Memorial Day 2010 and the Ride back to Utah with Brayden

AFTER WE LEFT GALVESTON, OUR LAST STOP WAS SAN ANTONIO WHERE WE SPENT MEMORIAL WEEKEND WITH KIM, BRYCE, AND THE GRANDCHILDREN. Kim and Bryce prepared us gourmet meals and wouldn't let us help with anything. They really spoiled us. This left us free to play with the grandchildren.

We went to Church with them on Sunday. On Memorial Day, we hung out at their subdivision's community pool. We all love the water, so this was a fun thing to do. On Tuesday, the day after, we left for our return trip to Utah with Brayden in tow.

One of our favorite things to do with the family is to throw a water torpedo. Sooner or later everyone will get in on the game.

Brayden has fun with his big brother.

Kimy and Karston get some instructions from their dad.

The pool was very refreshing.

We had a relaxing Sunday hanging out at the house.

In a quiet moment, Kimy shows Grandpa how to use her cell phone.

THE DAY AFTER MEMORIAL DAY, WE HEADED BACK TO UTAH WITH BRAYDEN. Brayden would stay with us for 4 weeks.

The ride home was a long one, so to help pass the time, we gave Brayden a laptop and activities to do. Grandma sat next to him in the back seat.

Once a day Brayden got to watch a video on Grandpa's laptop.

We played Old Maid and Crazy 8's over and over and over again. Brayden loved them and it helped pass the time. Brayden especially liked it when he fooled Grandma and won, as he is now doing passing the Old Maid card to her.

We wanted to give Brayden the experience of seeing Carlsbad Caverns and the bats. This was our second trip to the caverns and Brayden's first.

He got got bored in the caves and the bats didn't fly until after dark, so we couldn't see them very well.

Brayden was a good sport at the Caves, but in hindsight, we should have skipped Carlsbad and hurried back to Utah as his real anticipation and enthusiasm was what waited there.

We camped at trailer parks along the way. Brayden helped Grandpa set up camp. We had to make room for the kayaks, which we had taken along to play in at Lake Greeson, Arkansas. Ed and I also went on a ride in the dark on a lake where we camped at Galveston. There was a full moon that night and produced a great memory.

We stopped in Moab for lunch. It was a nice break.

The playground equipment was the best we've ever seen in a park. Brayden had fun and it was hard to leave and continue the drive home.

UTAH, HERE WE COME!!!!!

After Arkansas--Houston and Galveston, May 2010

After we left Arkansas, which comprised the first half of our May vacation, we drove to Ed's brother's ranch in Texas. We stayed there a couple of days.

The Ranch!

Ron calls the horses to dinner.

They come running!

He trains like the "Horse Whisperer" and they follow him.

We take out the horses in the morning, before it is too hot! Cyndy enjoys the ride!

Ed's confident in the Saddle and rides like a pro! The ranch dogs like to tag along.

After the ranch, we drove to Galveston, spending three days in the city where Ed was born. At last, he was able to return to the place of his birthright. We visited the Houston Space Museum (not as spectacular as the Shuttle Launch that Derek had seen in person in Florida a few days prior, but interesting, non-the-less.) It was a walk down memory lane to see how they used to do it without computers and using slide rules. What miracles were accomplished back in the 60's!

That was then, this is now!.... Moments before take-off of one of the last space shuttle launches. Derek is excited! (Just thought I'd throw in a photo of his.)

The next two days were spent taking in a few of Galveston's sights. There was more to do than we had time for. Galveston was a lot more fun than we had ever imagined.

With only two days to sightsee, we spent half the morning touring the Old Opera House. In hind sight, we wish we had toured one of the historic mansions instead, but Oh, well. Maybe there will be another time.....

Couldn't visit Galveston, Ed's birthplace, without walking the ocean! (The oil spill had not yet reached these beaches.)

Last Stop before heading for San Antonio was the Moody Gardens in Galveston. We spent a whirlwind day and half seeing all the exhibits and many IMAX 3d movies, culminating with Avatar that evening. We had a blast!