Our Big Weekend of FUN!

Wow, I have so much to write about I could probably do about 5 entries! We have had one whirlwind weekend/ week! It started last Thursday night when Molly arrived from California about 10:30 pm and hasn't slowed down yet. Em, Henry, Mom and Dad arrived Friday at lunch time. The girls all went shopping Friday afternoon, while the boys hung out at home. Friday night Aunt Sherry and Uncle Tom arrived and we had a big "Fajita Feast", complete with all the fixins and of course, some margaritas! Molly, Em and Henry needed a lot of Mexican food to tide them over til their next visit!

We were up VERY early on Saturday for Carson's 8 am soccer game. Although he did not score a goal this week, I think everyone had fun watching him play, and he definitely enjoyed having everyone there. We met everyone back at the house, including Ed and Sharron, and had a big brunch. Everyone then kind of went in different directions. I went with Mom to check out the hotel they were staying in. It is called the NYLO hotel, located in Plano. It is really different, but interesting...very trendy/swanky, with a very "modern" feel. Lots of concrete and strange fixtures and art...Sharron said she felt like she was sleepig in a cell block. Everyone agreed the beds were really comfortable and it was a very different, but fun, place to stay...http://www.nylohotels.com/plano/plano-texas-hotel-1-1.aspx. The room rates were really reasonable if anyone ever needs a hotel in the area.

Late Saturday afternoon, we (Mom, Dad, M, E, H and the Guest crew) met a friend of mine, Shaye, at the park near our house and had some family pics taken. Although not a "professional" photographer, Shaye has a great eye and did an AWESOME job! We all think they turned out great. We figured we should take advantage of all of us being in the same place since unfortunately those times are growing fewer and farther between. I will post some of these later when I get the disk from Shaye.

After our photo shoot, the guys headed over to pick up dinner and the rest of us headed home to set up for the "surprise party"...Dad's 60th birthday celebration. Mom made a great sign, a tradition in our family, with pictures from the last 60 years in the shape of a big 6-0. He, in typical Walt fashion, was completely oblivious that we had been planning this for months. When they got to the house with dinner and we yelled surprise, he was truly shocked! We had a wonderful evening with Babe's Fried Chicken... http://www.babeschicken.com/ ...YUM (yes, we ate all weekend), lots of wine, stories and visiting. We presented him with another book (we had done one on his 40th and 50th) titled "The Things We Love About Walt". The weather cooperated (it was overcast and rainy most of the weekend) and we were able to sit out on the patio and enjoy a very pleasant April evening in Texas.

Sunday morning was Collier's baptism. Kenny's parents drove up and several of our friends came, too. I think it will forever be one of my most favorite memories in life. Pastor Em baptized him, wearing the stole that Sharron gave her on her ordination. Aunt Sherry and Uncle Tom bought Collier's precious outfit from Strasburg. The Hicks gave Collier some embroidered bibs so that he didn't ruin his precious outfit! Emily also gave him an embroidered hankercheif (with his initials) that she used to wipe off his face after the baptism. It was special in every way. After church, we all gathered here for lunch before everyone got on the road home.

Molly, Em and Henry stayed for a longer visit, everyone else headed home. Sunday night we met one of Molly's friends at Chuy's for more Mexcian food and then came back to the house for a "Wii tournament". We played a lot of Wii over the weekend! Molly headed home Monday afternoon and Em and Henry flew home this afternoon. Carson literally cried all the way home - it was so sad.

I will do another post of Carson and Henry's vegetable garden and compost project they worked on Monday and Tuesday. Here is link to the pics though...http://picasaweb.google.com/arguest/CarsonAndHenrySVegetableGardenProject?feat=directlink. Carson had a BLAST...I think Henry did too!

It will be very quiet around here after 5 days of nonstop fun! We have so many special memories of this weekend and all the festivites. We are so, so blessed to have such incredible family and friends to share in good times like these.