5/30/08

Willkommen

I took two years of German in high school and barely remember any of it. But like every citizen of New Braunfels I can welcome anyone to my town. Willkommen zum New Braunfels! The kids and I just got back from my hometown. We try and visit a couple of times a year for family, friends and the rivers of course. It seems no matter how hard I try, I never have enough time to do everything that I want to do while I am there, perhaps those pesky children are holding me back. Is is wrong to gag and bind them in the hotel if I leave the TV on and come to feed them once in a while? Bad Kathy! I may not get to everything but we always have fun.

Landa Park and the Comal River

Every time we go, I take a picture of the kids with the train. This is the same train that I rode as a little girl but it only cost seventy-five cents then compared with 2.25 today.

What do you mean the conductor isn't here yet? Ride Train, Now!

I will not be moved off this train, woman! Now get the freaking conductor! This next set of pictures are all part of my NB ritual whether or not the children are with me. There is something therapeutic in letting the ducks and squirrels eat out of my hand.

momma and her babies




The Battle of the Bread The Great Goose Victory Cry

These two geese started some sort of honking dance routine that was very entertaining
Still Dancing
Finale


This tree is called the Founder's Oak and its life began roughly around 1700. According the the lovely plaque, Central Texas Indians would weigh down branches of these oaks to tell others which way they are traveling and this tree could be seen as evidence of that fact.

I love this tree because it was the best climbing tree ever. There is no better feeling than sitting up in that tree and watching time slowly pass and then seeing how high you can jump without breaking something. After I moved, they put up a gate and a lovely rock wall to protect the tree. I am glad they did because it is worth preserving but I sure miss those days of sitting in its branches.



Comal Springs first surfaces in Landa park so the water is crystal clear and is the source of the Comal river. I used to swim in this part of the springs as a kids and to hide under that bridge in the distance. Good Times.

Guadalupe River by Gruene Bridge


This is another favorite spot of mine. My sisters and I love to sit in the rocks by the rapids just for the peaceful nature of the water. Of course, watching the tourists wipe out on those rapids was also quite fun and the source of much entertainment. There is a picture of my mother in the water and while this may not be of much significance to others it is another reminder of how being a grandmother has changed her. She is deathly afraid of water and here she is standing in it just for the sake of her grandchildren. Woo Hoo for my mom!






Aunt E.J. and the Chickens

My sister married a lawyer who also runs a chicken farm. This trip they let the kids go into the chicken coup and pick fresh eggs to take with us. It was too short of a visit but memorable.

momma and her babies

The glorious life of a pig in the mud being hosed down by my nephew.


Aunt Margaret with Great Potential

Margaret is my husband's sister but I feel as though she is my sister. I have always loved Margaret and now I love her new boyfriend. I told them both that 'he had me at hello' and he lovingly said 'that's pretty cheesy'. I knew then that he could handle her crazy family. Rick you are a winner in my book!






The New Braunfels Smokehouse

This is the end in many ways. Water, Ducks, Squirrels, Trains, Hotels, Trip but the deepest cut of all - The end of the New Braunfels Smokehouse. This restaurant is a great German tradition and next week not only are they closing its doors for good but they are also tearing it down. I suppose its fitting that this was our last stop before heading home. I love this restaurant for its uniqueness, its chicken and dumplings, its bread pudding, its country store and its outside dining with music on the weekends. But with the addition of Chile's, Applebee's, Olive Garden and other chains taking over the beauty of the town, the Smokehouse just couldn't keep up. They are moving back to a small store with a limited menu just like when they first started out in the 30's. I will miss it but I'm glad that I got to eat there one more time.

A Very Good Place to Eat!The Stein Room which used to be filled with German Steins.The barren walls used to be filled with country store merchandise.
lets not forget the unique candy
The Deli Section

The outside pavilion where the music used to play.

This ends the photo journey of our trip to NB. While I am sad about the Smokehouse, I am glad that they will still be open somewhere in town. Auf Wiedersehen, Smokehouse. See you soon, NB.

5/25/08

Success Sunday Banner

" Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritations and resentments slip away and a sunny spirit takes their place. . "
Mark Twain

I love that sunny spirit every time it finds me and it certainly found me today. I have been struggling with bills the last couple of days so I can take a trip home before they tear down a favorite restaurant of mine. I finally decide to go and start getting ready but I am still worried about the money. How am I going to pay for the trip? I really didn't know but then I noticed how well the kid's were playing together so I decided to play with them to cheer myself up. In my son's closet is a very small space where I store his blankets and I somehow managed to squeeze in and cover myself under the pile of blankets. "Where's Mommy?" I yell. Again and again until they find me. They were so excited to find me that they both crawl on top of me and giggle which causes me to giggle. After they get off, I realize that I am stuck. I am now laughing hysterically and telling Tiffany to find Daddy. I am so thankful that he was home, because I don't know how else I would have gotten out of there. After I'm out, I get back to the trip and hear the kids screaming for me. So I run to Benjamin's room only to find them pretending to be stuck in the closet. Laughter really was a saving thing today and that sunny spirit has kept me full all day.
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5/22/08

Today I woke up surprised to find that the evil monthly demon was once again haunting my body. The last week I have been experiencing pregnancy like symptoms and while I knew that it was too early to be pregnancy, I was very hopeful. So when I woke up this morning with cramping and back pain, I was a little bummed. But I proceeded on with my day.


The kids and I joined up with other moms and went to the Houston Zoo. Our first stop was to see the Sea Lion show. This little guy was very talented and was able to imitate other aquatic lifeforms and jump very high. Good Job, Sea Lion.
This is the line of our kiddos watching the Sea Lions. Some of the other kids got bored though and dragged their moms off to other parts of the zoo.

This is my baby and I really have no idea what he is doing with his hands but he loved that the turtle spit and showed Tiffany what the turtle was doing by spitting on her. Boys are so fun.

I have no idea what she is doing either. Somehow she found a rope, wrapped it around the door handle, pulled and pulled, then tried to tie a knot, finally she gave up and played in the water with her friends. I certainly have some odd children.
Naturally, we had to stop to brush the goats. Some of them had goatees and Tiffany made sure that they were beautifully brushed. I half expected the brushes to turn into assault weapons instead Benjamin lovingly brushed the goats and said 'cute goat'.
This poor little guy looked like I felt and it is only May here in Texas.

Tiffany is imitating the monkey behind her and Benjamin is actually posing with her.

Now you would think that this elephant getting a bath would receive all of the children's attention . . .

But they both immediately run to the statue of one instead. Why have the real one when you can have one made of plastic and paint.

Well, at least he is watching the real thing.

We spent four hours at the Zoo slowly baking in the hot sun and had such a wonderful time. The kids did really great which surprised me since we were there for so long in that heat. When we got home I let the kids rest with a TV show and have some ice cream while I retreated to my computer. I am still a little down about not being pregnant, but I am so glad that the kids and I had so much fun at the Zoo. It turned out to be a great day and just what the doctor ordered.


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