A visit to Magnolia

Oh I get so star struck just going where I know "movie" stars have been. We took a drive to Waco to see Chip and Joanna.  Here is their bed and breakfast.  I think we figured out the right order to do our visit! 

 

We started at their B&B, then went to Clint's shop, then went to the tortilla bridge then went to Magnolia.... it was perfect!!

 

Here is the B&B!

 

 

 

(selfie stick)

 

 

Here is Mark, Vicki and Seth!  Michael wanted us to get the heck out of there because we were practically trespassing..... even though we weren't.....

 

 

 

From there we went to Clint's workshop.... ahhhhh.  The selection of goods seemed better this time.  There were grand things to buy in there!

 

 

 

 

 

Who knew that the house that Chip and Joanna remodeled for Clint and his wife... it's RIGHT next door to the shop!!!!  That episode was on recently and we all recognized it from the house paint color-from the side...then we ran around the front to see if that porch was there and it sure was!!!

 

 

Then we went over to tortilla bridge (that is not it's real name)

 

 

 

 

 

from the bridge - you throw a tortilla onto the pylon...if you make it - you will graduate from Baylor...if not...you are just feeding the ducks and turtles....

 

 

My dad got in on the action.

 

he missed......

 

 

 

Mikayla threw some too.... sadly she missed....

 

 

ALL of us tried.... and ALL of us missed....

 

 

until the youngest in the group (Mikayla) turned into a genius before our very eyes and squished it into a ball and was at able to hit the pylon.... and then...Seth... he is a baseball player... made it onto the pylon on the first try with the "ball" tortilla!!  Since he already graduated from college, we decided he can get his MBA from Baylor...therefore making the tradition/superstition true.

 

 

 

 

 

Ahhhh recognize the Silo???  We have arrived!!!!!

 

 

Even the fender bender in the parking lot didn't ruin our fun!

 

 

 

Vicki was watering some of the plants.

 

 

Chips truck.

 

 

We shopped, we walked, we looked, we sat and we had a blast!

 

 

Traditional watermelon drink....

 

 

Michael is NOT a fan!  LOL

 

 

 

 

Seth was fun and went along with some Baylor pictures with Mikayla

 

 

We finished the day with a great dinner!!!  We didn't want the day to end, it was amazing!

 

 

 

Great times, great memories.... that's what it's all about!!

 

Pueri Cantores

That name is a mouthful isn't it? 

 

Last Saturday, Mikayla and about 30 other kids from school and church gathered together with 15 other catholic schools to become a unified choir for the day.  We went to the co-cathedral to drop Mikayla off for the day and then we were free agents while the kids rehearsed.

 

 

Michael and I had the chance for a day date!!!  Woo HOO!!!  Well don't you know the first 45 minutes of our date were spent trying to get out of downtown Houston....there was a rodeo parade and many many many streets were closed/blocked!  We finally found our way, whew.

 

I think we talked and talked and talked and talked, got all caught back up on everything, it was SOOOOO nice!  We didn't need to be back to the cathedral until 4:30.  We actually got there around 3:00 - wanted to find our seats. 

 

The kids started filing in.  There were about 300 kids from 16 different schools participating.

 

 

Of those 16 schools - 5 were chosen to do solo songs for the preclude prior to the church service beginning.  You know it.... Mikayla's school was one of them.  She's up there somewhere in the balcony - getting ready to sing.

 

 

Here is our participating group.

 

 

 

hum... the picture below makes her look taller than me....she's not quite yet....

 

 

She got a medal for participating!  She is FIRED up about that medal!

 

 

 

They were there for eight hours singing and practicing!!  Mikayla was EXHAUSTED and her mouth hurt.... too much singing and too much metal LOL.....

 

Here are two samples of the groups singing.  Let me tell you, the video does not do justice to how incredibly amazing they sounded.  The sound/feeling/intensity was INCREDIBLE - they were angels straight from heaven.....  AMAZING!

 

Song sample number 1

 

Song sample number 2

 

We found metal!

At the dentists recommendation, we had a consult with an orthodontist for Mikayla.  They started her with the panoramic x-ray to check everything out.

 

 

She was thrilled to be there.... clearly....(are you sensing my sarcasm?)

 

 

My pretty girl :)

 

 

They decided it was definitely time to help get everything where it needs to be.  There isn't anything structural to change other than to close up the gaps so her teeth settle in correctly, her top teeth aren't centered evenly with her face (they are about 4 mm to the left), stuff like that).

 

 

WAAAAA my baby!!!!!  (she will be SOOOO mad if she ever sees that I posted these pictures). 

 

 

There we have it.... 45 minutes later..... a brand new chapter for our gal.

 

 

 

 

 

Before:

 

After:

 

How can this all be going so fast...she's almost 11 1/2 now :(