Aunts & Uncles!

We were thrilled when Matt's Aunt Jane and Uncle Don (from Oregon) asked if they could come out for a visit! (By the way, our answer to that question will ALWAYS be a resounding "YES!" to any of our dear family and friends.) Don and Jane have the distinct honor of being the first of any of Matt or Kim's aunts/uncles to come visit us in Texas. We made the most of the three days that we had together!

Their flight arrived into Houston on a Friday afternoon, though, unfortunately, Don's checked bag didn't make it along with them. After we apologized for our cold weather, we enjoyed a meal together at home! Uncle Don and Aunt Jane started playing with our boys right away! Aunt Jane read Ryan a bedtime story!

Right after breakfast on Saturday morning, Uncle Don got recruited to help build a wall!

Even though our Texas weather was chillier than most February days here, we enjoyed some time outdoors. We took a walk around our neighborhood. Ian insisted on getting off his bike to get a closer look at a house we've been watching go up. We were even able to go inside the house and admire all of the progress! It was fun to figure out which room was which.

Before getting home, we stopped at our neighborhood park!

While Uncle Don, Matt, and the boys played outside a little bit more,

Kim and Aunt Jane started making fish soup for lunch.

The boys enjoyed more play time. Uncle Don and Ian built some vehicles.

Aunt Jane (who is a piano teacher) gave Ryan some complimentary lessons :),

followed by looking through books together.

After rest time, Matt was excited to show Uncle Don and Aunt Jane where he works! He gave a quick tour of CLHS, and then we headed to downtown Tomball. We've always wanted to see what their Second Saturday Family Nights at the station were all about. It was a fun (though small) festival. We'll definitely check it out again and bring some friends along with us.  Ian enjoyed riding a horse,

but Ryan wanted to get OFF before the horse even started moving.

Ryan got his first lesson in lassoing cattle.

Then Ian tried his hand at roping steer.

We got to see a model train in the station ...

... and then we got to climb around on the train car.

Ian and Ryan enjoyed the kiddie games that the Tomball High School students were running, though Ryan couldn't understand why he couldn't take the race car along with him. :)

We were so excited that Don's suitcase arrived to our house late Saturday night while we watched the Olympics! He was a trooper making due without it for the first half of his visit! :)

Somehow, we didn't take a SINGLE picture on Sunday, when we enjoyed worshiping together, showing them around our church, enjoying some Texas BBQ to celebrate our senior pastor's installation, and then some more hang out time -- chatting/watching Olympics/and relaxing!

On Sunday evening, we got a BIG treat when Matt's Uncle Doug and Aunt Mary (now residents of Tyler, TX, in their RV) came to visit, too! They earned the honor of being the second aunt & uncle to visit us in Texas. :) Aunt Mary, a grandma of 7, immediately went upstairs with Ian to get a tour of his room and the toy room. Ian loved showing her his favorites. Matt fixed us some yummy fajitas for dinner, and then we enjoyed an evening together!

On Monday morning, Uncle Don and Aunt Jane left with Uncle Doug and Aunt Mary to head to Tyler.

What a fun visit with both sets of aunts & uncles! Thank you SO much for coming to see us. Thank you for spending time playing with our boys, being interested in our lives, and being such fabulous guests! We love you! Come back and see us any time!