Easter Table~Part 1

I really wanted to make our dinning room table look festive for Easter this year, however, I didn't want to spend too much money.  So, last Saturday I headed off to Hobby Lobby in search of some pretty things.  This is what I found:

Candles...

a mini pie plate...

a couple cute bunnies...

and silver candlestick holders.

My next destination was Michael's to buy some springtime flowers for my centerpiece.  Kroger was the final stop for the day since I needed to do the necessary weekend grocery shopping before heading home.  Believe it or not, while there I stumbled upon some very inexpensive plates that just happened to match.   

The vase was one I had and spray painted white and the two crystal candle holders were mine as well, but that was it.  The good news  is everything from Michael's and Hobby Lobby was 50% off, yeah!!  Even better, the plates from Kroger were only $2.99 for the green ones and $1.99 for the smaller white ones.  I am not done yet, though. So, between now and Easter I will be doing a little last minute shopping for some more pretty things to add some final touches to my first Easter tablescape.  Click here to see what I found!

Megan's 18!

It's hard to believe, but our baby turned 18 on Monday.  That night we made her favorite dinner, lasagna, and invited Kyle over to join us.  She got the usual gifts, clothes and some money to spend.  We did get lucky, though, and managed to get her something special.  The night before we attended the Highstepper Golf Tournament and won the senior Highstepper pillow during the silent auction.  She was very surprised!

Later we had cake. 

I think she's pondering...

Make a wish!

Here's hoping all her wishes come true!

I think she had a good birthday.  She left this sweet note under my door that I found the next morning...

Easter Entryway Table

Here is the first sign of spring in our home.  I took the few Department 56 Easter pieces I have and put them on the table in our entryway.  It looks a little bare but I am not sure what else to add.

I would love to purchase a couple more to add to my little collection.

However, Department 56 has retired the few Easter items they had and have not made any new ones since.

So for now, this is it! 

Trip to Top Water Grill ~ San Leon, Texas

Last month for on "fat Tuesday" we headed south to a little bayside town called San Leon.  We had been patiently waiting for the reopening of a restaurant we loved called TopWater Grill.  It was destroyed (as much of this little town was) by hurricane Ike.  We first discovered TopWater from friends who read about it in Southern Living who ranked it as one of the 10 best "seafood dives" in the south.  That's all it took to get my husband there and the food kept us coming back.  It took over a year for the owners to rebuild but it's back and just as delicious as before.

San Antonio

Meg's first competition was two weeks ago was in San Marcus.  My husband had business in San Antonio the same weekend so we headed there first.

After he spent the morning and most of the afternoon working we headed to the River Walk for an early dinner. First, we stopped at our hotel, The Emily Morgan. Richard hadn't told me he had booked it so I was surprised when we pulled up.  All along I thought he hadn't booked a room and that we would end up at who knows where!  But thank goodness, this is where we stayed. It's a beautiful, historic hotel that overlooks the Alamo.

The rooms are spacious and beds so comfy. 

I love a hotel with a pretty bath and great products!

But the best thing about our room was the view. 

Here is our own personal view of the Alamo.

After dropping off our bags, we got a closer look.

What is he doing?  Looks like he's deep in thought...

The huge trees surrounding the Alamo are nothing like I had seen before visiting San Antonio.

Right across the street from the Alamo is another historic hotel, the Menger Hotel.

An alley beside the Menger leads to where the River Walk begins.  You can catch a boat ride here and get a full tour of the river without dealing the crowds on the sidewalks.  We took it a couple of times when the girls when young.  Since it was just the two of us though we decided to get some needed exercise and walked.

There goes a boat...

Richard would not be fond of this picture but he just happened to be there when I snapped this of Cafe Ole, a restaurant that we took Brittany to on her 16th birthday.  When she turned 16 the Super Bowl just happened to be in Houston on that weekend and everything was crazy so we decided to get out of town and ended up here. 

After an early dinner on the river, we headed back to our room and called it a night so we would be "bright eyed and bushy tailed" the next day for Meg's performances, her first which was early in the morning.

Megan's Last Competitions

For the past two weekends we have been busy traveling to Meg's last competitions as a senior Highstepper.  They first competed in the Showmakers State Drill team Championship two weeks ago in San Marcus and again last weekend in Cypress at the Champions Regional Competition.  In both competitions the Highstepper officers and team were named Grand Champions.  Meg had a total of seven dances to learn and perfect.  Watching her perform each beautifully these past weeks has made us even more proud of her accomplishments over the past four years.  We're are also a bit sad about the whole thing coming to an end so soon.  We have one more competition this weekend and the Highstepper Showoff the following Tuesday.  So basically two more chances to enjoy watching her perform for the last times as a Highstepper.  Wow, how time does fly... 

Here are the team dances performed at San Marcus: