Spring Break

 Spring Break came and went in Texas. With Joseph's turnaround ending early to mid-March, we always hesitate to make big plans for the break. Instead, we just plan to stick close to home and do fun day trips. Joseph's turnaround ended a couple days before spring break so he was able to take a couple days off and come with us.

First things first, though! We finally fixed the sloping in our front garden bed. We kept having issues with water drainage and it took a long time to figure out exactly what was causing the problem. The kids enjoyed helping dig in the dirt for the day.

Gemma's birthday was the first part of the week so we celebrated her birthday.

The next day, I took the kids up to north Houston to a farm-type place. It wasn't busy at all, which was a perk. Most districts around here have spring break at the same time so it is crazy busy everywhere. This place wasn't busy, but it was a farther drive than normal. The kids enjoyed petting the animals, playing mini-golf, and playing on the playgrounds.

The llama really liked Lydia and kept following her around. Thankfully, Lydia liked the llama too.

We finally became true Houstonians by visiting the Houston Rodeo one day. Thankfully, Joseph took the day off to join us. There is no way I would have managed the rodeo myself. We strictly told the kids that we weren't doing any carnival games or rides. It is crazy expensive! They had a good time despite the long lines for everything and how packed it was. When we first arrived in the morning, it wasn't too bad, but by the late afternoon, it was so busy. We could barely move through the crowds. Not my type of thing to deal with.

The best part of the rodeo was Tanner going mutton bustin'. His sling went "missing" for an hour so he could ride. Thankfully he didn't re-injure himself. He rode the sheep until it slammed him into the side wall/fence. He had a blast.

The second half of spring break was much calmer after those day trips. We went to a movie theater to see Sing 2. The two older kids got to invite a friend to join us and they loved that. Then, some neighborhood kids came to play that afternoon at our house. Friday was Tanner's doctor appointment for his collar bone and a trip to Barnes and Noble. That became a tradition from last year. I give the kids a $10 limit to buy a new book. Plus I like looking for new ideas of what to get at the library. And they get a treat from the little cafe because they're signed up for birthday treats.

My sister flew in Friday night and we ran a half marathon together on Saturday. We ran much more than we anticipated: about 10.5 miles of it. The kids came to cheer us on and had fun with that. Then we hung around the neighborhood with my sister for a few days.

Now the kids just have eight more weeks until summer.