Kira's baptism today

Today, Kira was baptized during the first service at church. We are all very happy for her!

 Pastor Tim is introducing Kira to the congregation.

Pastor Tim is baptizing Kira.

On Mother's Day

On Mother's Day, Ken treated Anne and me (and two kids!) to an afternoon at the ball game, watching the Astros from one of the suites. It was a beautiful day, and the big roof was open ... the first time I've watched one of these games in open air. Usually it's so hot and humid, the roof is closed and the a/c is on!

We had a wonderful time!

Odd weather for TX!!

We're on a roller-coaster of sorts ... warm and muggy and then cold and windy and dry ... sometimes rain in between! Very strange!!

 Sideways rain today!

LOTS of rain for about 45 minutes!!

More bluebonnet photos!

More ... in no particular order ...

And on my walk back to my car, I found some weedy looking plants that have cute little flowers, too!

Bluebonnets in Creekside Park

Creekside Park is a residential area in The Woodlands where there's a large open section with bluebonnets in it. I think they were cultivated, but now the area is open for people to enjoy ... have picnics, take photos, etc!!

And a couple of panoramas, just to get the feeling of the expanse of this!

Spandaus on Spring Break

Out of the cold and snow in PA, and into the sunshine and warmth of Key West!! Hooray!

Simone ... in front of the original "Sloppy Joe's" 

 The view on the drive to Key West.

A stop for lunch at Islamorada. 

Beautiful sunset! 

=)

Updating my house!

I've wanted to get more done to make my house easier to cool in summer, and one of my goals was to save and put solar screens or solar film on all the windows. 

Here are the "before" photos:

from the front

from the back

Screens are now installed ... and I love them all!

front

back (kitchen dining area at the left)

back (great room at the left; bedroom at the center and right)

side (kitchen window)

Fog!

This is the view out my front window when I first got up this morning ... very foggy, but lit up by the street lights. Eerie!

2012 Christmas Concert

Five choral groups performed at last night's concert at Klein Oak High School. What a magnificent evening!!

Northampton Elementary choir - "Raindeer on the Roof"

Hildebrandt's Advanced Treble Choir - getting ready!

Kira is second from the left in the front row.

The next three are photos of Klein Oak High School's Chamber Singers.

The finale -- with all five choirs included: 

KOHS Chamber Singers, center on the risers

Hildebrandt treble choirs, left and right on the risers

Hildebrandt boys' choir, in the white shirts and black vests in front of the high schoolers

Mueller choir, at the left on stage in front of the risers

Metzler choir, at the right on stage in front of the risers

Northampton choir, in front of the stage (huge, isn't it?)

And some videos:

Hildebrandt Advanced Treble - "The Winter Gift"

Hildebrandt Advanced Treble - "Cantate Hodie"

KOHS Chamber Singers - "Good King Kong" - PDQ Bach

KOHS Chamber Singers - "Calling My Children Home"

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kira, having poured her first glass of sparkling cider!

Austen, setting up an artsy photo of his glass of sparkling cider!!

Three siblings: Parker, Austen, and Kira

Parker in parades!

Parker has been with his ROTC unit in two parades this month. 

The first was on Nov 12 for Veterans Day at Klein Memorial Stadium. He's carrying the New Mexico flag in this first photo.

This morning, he was in the parade down the streets of Tomball. Such wonderful groups of kids!!

New atrium at church

Church at Creek's End has been saving up money and making plans and expanding/improving the original buildings for at least six years. This weekend the whole congregation could see the very near completion! There is still some landscaping to be done, and the parking lot needs re-organizing and re-striping, and there are other projects on tap (the facilities for the youth ministry and for the nursery), but the huge, major ones are pretty much done. 

The spaciousness is just wonderful! And that window-wall ... I love it all!

Below is the Creek Cafe serving area and the patio entrance/exit.

Several small seating groups make for great conversation!

Here's the doorway into the kitchen from the Creek Cafe.

The doors on the left lead into the sanctuary. And this alcove and corner are all set up with our Angel Christmas Tree.

Again, I really love the spaciousness here. This photo is looking back toward Creek Cafe and the outdoor patio through the windows.

There is a water feature just behind the cross. The doors under the cross lead into the office area and the facilities for our children and youth ministries.