Sunday, January 24, 2016

Stopped by to see Anjanette and Jason, and for Otis to play with Fox.  That's Bruce sunning in the pile of leaves.

While Otis and Fox played, and Papa Tom was at work, Skyler and Amon and I went to Rainey Street.  I'd never before been to a business that offers you a free tattoo of their logo!

Had to take the guys to Via 313 for Detroit-style pizza.  Skyler wanted a photo of my cowgirl boots.  Well, okay then.

Otis and Fox engrossed in their video game at Anjanette's house.

We brought some of Ryder's home brew home from Asheville.  Skyler cracked open a bottle of the flavorful brew, made with the world's hottest chili pepper, the Carolina Reaper.

Kids and grands; Saturday, January 23, 2016

Skyler and Emma, with Papa Tom looking over Skyler's shoulder.  Skyler's painting is on the wall behind them, as are his framed hand prints.

Skyler, Emma, and Amon

We all went to Fox's gymnastics ceremony.  She's moving up to the red uniform.  Go, Fox!

Ceiling fan plus Ninja turtles equals experiment in centrifugal force!

Emma, Fox (after a gymnastics performance), and Otis

Back at the house: January 23, 2016

Donna so kindly sent us a bona fide king cake from NOLA.  Thanks, Sista!  Oh, and those aren't Hurricanes.  We're drinking cherry lime ade.

How did you get all those beads, Joyce? (wink)

Skyler got the baby!

Mayfield Park: Saturday, January 23, 2016

Ending the hike and heading to the house

One of the many peacocks at the park.  Next time, we'll bring bread or crackers and try to feed them.

Almost, Fox!

Fox and Amon

Hike at Mayfield Park: Saturday, January 23, 2016

Emma took us to one of her favorite Austin places, Mayfield Park.  Peacocks roam at the Mayfield house, which is surrounded by hiking trails.

Otis and Fox scrambled up the rocks.

Hanging out in the rock overhang.  Skyler is behind the barbed wire fence.  Otis tried to be out of the photo . . . .

Moss-covered rocks

Bacon: Saturday, January 23, 2016

Yes, Austin has a restaurant called "Bacon," and for good reason.  Everything is better with bacon!  Al, Joyce, and Emma came in from Waco for the day.

While some of us finished our bacon brunch, Skyler, Fox, Amon, and Otis skipped rocks at Waller Creek.

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Otis and Fox woke up early and ready to play in the sun room.  (Fox is pretending to be asleep).

Otis and Fuzzy (later, in  a not so happy moment, Fuzzy would bite Otis).  Sorry, Otis!  And it's totally not true that you'll turn into a WereMouse when the moon is full, no matter what your Dad and Uncle Amon try to tell you!

Fox and Fuzzy

Visit from Skyler and Otis: January 22, 2016

We headed straight from the airport to Threadgill's on Riverside, where we met Papa Tom, Amon, and Fox.  Fox shared her KindleFire with Otis.

I wish we had a better photo of Otis with the photo of  blues drummer Otis Lewis, the inspiration for our own Otis's name.  When LaWanda was pregnant, she and Skyler were in Austin and were looking for a name that started with "O" for their baby boy.  We tossed around "Oden" and some other names while eating supper.  Then,  we looked up and saw the framed photo of "Otis Lewis."  A sign! Other people were sitting at the table and were kind enough to let us do a quick photo.  Next time, we'll get one with your eyes open, Otis. 

Happy 29, Amon!

The bros meet for the first time around 7:30 a.m. on January 5, 1987, when Amon is about an hour old.  Skyler, age 4, and Ryder, age 7, stopped by Georgetown Hospital to meet their baby brother on their way to school.  A week or so later, at Ryder's request, we took Amon to Ryder's second grade classroom for show and tell.  A few months later, Amon enjoyed a scrambled egg breakfast while wearing a crown made by Skyler, age 5.

Texas Bear at work

River allowed me to bring Texas Bear home from Asheville for a short visit.  Mya requested that he return with some Texas pecans, which he definitely will.  Here he is sitting in the plant in my office, after I showed him the State Capitol.  He looks so grumpy in this photo because I've been at work every day since returning from Asheville on December 26, madly trying to finish a decision that's due on January 15, and haven't taken him to all his favorite Austin places.  He's reminded me about what a good time Flat Stanley had.  Sorry, Texas Bear! 

Almost happy 2016

We left Kerbey Lane and headed to Auditorium Shores for the fireworks, being blasted at 10 p.m. at this family friendly event.

Caught a few from the Zoomer.  Rolled down the windows to inhale that some fireworks smoke.

New Year's Eve 2015 in Austin: Part Deux

So as delicious as our 5-course meal was at Monkey Town 6, we were still hungry.  And it was only 8:30 p.m.!  We headed straight to Kerbey Lane to make our own nachos.  Papa Tom knows how to pour the Kerbey queso onto the chips and black beans!

Never mind the "Christmas Story" lamp.  Kerbey Lane has its own exotic lamp.

New Year's Eve 2015 in Austin, at Monkey Town 6

Monkey Town 6 is a pop up restaurant in East Austin that is only in town for 3 months.  You sit inside a 27-foot cube, surrounded by indie videos, while dining on gourmet preparations from a local chef.  This was the James Dean mural on the warehouse wall.  And we're bundled up because there were only a few "mushroom" heaters and an overhead heater to warm up the giant warehouse on the 40-degree night.

Papa Tom, with our first course of warm grog.  

Entering the cube amidst scenes from Central Park

First course:  rabbit pate on garlic toast with a bit of rabbit food around the edges.

Smoked butternut and carrot soup: yummy!

A scene from Takeshi Murata's "OM Rider."  Murata is one of the most highly respected video artists working in America, according to the program.

Oh how I wish I could have been in NOLA with this crew!

Michael Craig flew in from Baltimore, Blake flew in from California, Craig and Martha drove down from Shreveport, and Colton drove in from Ruston, Louisiana, for all of them to spend some Christmas holiday time in NOLA.  What a great looking bunch of people to be related to!

Four of my five nephews on the Hogan side:  Destry, Blake, Michael Craig, Colton.  Ramzi was in Houston with Martin.