Jude's Birthday at Clay's

Over Spring Break we went with our Sunday School class to revisit Clay's Restaurant. We also got to celebrate Jude's 2nd birthday.



Our buddies Harper and Asher joined us for the fun. Justin decided to wear his In-N-Out shirt from Derek's uncle, so mommy knew the photos would be a little washed out with that white T-shirt.


We all hammered the Costco cupcakes, known for their large size.


Quite an effort just to get a bite.


It can even get a bit messy.


Some of the others waited patiently for their cupcakes.


Here's a photo of our Sunday School teacher and his family. We are so thankful for the Browns and all their hard work in pouring out themselves for our class. Derek and I will debate if we got more out of Sunday School or church sometimes. We are so thankful for this family and their service for kingdom-minded ministry.


As we were leaving, Justin asked where cousin Clay was. I guess he thinks the restaurant is named after you, Clayboy!

Rachel's Baby Shower

The day after Justin's school auction (and the end to all the photos I had edited for many hours on end), I helped host a shower for Rachel. The Paxtons have been in our Sunday School class, and we stuck to them immediately when we joined the class. Both Chris and Rachel went to Rice, they live a few miles from us, we were put in the same community group, and they somehow were one of the few couples without kids that didn't mind hanging out with us for lunch after church with a three year old active little boy. Rachel found out she was pregnant about the time they were planning to move to Paris due to a job transfer. So she just flew back for a week so that some of us could shower her before baby boy comes in June.



I saw an apple shower with a touch of damask on a blog and decided to run with their theme.


I didn't take the apple theme lightly.


In fact, I left up half of my decor since I deemed it somewhat springy.


So I still have apples on my mantle and my dining room table.


Ashley Park made these delicious cookies. Unfortunately for me, the extras were left at my house, which meant I had to finish them...that day...


A friend of Rachel's made these magnets with reminds to pray for baby boy Paxton.


If anyone comes over soon and I am serving a dish with apples, you might want to ask how fresh they might be.


We made OJ and ginger ale splashes. Somehow I could not find my extra OJ, so we gave everyone seconds with pineapple juice instead. Not bad, actually.


The hostesses with Rachel


Some of the ladies from our Sunday School class. Notice the lovely ironing board in the background. Who on earth allowed that blunder?


Some other smiling Logos ladies.


Rachel with "the bag", as I like to call it. Tiffany and I searched for weeks for this bag, and I finally ordered it from a company in New York. 3 weeks later they tell me they don't have it in stock. I somehow scramble to find this sucker at a store here in Houston that had previously feigned ignorance on the subject weeks before. At least this now Paris native can have her hostess gist put to good use.


Rachel and I


Blessed by you, sweet friend! Cannot wait to see photos of this precious, prayed for, and long awaited baby!

Rodeo with Luke

We went to the Houston Livestock and Rodeo kids area on discount Wednesday with the Pines. We have learned from experience to get there early, so at a little past 9am we all strutted our way onto the fair grounds.

Justin wanted to ride the pony.


Such a calm serious rider


Then Justin and Luke raced around on their own ponies, complete with matching bandanas.


Then we went to farm where we got our own eggs...


...milked a cow and got our milk carton...


...watered our crops...


...picked oranges off the tree...


...shucked our corn...


...paused for a photo moment...


...and traded in our goods for a rice krispie treat.


We went and saw the chicks...


...saw a beautiful turkey...


...rode a tractor...


...petted some rabbits...


...some BIG rabbits...


...got some friendly hugs...


...and rolled down the hill...


...rolled and rolled and rolled.


Looking forward to next year!

Rodeo at school

Aunt Kaki told us she had just the thing for us non-western family clothiers to put on Justin for his school rodeo day. We go up to her school and borrow one of her play vests that her students dress up in. On the way to the Faye school, Justin is so pumped to go see Kaki's classroom. When we get there, he turns uncharacteristically shy. He is basically clinging to my leg, a first for me. We go and see the vest, which he snubs his nose at. Once we got alone with his aunt he finally became his normal cheerful self.

Once we left, vest in hand, he tells me he doesn't like Kaki's kids at her school. I ask him why, and I finally figure out he felt threatened that there were other kids in Aunt Kaki's life. I explain that he is her favorite, being the only nephew and all. He also asked what shy meant. I guess he overheard me say something to one of the other teachers and this new shyness, which I am always careful of saying in front of him. We talked about how some people see it as rude, even is he doesn't mean it that way. He tells me he will never be shy again. We will see about that.

But I digress. The day of rodeo day, it is like pulling teeth to get him to not only agree on a long sleeve button down to wear, but to also wear it with the vest. He took photos in it, and was trying to take the vest off once we got to school. Then he saw all his classmates in their boots, hats, etc. and he apparently wore the vest ALL DAY LONG! After all that. But we did get some precious photos in the process.

Smiley boy


I love the flowy greenery in the background of these photos. Kaki also gave us a bandanna and showed us how to use it as the cowboys did. We wore that as well.


I think this one is my favorite. And I promise - I barely did anything in Photoshop with this one. Basically straight out of the camera - I am in love with this one.


Here we are with the hat they made at school. And don't forget to notice what he's holding from show and tell. We can't get too cowboy in the Michaelis family.


Justin insisted on this one.


Happy Vest Day to you and yours....

Puss in boots

We came home from church one Sunday and realized Justin was trying to look like his momma.


At least in the shoes department.


I have never laughed so hard. This boy didn't even have to be told how to work it.



He just worked it, model pose, pouty look and all.


I'm thinking rehearsal dinner material one day.


Oh, those eyes, eyes like his momma, just melt my heart.

Visiting Gigi and G-pa

Funny that I am writing this post about Tyler while I am once again in Tyler. Back at the end of January, during another arctic blast, Justin and I went to Tyler for the weekend while Derek last minute took my brother to Phoenix for the weekend for a whirlwind golf outing. It snowed for a short bit while we were in Tyler - I feel like the snow followed us everywhere this winter. Thanks to the cold days, we had a lot of play inside.

Justin and Gigi getting their stance on...


... for playing soccer with a tennis ball in the hallway.


Justin is such the gamer. My grandparents used to have a lifesize pinball machine in their house that we would all play and compete on growing up. Justin will have the smaller version, but he played this homerun derby version for hours. Gigi is so patient to sit and entertain him.


Gigi and G-pa gave us cash for Justin's Christmas gift, so I thought I would let him open his gift at their house. His first keyboard. He loves to play songs. He tells me he is going to "read me a story" as he plays me a tune. My little pianist.


Watching a movie with cousin Carter. Carter actually built the chair Justin is sitting in in shop class in high school.


In hog heaven with the older cousins.


Val, Carter, & Justin amazed at what they are watching.


What makes me laugh in this photo is my grandfather on the far left watching with his headphones. Now that he is in his eighties, he doesn't hear as good as he used to. So he would turn the TV up real loud to watch his shows. So now he can listen as loud as he wants, just not everyone else has to strain to hear their own thoughts.


Funny enough, I just got back from another trip to Tyler this past week. Though that post is a long ways away, I leave you with this video my cousin Val took of Justin playing with the big kids. Just love that my younger cousins, who I would play with all the time, have turned the tables and are playing with my little guy.

Backyard Shenanigans from Val Mae on Vimeo.