A very nice, very beautiful, very relaxing day!

We decided to sleep in today and take it easy.
It was nice to think about NOT being on the road all day.
I woke up quite early, however, because I am a morning person.

Mr. Jones and I drove by Nick's Starbuck's store to say good morning
and then we went over to the apartment to play and visit and just spend our day.

Yesterday, I failed to get any pictures of Rachel with Nia...
look how sweet mother and daughter look together!
Here is Nathan helping with the dessert preparation
He is quite the helper!
He assisted us in making Orange Cream Squares!
Nathan was also able to multi-task
and figured out how to rock his sister with his foot,
"Vrooom" his cars, and lay down at the same time ...
nice job, Nathan! :)

Nicolas was home by 1:15 (he had opened the store this morning at 4:00 a.m.)
For lunch, we all enjoyed a delicious all-in-one pork chop bake
with green beans and rolls on the side.

Rachel had to take Baby Nia for her pediatric check-up this afternoon.
Nia needed some immunizations and just a general
well-baby check ... the doctor says she is doing great!
Nia weighed in at 7 lbs 2 oz today!

Since we'd had a late and yummy lunch that was really more like a dinner,
we decided to pack a picnic and drive out to Galveston Island
to take a walk on the beach ... great idea!

It was a really balmy night ...

but so very beautiful ...

We walked quite a way down the beach
and back ...

I love Galveston Island
I love the wind and the waves
I love the sounds and smells of the sea ...

It's impossible to be anything but happy here!

Look how happy Nathan is -- swinging like a monkey

in-between his mommy and daddy!

We drove into Old Galveston to eat our picnic
We sat down in a park,
assembled our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
ate our potato chips
and drank our pepsi's and lemonade!
There is nothing like the simple pleasures of life, is there?

And God said, "Let the waters swarm with fish and other life.

"Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind."

"So God created great sea creatures
and every sort of fish
and every sort of bird.
And God saw that it was good."

Genesis 1:20-21

It was time to drive back to Webster.
I sat in the back seat of the van with Nathan.

We made animal noises all the way home --
monkeys, ducks, chicken, horses, cats, etc.

Nathan is very good at mimicking unusual sounds --
the goal was to keep Nathan awake in the car
so that he would be tired when we got home
and go more easily to bed ...

Mr. Jones and I didn't stay to see if this strategy worked.
We drove back to the hotel and pooped out! It worked for us!