While at the brewery, a jazz jam was taking place and Mister was totally caught up in it.  They were quite good and it made the evening all the more pleasant.











The next day - our flight to Boston at 6 a.m.  Ick.  We arrived to a snowy day in Boston, had brunch at the airport and then on to Dallas and home.

Caribbean - Anguilla Days 3 and 4

Sunday morning, beautiful ocean breeze, sound of waves hitting the beach, and a ROOSTER???  Yep, that was our alarm clock and after the annoyance wore off, we actually found it quite comical.  After all, who wants to miss the beautiful sunrises on the ocean?  Certainly not us.










First things first - down to the beach for the morning.  I mean, seriously, isn't this why we are here?  We grab the camera for a few shots of the villa and "private" beach.  Is this not perfect?

Check out the water.  The colors are amazing.  So many incredible shades of blue and green that the camera does not even do justice to it.  Mister always laughs at me because I won't put many pictures of me on the blog -- well here goes -- 54 and in a swimsuit no less.  Tell me that isn't brave.

 Perfect way to spend the morning.  It is warm out and such a treat to start the day this way.  I know I will miss it greatly when we return home.  Mister looks like he could be sleeping in the water.



I walk down the beach to the dolphin habitat and talk with the trainers about their program.  They let me walk out onto the platform and see the animals and how they work with them.  What a treat.  I discover that they offer experiences in the afternoons and so go back to the villa to talk to Mister about doing one.  He thinks it is a great idea and so we walk into town to sign up for one the next day at noon.  Then, we start to walk down to the grocery store to grab a few things but discover that since it is Sunday it is closed so with a change in plan, we decide to cut across the point on foot to Rendezvous bay for some lunch and reggae music.  After an hour, we finally find the water again, only to discover that we are still a very long way from the beach as we are in a rocky area.  Ugh.  We give up and head back to the house for a couple of cheese sandwiches and another swim and naps.

Later in the evening, Mister goes off to rent a car but returns with a taxi for dinner and a car pick up for the morning.  We go to E's Oven for an absolutely scrumptious dinner - seriously -- it was so very good.  Back to the villa and off to sleep until the rooster crows.

The next morning Mister is off to get the car around 7:30 and we are off for our adventure this morning.  We head into The Valley for some breakfast and sightseeing that doesn't quite work out.  It is Monday and many things are closed - drat.  We grab some carrot cake and juice at a local store and head for Rendezvous Bay.  After a few attempts at locating the beach access road, we finally succeed and are rewarded with an empty beach.  Oh my.  It is so incredibly beautiful.

After a walk down the beach, I find a spot to sit while Mister heads into the water.  I am staying out of the water for now as I will be in for at least an hour at noon.  I am under a coconut tree and truly enjoying just watching the waves on the shore.  They are such a translucent aquamarine color as they break - quite impressive to watch.







A couple of hours later, we drive back to the villa for some lunch and to get ready for me to go and play with the dolphins.  When we arrive, we discover that the trainer wants to work with 3 dolphins at once - something rarely done with guests.  I feel very lucky to be in the right place at the right time.  Mister plants himself on the platform to take pictures and into the water I go.  I cannot express how very incredible this was.  These magnificent animals are so very intelligent that even when I was not sure what I was doing, they led the way and taught me what to do.  Looking into their eyes was perhaps my favorite part of the hour - but being in the water with them all by myself is something I will never forget.

They would come to me for touches, to be held, to talk, to play, to spin, and to let me tickle them.  I have not giggled so hard in such a long time and yet been so in awe.

Perhaps my favorite moments were playing with them.  As I splashed them, they would splash me back by throwing water at me with their mouths.  To be in the ocean playing like this -- what an adventure.  I have seen people swimming in tanks with dolphins before, but never out in the ocean like this - I know the water looks like a pool, but it is not.

 At times, the dolphins would put on small shows for me by jumping or swimming as quickly as they could.  I have seen dolphins jump in the wild down near Galveston as well as on cruise ships, but nothing can compare to this.  I mean, I was right there with them.

I was treated to three methods of letting them transport me through the water.  One was with me holding two of them by the dorsal fin and letting them pull me.  The second was with a single animal swimming on her back and letting me hold onto the pectoral fins (called a tummy swim) as I laid on top of her.  The final method was for two of the dolphins pushing the bottoms of my feet with their beaks propelling me straight out of the water at a top speed.  Wow.  Not to be topped.

 I was sad when our time ended, but it is a memory I will treasure forever.  My new found friends waved good-bye as I had to go and gave me a round of applause.  What can possibly top this?





When I was finished, we went back to the villa, changed clothes and headed to the northeast part of the island to visit Shoals Bay -- the number one beach in the world.  It did not let us down.  I am simply going to let the pictures speak for themselves.

When the afternoon was over, we once again returned to the villa to change clothes.  From there, we went to Meads Bay for dinner at the Straw Hat.  We sat right on the beach in probably the coolest restaurant setting I have ever been in.   What beauty to have seen today - we are truly blessed.