Body Worlds

No, this is not a "Muscle Man' contest! "Body Worlds 2 & The Brain" is an exhibit at the Houston Natural Science Museum that is awesome. It consists of real cadavers and body parts preserved using a technique call "plastination." There are complete human bodies displayed kicking a soccer ball; ballet dancing; holding a baseball bat; ice skating etc. - so you can see all the muscles, bones and organs involved in the movement. There are also individual organs - healthy and diseased. It is unbelievable - until you see them - how detailed the dissections are. They even have a pregnant woman with the fetus in her womb! Sounds kinda' gruesome but it is truly fascinating. If you are in Houston, it is a MUST see!

Thanksgiving 2008

We certainly have a lot to be thankful for - our health and happy family times - and two precious granddaughters. We ate, napped and played Monopoly yesterday. Went to the park to play and take family pictures - the weather was in the high 70's here in Houston. Our nephew Kyle joined us for dinner.
Samantha and I did "art" and made a Thanksgiving tree with construction paper leaves - everyone wrote what they were thankful for on their leaf and we tied them to the branch. Samantha was thankful for "her birthday" - and then, after some discussion, added "and Baby Jesus' birthday" as an after thought!

Cold Days

It's in the 50's today with a gray sky - like winter in Michigan - well, maybe a little warmer than winter in Michigan! At least there is no snow on the ground! Last night was the first time I really missed the house - I would have had a fire in the fireplace and sat in the hot tub!
We are back at Travel World RV park in SA. More "snowbirds" here now - many from Canada. All the typical activities have begun - we went to "Happy Hour" last night and breakfast this morning. Roger met a fellow Cub pilot and they talked airplanes.
We are having the "Northern Hills" crowd over to the townhouse tonight and then on to dinner. Will be nice to play "catch up" with all of them.
Going back to Sugarland on Tuesday for the Thanksgiving week-end. Missing "Tima's" babies!

Cuddle Time

Roger and my "house" went to San Antonio today - he wants to work on his airplane. I will fly over on Wednesday and join him and then we'll return for Thanksgiving.
I am staying with Heather & Kyle for a couple of days - enjoying more "cuddle time." Emily is so good - she is content to eat and sleep - it's hard to catch her awake (unless you are here around 4am!)But, I succeeded today! She looks like Heather with her Daddy's blue eyes. Isn't she just the sweetest???

Santa is Watching

Last night, Samantha pushed her chair back and said she didn't want to eat anymore. Heather told her she had two choices to sit up and eat her dinner or go to "time out." While she was weighing her options, I told her she had been good all year but this was the time Santa was really watching little boys and girls to see if they were "minding" their Mommies and Daddies before he brought presents at Christmas. She decided to eat some more but didn't comment on what I said.
Later we were all playing "school" - Samantha's favorite game, guess who is the teacher and who is in the "class?" She was reading us a story and I was talking - she stopped, looked at me in frustration and said "Do you want Santa to come? Do you want presents? Then, you'd better stop talking and listen!" She's just too smart!!
Sweet little Emily sleeps through it all!

Lily the Bear

Kyle, Heather,Samantha & Emily went on their first family outing yesterday - Kyle said it takes 20 minutes to get everyone in and out of the car! Samantha has been saving coins in her piggy bank to go to "Build a Bear." She has been such a good "big sister" she got to go and pick out her bear. She made one for Emily for Christmas too but shhhhhh......it's a secret! Samantha named hers "Lily" and she's a ballerina bear. Samantha was excited because she got to ride in the stroller (made for two) with her "little sister." Now there is one more member of the family - Kyle, Heather, Samantha, Emily, Baby Doll and Lily!
She spent the night with us last evening and since it was cold and windy this morning, we took her to a new indoor playground -The Stomping Grounds. This place advertises for parents to come in, relax with a cappuccino and let the kids play. Guess we are nervous grandparents because we spent most of our time trying to find Samantha in the maze of tunnels, slides, and climbing apparatus. She loved it but after an hour and a half Tima was pooped!

