Another year around the sun!

Celebrated in style – Texas Style!

Last week found me relaxing at the homestead in the warmth of Texas fall (autumn) and venturing out (by Uber) to the township of Lake Jackson to explore the shops and meet Russell’s friend (Trudy) for lunch! Only in Texas do you get to ride in a Ford F150 when you call an Uber! My first ride was with Jack, the next one was with Daniel! Guessing the 3rd one will be George! Two degrees of connection wherever one goes!

Friday saw (and I listened to live commentary) the All Blacks finally pull up their socks and provide a much needed win in the Rugby World Cup giving us Kiwis some excitement for the rest of the tournament!

This guy (banana spider) decided to pop in for the party weekend – thankfully outside my closed window.

Friday afternoon shopping for the family party (for my birthday!) A great evening with my hosts (Tona and Chuck) a few beers by the pool and listening to our favourite music!!!

Saturday, Tona and I began our day early with a drive north to watch Emma (one of the gran babies) play her five year old soccer game! Followed by a breakfast of champions (cooked by her Dad) crepes!

We then headed back to prepare our Grazing table for the party!

Expecting 20 Adults and seven grand babies, Chuck prepared the pool toys and Tona and I built our table of food! With the Fall theme….around five the party began! And the girls added to the spread…

Kelly(Tonas and Chucks daughter) had provided the Key Lime Pie birthday cake to herald in my 63rd celebrations and Ashley (daughter in law) had made her famous apple pie to ensure we were all totally sated! I of course had both!

Then it was time for the water balloon fight!

When it’s in the (90s farenheit) mid-high 30s Celsius – what’s a little water between friends! Drying time 20 minutes! The party wound up around 10pm with a (Travis) margarita, food pack up, tired kids and big kids and we collapsed into bed!

I had lots of messages and calls from my family and friends in NZ, as being 18hours behind here, my NZ birthday was on Saturday USA time.

My Texas birthday began on Sunday, and more cleanup before Church, then off to visit the kids and grand babies!

The afternoon visiting number 2 son and family and the evening watching baseball grandson play, before post match hotdogs (just what the stomach ordered after a busy day)

Arriving home in the red sky Texas sunset and a graze on the leftovers from the party – we will be grazing all week!

I have certainly been very spoiled with my three day birthday celebrations!