We went to Odessa this year for Easter. This post is incredibly long and I probably should have broken it up, but it is what it is...here's a recap of what we did while we were there!
Bahama Bucks!
One of our favorite things to do when we go there is to head to Bahama Bucks for snow cones. Matt and I used to go to the first Bahama Bucks in Lubbock while we were in college, so it's a fun thing that they have one in Odessa now that we can share with the boys! Unfortunately, about 5 seconds after these pictures were taken, Brett's fell off the bench and we had to get him another one...oh well...better on Bahama Bucks' concrete floor than in my car! :-)
Jared & Laura!
Another fun thing about going to Odessa is that our friends Jared and Laura live in Midland, so sometimes it works out that we actually get to see them while we're in town (a lot of times they are out of town because it's a holiday and they are visiting their families). This time we actually got to have a double date with them...just like old times! We used to go out together before any of us was married, so it's fun times when we get together. I think they think we are a little silly because we always share kid stories and they have 5 and we have 2...and our oldest kids are the same age, if that tells you anything about how old theirs are! So, yeah, we can't quite share in the craziness but we have a good time anyway!
Reading!
I'm the meanest mom ever. I even make my kids have quiet time and reading time before bed when we are traveling. My kids think it's the worst (even though they don't want to stop reading once they get started!), but they'll thank me later...here's Jace with his latest 39 Clues installment...
Go Karts!
It's hard to find a place to ride go karts that will actually let an 8-year-old drive, but Odessa has a place so we try to go when we visit. Jace and Brett love it! This time, we even got Grammy & Pop to come hang out, too. Jace and Brett fought over who got to ride with Grammy in her super cool sports car. Brett won on the way there, so Jace had to settle for the drive home.
Heather, Phil, Kade & Carter!
Another cool thing about west Texas is my sister lives in Midland, so we always get to see her family when we go. We went over for a few hours on Saturday to hunt eggs and eat lunch before spending more time with Grammy & Pop.
I managed to get some really cute pictures of Kade hunting eggs. My kids, not so much, although Jace wasn't really that into it this year (so sad).
Carter hung out inside and grinned at us through the window in Kade's room. Then we all went back inside to play with him.
This was the least offensive picture of all 4 boys together...and we took quite a few!
Easter Morning!
The boys woke up to surprises and empty baskets so they could go hunt eggs. The weather was great so we hid eggs outside, too. Jace loved this hunt because the eggs had MONEY in them!
Pop & Jace
Posing for a picture since I got no action shots that were any good.
Dad & Brett checking out the loot.
Jace counting money & candy...
Grammy didn't want her picture taken...
Brett being a cheese head...he gets in these moods where he wants you to take his picture...this was one of those times.
On the way home...
We all needed to get out and stretch our legs so we stopped at a rest area on the way home that afternoon. there was a small patch of blue bonnets, so we decided to snap some pictures. I love their black Easter outfits (Grammy bought them Texas Tech shirts so they wanted to wear them, of courese)...
