2025-12-13 Church Christmas Party

The church Christmas Party was this Saturday evening with a nice turn out for appetizers, main course, and desserts.  Pictures   Video

2025-11-27 Thanksgiving

 

This year we were joined by Sam and Wade for Thanksgiving and some fellowship and fun. Pictures Video

2025-10-06_15 New England

 

Our trip to New England this fall starting at Boston in the sea district, Peru (Manchester), VT, at a resort to see color and the Lincoln family home, Stowe area for the Ben & Jerry's and the Von Trapp family lodge, Lincoln, NH, area for a lodge stay and see the Flume Gorge and Kancamagus Highway foliage, on to Brunswick, ME, to visit family before driving back to the airport side of Boston. 750 miles total. Photos   Video  Itinerary  Google Map of Route 

2025-09-26 60th Class Reunion

 

60th Reunion of Angleton High School Class of 1965

Back row …Jim Purdom, Charlie Caldwell, Debbie Fox, Wanda Hammond, Bill Johnson, Terry Fowler, Dennis Hurta, Johnnie Chlebek, Wesley Parsons, Donna Newman, Cynthia Flippo          Middle row… Gloria Schaeffer, Juanita Naquin, Judy Carson, Peggy Miksovsky , Jim Stevens, Suzanne Sykes, Barbara Brantley, Mary Frances Berryhill, Scott Brady     Front row…Pete and Bobbie Lee Giles, Paula Howe, Kay Harris, Phyllis Davlin, Chloe Munson

Friday night, September 26th, was the gathering of my graduating High School class in Angleton where we ate together at the El Patio restaurant. 27 of the class were in attendance. Too say the least, we are all getting old and have changed a lot since our 50th reunion. Photos   Video

2025-09-20 Lunch for Virginia Fowler

 

Our family had a lunch today to remember Virginia who passed away September 10th. A nice gathering of family and friends arrived at the Wild Peach Baptist Church near Brazoria, Texas, at 11 am. It was good to see everyone in support of my brother, Sam.   Pictures  Video

2025-06-07+ Oregon Visit with Adam

 

Early June, 2025 trip to Portland to visit Adam and see more of Oregon. Portland excursion to Washington Park for the Japanese Gardens and Rose Garden. Sightseeing and a burger at Portland Burger. Then a trip to the coast in Seaside Beach to shop and eat at Mo's, and next Cannon Beach's Haystack Rock. Pictures   Video

Here's the details:

2025-05-31 Jordan's Birthday

 

We enjoyed Jordan being in town for his birthday. Presents, a nice restaurant, and Tammy made a cake! Pictures.  Video. 

2025-04-09 Galveston

 

We spent some time in Galveston, eating at the Katie's Seafood Restaurant first before touring the 1892 Bishop's Palace and doing some shopping on the Strand.  Pictures

2025-03-23 Brenham

 

An afternoon in Brenham visiting Uncle Don and Aunt Claudette. Pictures

2025-03-14 Tammy's Birthday / Wimberley

 

On Tammy's actual birthday we had lunch at the Rouxpour at Baybrook Mall. And a few days later we drove to Wimberley in the hill country for a few days of shopping and sightseeing while staying at the Prow'd House B&B. We were made to feel at home by the owner and enjoyed our stay. Jordan joined us on Saturday as we headed to a local winery, The Limestone Terrace Vineyard, and into Wimberley to shop and eat. The food was pretty good, but the crowds were heavy during the day. Pictures. Video.

2025-02-14 Valentine's Day

 We enjoyed a vase of Tulips and a nice dinner this Valentine's Day as our Northern Cardinal couple joined us at the bird feeder both the day before and on Valentine's Day, too. Pictures

2025-01-21 Snow Day

 

 

Mr White

This is the most snow I've seen since 1960 at around 3 inches. When I went to bed it was sleeting but no snow. But the morning was different. People were out walking and playing. The sun finally broke through at 2 pm and now it might be possible to build a nice snowman. :) Pictures  VIDEO Building_A_Snowman_Video  Extended Making a Snowman Video

2024-12-30 Birdfy Video Album

 

Tammy got us a Birdfy video bird feeder for Christmas and I mounted it on a pole in our back yard within a week. We've had visitors: Northern Cardinal (pictured) and Norther Cardinal female, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee (if accurately identified by the device), and Yellow-rumped Warbler.  So far.  I created a Google Photo Album to store and identify the birds. 

The squirrels have invaded a couple of times despite using cayenne pepper, which they hate but the birds ignore, and I added a slinky on the lower section of the pole to help keep them from climbing up. The birds love the seed, especially the sun flower seed. 

