Downtown Houston Hike

We went one weekend for a hike in the Downtown Houston parks. Houston has a lot to offer as far as entertainment, and we have found that the parks are a great way to spend time together on the weekend.

Rose Garden:

Japanese Garden:

Botanical Garden:

Stick sculpture:

More pics from the different gardens:

We gave Miles our dSLR camera and let him play amateur photog throughout the day. Some of his shots were pretty good:

Miles wanted me to take this picture of him under this old oak:

Needed his picture taken in the Japanese garden too:

At the end of the very hot day, we rode the train through one of the parks while the kids ate icees.

First day of school and other summer ending stuff

First day of school was Monday and it went off without a hitch. Miles is a 4th grader and Avery started Kindergarten this year. Everybody seems to like their teachers and is making new friends....so far so good. I still hate making lunches!

 Somehow the pics got a bit out of order: 

Waiting for the bus with our neighbors' daughter Cait:

Avery's first bus ride to school:

Had a play date with the twins from Avery's 4 year old pre-k class:

Avery's kindergarten teacher Mrs. Bauarschi(bow-r-she) at Meet the Teacher the week before school started:

Miles won the Pace Award at soccer camp this summer. They said it is the award he should want to win. It goes to the person who was the best listener, most coachable and made the most improvements. I had to look around to make sure they were talking to me about him :)

Finally cleaned out the kids' closets right before school started and this is the pile that went to Goodwill the next day. It literally took us a whole Sunday, but glad it is done.