Texas

We had the opportunity to visit Jim and Birgit on their mission! We stayed Thurs night - Tuesday afternoon, from October 6-11th. We flew into Houston. And stayed in Cleveland, where those two are living.

Rebecca has really missed her Omi and Grandpa and was more than excited to see them!

These photos are out of order, but it's taking too long to try and move them.  But anyway, on Sunday we visited a couple of families from Jim and Birgit's ward.  This guy is a taxidermist, and his house is chuck FULL of his animals.  It was quite an experience to visit him and his wife - true Texans. 

Here Rebecca is loading up on the deer sausage that was offered to us.  It was cured and smoked out back!  Also, they have goats, which they milk twice a day. We were there at milking time, but Rebecca didn't want to try it.  Well, none of us dared try it.  But it was still cool to see!

Here we were in Galveston, visiting the beach.

and eating ice cream!

Rebecca (our little photographer) took these photos in our hotel room:

Here is one of the mariachi singers!  We were at a YUMMY mexican restaurant, and Jim and Birgit knew a couple of the singers in the band.  So our table got serenaded for about four numbers.  Rebecca fell asleep on the way there, so was a little out of it, but I think she still enjoyed it.  That was a really fun evening.

We stopped at the grocery store.  Jorg couldn't resist hopping on one of the wheel chair shopping carts with Rebecca.  LOVE this picture!  heheheh

Here we are at the Houston Zoo!

Rebecca and I were looking at a wolf (which I didn't get a good photo of).  Right when she saw him, she exclaimed, "OH!  That's a Maned Wolf!"  I was like, ummmm....sure....oooookay....whatever.  Then we got to the sign.  Sure enough!  It was a Maned Wolf!  Apparently she had seen an episode of Diego that was about these wolves and she recognized his markings.  She's a genius for sure.

She LOVED climbing that elephant over and over.  It did not look easy.

It was an awesome zoo.  We were really impressed!
Here we are back on Sunday when we visited another member's house.  They had two baby goats, whose mother had died.  They are a couple of months old.  They are bottle fed and treat their owner like their mama.  Cute, cute.  Rebecca just giggled and giggled about them.  So fun

Here are the two buddies at the airport, saying goodbye.  Omi made that crocodile for Rebecca and she LOVEs it.

Thanks, Jim and Birgit, for a great trip! We are so proud of you for all your service and hard work, deep in the heart of Texas! Those folks are so luck to have ya, and everyone we met told us so, too.