a wise old owl...

...came to visit us one night a few weeks before Christmas.  We never got a good picture of him, but he was within a few feet of us, seated at our transom window.  Yeah!  He stayed there all night.

Houston's blizzard

I have lived in Houston longer than anywhere else in my life.  This time around it has been 12 years, but I have been in and out of the area for over 20 years.  I can only remember snow twice and it was a few flakes both times that never stuck.  Both right after David was born.  See this post and this post.  (the other two have seen snow in VA but A barely remembers it). 

We first started seeing the snow sometime in the evening.  David and Michael went out in boxers to celebrate in the backyard. 

But the snow continued.  It was snowing pretty hard by 1:00 am.  We figured it might be the kids only chance to see it (never stick/gone by morning) so I tried to wake up both girls to look out the window.  Neither wanted to wake up.  I then picked up both individually and carried them to the window to look.  I am not sure E even opened her eyes but asked to be put back to bed.  A looked and said, "It's snowing.  Can I go back to bed?"  I took lots of pictures and videos to document this rare occurrence. 

But what happened next is even rarer.  It started to stick!  And when the kids woke the next morning, there was a blanket of snow everywhere on the housetops, yards, cars, and bushes!  Only the street was spared.  I am glad the kids got outside quickly to enjoy it.  By 10 am it was mostly all gone.  But they had enough to time to throw some snow balls. 

Judging by my kid's outfits, they are not true snow bunnies.  Ha!

Later, I saw this on a sign.  Made me laugh.

Maybe in another 20 years...

introduction to the neighborhood

We really enjoyed our first introduction to the neighborhood social life when we attended the annual Breakfast with Santa (kids in pjs). 

We showed up early and had a donut and hot chocolate while the kids watched the beginning of Polar Express and we chatted with neighbors. 

I talked my little artistic child outside to do some crafts.  E stamped a gift bag, made a Christmas card with finger paint, finger painted a reindeer tile, and decorated cookies (all three kids were interested in this---hmmmm I wonder why?). 

She also posed with Mrs. Claus and Santa when they came riding up on the fire truck.

All three kids wrote letters to Santa giving their wish list.  I looked over David's shoulder when he was done and was touched.  I was curious which lego set he wanted or what new video game.  Here is what I read:

Afterward, all the kids posed for pictures with Santa.

Abigail wanted to pose with Buddy the Elf.

And we took a train ride around the parking lot. 

I am so thankful daily for this new house.  I am also thankful for this neighborhood!