2024-12-26 Trans-Siberian Orchestra

 

The day after Christmas Jordan drove us to the Toyota Center in Houston to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert. The music was great and visual effects amazing, all over the top. We were fortunate the weather cooperated even though several tornados touched down around town during the event. Afterwards we ate at one of our favorite Mexican Restaurants, Los Cucos, in Pearland. Picture  VIDEO

2024-12-24/25

 

This year we emptied our stockings on Christmas Eve.

Pictures   Video

Christmas we got down to the gift giving and later video chat with Adam. 

Pictures   Video   Chat Video

2024-12-14 Church Christmas Dinner

 The Church Christmas Dinner was Saturday night with 70° weather, but no rain. There was a good turn out and lots of food to sample followed by desserts in abundance. Pictures Video

2024-11-17 Celebrating Thanksgiving

 

 

We had an early Thanksgiving to accommodate having more family be able to attend our gathering in Euless hosted by Tammy's brother and sister-in-law.  There was lots of food and socialization on that Sunday afternoon. Thanksgiving together is truly a blessing.  Pictures.  Video.

Hawaii for Our 40th

 

Haleakala Sunset

Waikiki Beach

Westin Maui Resort Beach

With Tammy's retirement and our 40th Anniversary we flew to Oahu for three days and Maui for 4 to enjoy the beauty of Hawaii trying to see as much as possible.  And it lived up to its repetition as a wonderful place to visit as we arrived Tuesday afternoon and gave us time to walk and see the sites. Since this was our first visit we toured all day on Wednesday in Oahu on the Majestic Circle Island Tour that covered the east and north sides of the island for scenic outlooks, tropical settings, famous beaches on the north shore, and the Dole pineapple plantation. On our free day we walked the streets of Honolulu and Waikiki Beach eating in Dukes famous restaurant among many others and swam from Waikiki beach. 

 

On Friday we shopped in the morning and then we flew over to Maui arriving just after dark and got ready for our Road to Hana tour very early the next morning that also took almost all day. We got back to see the Westin Maui Resort and Spa in the daylight for the first time and it is gorgeous. Sunday was our 40th Anniversary and we utilized the pools and hot tub of the resort and waded into the Pacific from the beach before eating at the Merriman Maui Restaurant late in the afternoon. Monday afternoon we toured the Haleakala Volcano and watched the beautiful sunset just before 6pm. Tuesday we drove to the up country to sight see and visit the Surfing Goat Dairy and shop in the town of Makawao below Haleakala. We wound up our visit with a fantastic Luau at the Westin. 

 

10-22-2024 Waikiki  VIDEO

10-23-2024 Majestic Circle Island Tour VIDEO

10-24-2024 Waikiki Beach VIDEO

10-25-2024 Travel To Maui Day VIDEO

10-26-2024 Road To Hana  VIDEO

10-27-2024 40th Anniversary  VIDEO

10-28-2024 Haleakala Sunset  VIDEO

 10-29-2024 Upcountry - Luau  VIDEO

10-22-2024 Bellycam Waikiki/Honolulu Video

10-23-2024 Bellycam Waimea Valley Video

10-27-2024 Bellycam Westin Maui Resort Video

2024-10-10 Tammy's Retirement Party

 

Tammy's coworkers gave her a retirement party at Momacitas Mexican restaurant for lunch today where she was honored for her NASA contribution over the past 29 and a half years. Good food, gifts, and a special cake and picture with well wishes were provided. Album  Video

2024-09-20 Darlene's Surprise Birthday Party

 

Tammy's cousin, Darlene, had recently turned 60 and friends and family gathered today for a surprise birthday party in Brenham. We enjoyed visiting this beautiful area once again and wish her the best on this special occasion. We had lots of laughs and stories shared. A fun day. Pictures  Video

2024-08-30_31 Marble Falls

 

Tammy and I drove to Marble Falls, Texas, and Jordan joined us for a day during the Labor Day weekend. We ate lots of food at four restaurants,including pie at the Bluebonnet Restaurant, and enjoyed a relaxing time at Krause Springs and tour of the Horseshoe Bay Resort area. Of course we enjoyed the small shops and our time at the local winery, too. But the highlight was the beauty of the hill country. Pictures Video

2024-05-31 Jordan's Birthday

 

Jordan was in town for his birthday and we drove to the restaurant, Himalayan Taj, next to the Johnson Space Center entrance for a Saturday lunch the next day. An edited video of the drive there and back captures candid conversation during the trip. Pictures  VIDEO

 

2024-03-12 Tammy's Birthday

 

Tammy and I went to eat at the Rainforest Cafe in Galveston for her birthday right across from the beach. It is spring break and was quite crowded, as you might expect, but we enjoyed the meal and atmosphere. Pictures.

