Trip to Mobile, Alabama

We met my parents (Tiffany) in Mobile, Alabama (half way between Houston and Tampa) to drop off Mackenzie and Abigail. They are taking a tour of Florida for a week with my parents and then off to Todd's parents for a week of boating. While we were in Mobile we went to visit the USS Alabama. The kids loved trying to fire the weapons and steer the boat. Todd taught them how to turn all the knobs and move the leavers. They had a lot of fun making the submarine work and ringing the USS Alabama bell.

Morgan was having fun too!

After Mass we took the time to take one last picture before we went out separate ways for two LONG (at least to the Mommy) weeks.

A Trip with Only One

We went to New Iberia to see the Tabasco Factory. Morgan is definitely our "spice girl". She definitely liked the Tabasco sauce flavored ice cream.

No trip is complete without a picture of an Exxon Gas Station.

When the Carters were Away...the Neighbors Played

Well, the Carters went to St. Louis for a mini vacation so the Pastas and Johnsons were watching their house (and pool)! Look how much fun the kids are having (and Dads).

Mackenzie's First Communion

Easter Sunday

After the commotion of the Easter baskets (see pics below) and a leisure morning with muffins (Grandma's recipe), smoked applewood bacon, eggs and Starbucks, we all hurried to get dressed for church. Of course, I had to iron the dresses at the last minute (yes, Mom I ironed) and search the house for my shoes. The girls needed special hair-dos and Morgan even needed special socks. Todd is use to it - 4 girls in the house! Yikes! So we were out of the house in time to take our normal spot at SVDP (Standing! sound familiar Dad). The church looked beautiful and mass was wonderful. The girls were angels and posed quite a bit after mass.

We spent Easter with the Carters and Cooks which has turned into quite the tradition. The Cooks are so gracious to host. The food is always excellent, they have the best back yard for the egg hunt and pictures, and we can't say enough about the company.
It is always so wonderful to spend the holiday with "family"!

Each year it gets harder and harder to get the clan to pose. It must be that each year we seem to throw another one in the mix. But, if you ask Keri and I (God willing) the annual photo will not grow any larger just have older kids each year.

Then it was off to the egg hunt. My girls are styling their new Easter baskets thanks to Padrino.

Let the confetti egg war begin....

Easter morning the girls went hunting for their baskets the Easter bunny left them. Mack, being the most experienced, found Morgan's first in Gator's kennel and then hers behind the table. Abigail's was the toughest because it was behind the screen in the dining room. Once all the baskets were found it was fair game to start ripping in.

Morgan got some veggie snacks in her basket. She is not too sure about them. I think she is holding out in hopes of a chocolate bunny.

Mackenzie can't wait to practice the cat's cradle.

And our fashion diva is ready to go to Abuela and Grandpa's beach house this summer
(which she can't stop talking about).

A Day at the Houston Zoo

It was such a lovely day Good Friday that the kids and I decided it would be fun to visit the zoo. Well, it was not a novel idea --- half of Houston thought of it too. We had a great time anyway starting with our visit with the orangutan. Abigail said it reminded her of daddy -- hanging out on the couch. No remote in his hand though.

Mack and Abby needed to see what it was like to be a building!

Then we headed to the petting zoo so Morgan could touch her first goat.
What do you think Aunt Keri?