The Nutcracker Market

Kyle took yesterday afternoon off and stayed with Emily so Heather & I could shop at the "Nutcracker Market." It is sponsored by the Houston Ballet Auxillary and held at the Reliant Center - their big, annual money making project. A huge holiday extravaganza - too many vendors to count. Fun to browse and we bought a few gifts.
A "big" trip for Heather's first outing after the baby but, she did well.
I found a new part-time job for Roger! The parking lot is gigantic and a long walk to the entrance of the convention center so they have "Bicycle Cabs." A rickshaw of sorts with young men pedaling shoppers to & from their cars. I figure it is a great way for him to keep in shape and they make good money in tips!

Back to San Antonio

Roger drove to San Antonio for business meetings on Monday and Tuesday. I flew over on Tuesday afternoon (thank you Megan for free flying!) and we went to dinner with his "work crowd" from Ireland. Great company and great food makes for a lovely evening.
Our very first renters left on Monday so we needed to clean the townhome and get it ready for another family coming on Friday. Our first guests were very satisfied so we feel good about what we've done. Getting a lot of inquiries for Christmas/New Years but no confirmation. Worked out well for us to stay there. Guess we'll do the same manuever next week too. We enjoyed lunch outside at LaMargarita and then drove back to Sugarland.
Heather & Kyle bought a car seat for us to keep in our car to make it easier for us to pick Samantha up from school etc. Roger transferred it to the old Buick, (we keep it at the airport in Houston for Megan & us to use when in town) which I drove while he was in SA. On the way home yesterday Roger asked "Where is the car seat?" You guessed it.......in the back seat of the Buick at Hobby! I could kick myself for being so stupid!

Rainy Day

Today is the first day we have had rain on the roof since June! Just a nice steady light rain. Roger is in San Antonio on business today and tomorrow. I will fly over to meet him, clean the townhome and we will drive back together on Wednesday.
Heather & I took Emily to the pediatrician for a check-up this morning and she is doing fine. She's a sleepy head - going to have to work at waking her up to eat more frequently.

Happy Birthday Kyle!

We celebrated Kyle's birthday (11-10)last night. The "girls" got all "gussied up" (as Mom would say) in the "dress up" clothes & jewelry I gave Samantha when we moved. Then we pigged out on Heather's praline cheesecake!
Megan & Carlos, Samantha and Roger & I went back to Brazos Bend State Park yesterday morning so Samantha could see the alligators. We saw one up close, laying on the bank. While we were watching he slid backwards, turned around and swam away. Samantha was mesmerized!
Heather & Emily are doing well. Heather says she has a week to make her own schedule and then they'll start getting her on theirs. She's a little sleepy head - hard to wake her up to eat sometimes!

Samantha & Emily

Heather & Emily came home from the hospital yesterday afternoon and Samantha is overjoyed with her "little sister." She wants to hold her and care for her like she does her baby doll. Megan says she is a "baby hog" - she wants to hold her constantly! It is so sweet to see how tender and caring she is with her. Glad we are here to share in it all!

It's A Girl!

Meet Emily Grace Liskow - born November 5th at 2pm - 7# 1oz - 20.5 inches long - lots of dark hair and looks alot like Samantha when she was born. Mom and baby are both doing well. We took Samantha (in her "BIG SISTER" T-shirt) to see Emily tonight.
Heather unwrapped Emily so Samantha could see her and when Samantha touched her hand, Emily grabbed onto her finger - they bonded immediately! We are so blessed!

Brazos Bend State Park

We had a great time riding our bicycles around Brazos Bend SP today. A beautiful day in a beautiful park. Obviously, there is no swimming in this park! Lots of "critters" quietly watching. We had planned to stay there with Bill & Anna Lee and Dave & Marion last year but I made reservations for the wrong week-end and we ended up at the park we are staying in now. No comparison! Sorry guys!

Halloween

Samantha had strep throat last week but felt better for Halloween. We went to Sugarland Square for a big community party - all the shops hand out candy. A little different than the Halloween's in our past - parties at the local fire barn - bobbing for apples, finding pennies in a big pile of sawdust, cider & donuts - a costume contest.
Megan ended a trip in Houston on Friday so was able to join us for the week-end. Nephew Kyle came for dinner last night too. Then we spent the evening watching the UT/Texas Tech football game - even I got into it! Poor Carlos - it looked like his team had won until the last seconds of the game!