2024-01-05 Marcielle's Funeral

 

Family and friends gathered at the Bering Drive Church of Christ in Houston today for Marcielle Ledbetter's funeral service followed by a burial service at Brookside Cemetery. Pictures. Video.

2023-12-24 Christmas Eve

 

Christmas eve day started off rainy but cleared before we enjoyed a meal out together at Celaya's Mexican Restaurant, one of the few open after 5pm. We opened a few gifts and watched a few movies during the evening, Barbie being one of them. :) Pictures.

2023-11-23 Thanksgiving

 

We enjoyed having Tim and Angela and our son, Jordan in town for Thanksgiving this year as we also completed the move of Marcielle from her Houston living center apartment to her new room in the care center near us. Wednesday we finished packing and moving so we could visit her Thanksgiving and nearly finish her room set up. While we missed her during our main meal together at home it is great that she is close by and in good care. And it was very nice having family in town that afforded us ample time to visit and share memories of all the events continually happening in our lives. Pictures.

 

2023-11-17 Sean Houston's Memorial Service

 

                                                                                        St Marys Catholic Church

It was with sad hearts that we joined family for Sean Houston's memorial service. The following facebook post provides a view of the day.

"Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion." - Dolly Parton in Steel Magnolias. 

"So many tears, but also so much laughter as we grieved the loss and celebrated the life of Sean Trenton Houston this weekend. He was a gentle giant who brought great joy to those who knew him in his short 32 years on this earth. He was an important part of this big family of big personalities with big love, that I am so proud to be a part of. The loss is unimaginable, especially for his mom and dad, my Aunt Mo Carter Houston and Uncle Greg Houston, and his sister, Rachel Houston, my cousin. But because of our big, boisterous family, who finds laughter through tears, my brief trip to Houston was healing and peaceful. We laughed about old times and celebrated all the wonderful and funny moments we were so lucky to share with Sean. We also made some new memories that one day we will surely laugh about...  I'll leave you with this memory that gave us a chuckle as we drove out for the service this morning. As we drove from Lake Conroe to St Marys Catholic Church in Plantersville (it's the most gorgeous church I've seen and is on the list of the famous 20 Painted Churches of Texas), GPS was directing us using the many "F.M." roads through rural Texas. My mom and I recalled how, when Aunt Mo was driving us and her young kids to San Antonio to move me into my dorm at Trinity many, many years ago, we used several FM roads. My Mom asked "What does the F.M. Stand for?" Mo said, dead serious, in her lovely Texan accent, "Lil' Bitty Texas Country Road." My mom and I were silent as we tried to do the math/spelling on how to tum that phrase into FM". We couldn't. But Aunt Mo had shared an answer that was more than an acronym translation. She shared the actual meaning and that made us feel a little bit Texan and it was like she'd just shared a little secret with us. We later learned FM stands for Farm to Market. Same/same, really. And from then on, any time I'm driving the back roads of the gorgeous state of Texas, I remember that moment with toddler Sean and Baby Rachel in their car seats, all of us moving me to college in San Antonio. Maybe next time you see FM, you'll think "Lil Bitty Texas Country Road" and think of Sean's family, who is in deep pain right now. Love and light to you all, and RIP, beautiful Sean."  Well said, Jen Atlee.

On a personal note, Mo is my first cousin and we grew up together with her brothers as first cousins. Cousins were close and our families got together often or we stayed at one another's houses. Later as we all went our separate ways it was great to watch Mo and Greg marry and adopt Sean and Rachel. Our Christmas gatherings at Lake Conroe were special and as the family archivist and image production guy, a hobby I always enjoyed, I took lots of pictures and video that I made available online in which Sean is a part. In fact he starred in 1997 in the family group photo by sticking his tongue out in one or more of the shots. It was so funny that I photo-shopped his tongue and made everyone have Sean's tongue sticking out of their mouths. I made copies and sent the 8 by 10 group photos to family, including the photo-shopped tongue shot I created.

                                                                                    Sean's tongue

                                                                           Tongues on Everyone

                                                                        Family got Even the next year, 1998

Pictures

2023-10-28 Fall Picnic

 

Tammy's work fall picnic was held at NASA's Gilruth Center park again this year. Guess who won the $50 gift card this year? Pictures