Aloha, Tejas

It's about time, I know. It's just that when a post that will contain 30 plus pictures looms ahead, my attention-deficit rears its distractible, procrastinating head. But here it is.

After a series of unfortunate events, Jeremy and I made quick plans for a trip to Texas. It was a wonderful trip in so many ways, but not without its bittersweet, difficult moments. We arrived in Dallas on Saturday, September 18 and returned during the wee hours of Saturday morning, the 25th. We were blessed to be able to stay with my aunt Patti, in Allen, while we were in the area. We left on the 21st and drove down to Beaumont to be with Jeremy's family during his dad's bypass surgery. Then we drove back on the 24th in preparation for our flight back to WV.

Noah sharing his food with Uncle Scott.

The night we arrived, Pop was able to stick it out to have dinner with us before leaving to be admitted to the hospital.

Getting a bath in the big tub. Patti's house had so many fun things. Doggy windows and doggy doors, which unfortunately we never got a picture of him going through.


On Sunday morning, my parents and Patti babysat while Jeremy and I went to visit our church in Flower Mound, visited our old house, and had lunch with a friend of Jeremy's. Can you really tear up over seeing your old Wal-Mart? Well, it is a really cool Wal-Mart, but still. I don't know how many times I got a little misty-eyed while we drove around there. I long to be back in Flower Mound but it probably won't happen. Sigh.

They played at the park and Noah ran and ran...

and ran....
And had a great time with a bucket of water.

We visited Pop as much as we could. No Pops were harmed in the making of this picture.

It was still summer in Texas, so we visited the Spray Park with Madison.

A little hesitant at first.

Ew, ew. It got my head!

An attempt at getting a picture with Madison.

Checking out the water fountain with Papa.

Got in some quality time with Papa.

Madison reading to Noah. He was actually more attentive listening to her than he is with me!

Clap, clap!

More cousin time. Jeremy and Noah visited Mandi's for dinner so that Dominick and Sophia could see Noah too.

Once we got to Beaumont, with no one taking pictures for me, they stopped. I just forgot. And it wasn't until we were getting ready to put Noah to bed the night before the surgery that I remembered. Noah ran into Papaw's arms with giggles of joy to tell him good night and we whipped out the cameras and had to use the flash since it was getting dark.

The surgery went perfectly. 5 bypasses on 9 blockages. Terry is a blessed man and God is not finished with him yet. He has been recovering at a remarkable rate. The night we got back I was able to get one last visit in with Pop at the nursing home they moved him into while we were gone.

Noah waving bye-bye out the plane window. On this trip, he actually noticed the planes and would shout at them as they took off. He loved them. And he did pretty well with all the travels, even the 5.5 to 6 hour drive to and from Beaumont.

Aloha and good-bye...