Warm Houston Weather

We have been enjoying the warm Houston weather for the last couple weeks (sorry to all of you who are in Utah and still dealing with snow). Last year we didn't get very many hibiscus flowers, this year they have been amazing. Everyday there are new blooms. Lonnie took some great shots of them. Enjoy!

thai 4th of july

Our house has become the un-official holiday gathering place for our random assortment of friends here in Houston. It started with Easter and has continued with Independence day. We are people lovers. A holiday is not complete without a full house. Our great mix of friends and family always extends to include anyone else who might want to join the festivities. This holiday we had an especialy eclectic mix.

Our friends Kristy and James, along with their kids Issac and Levi are always part of the festivities. James invited some of his co-workers, living in Houston for the summer doing internships, to join us. They are from Thailand and offered to make us some great Thai food that included shrimp, squid, three types of soups and amazing spices. Another family, Aitran, Hugo, Phoebe and Andy, who just recently moved to the area, made some delicious spicy eggplant. Aitran is originally from China but also lived in Vietnam. Her husband Hugo is from Mexico and they have two great kids. Others at the gathering were; Lyle and Emily, along with baby Eva (Emily and Alisa volunteered together at a women's shelter and Lonnie and Lyle went to JR High together), Stephanie and Martin (Lonnie was the teaching assistant in a class Stephanie took in college), Sister Fisher and Sister Kendrick (the missionaries in our ward), Kelly (our neighbor) and Tim and Julia Nuttall (brother and sister-in-law to James and Kristy).

All together there were about 20 people here at the house and way to much food for us to finish. It was a great holiday.


James' coworkers from Thailand- Nee and Niran. They were amazing cooks and took the kitchen by storm. In the end we convinced them to only cook 6 of th 9 dishes they had planned.

The non-stop sampling that took place all day long. The missionaries, Aitran, Kristy and Stephanie .

Emily and Eva, Kelly, Alisa, Kristy and baby Levi.

Everyone took their time in the kitchen, but these four were the hardest working.

malaika and thabo visiting our house- important people in our life

Malaika (3) and Thabo (19months) are Loretta (Alisa's cousin) and Teboho's beautiful kids. They live near by and we get to see them often. They are great kids.

The day these photos were taken they came to spend the day with us while their parents went to the temple. The kids had a great day playing in our yard and feeding the fish in the pond. We always have a good time with them.

They especially love to tickle Lonnie.

spring time in your yard

We have four beautiful magnolia trees at our house. It took a while but they finally bloomed into amazingly wonderful flowers.

Like a sweet magnolia tree
My love blossomed tenderly,
My life grew sweeter through the years
- Stevie Wonder