Bathroom Overhall

The bathrooms in our house have had some issues since we moved here back in 2011.  By issues I mean that the sinks did not drain and the toilets did not flush.  I have probably called 5 different plumbers for necessary visits in the last 6 months alone.  Some of these were preventable problems (kids flushing unknown  objects in the toilets which have been addressed) but some were the result of bad plumbing from the get go.  The kids bath had one sink that simply did not drain.  We could not use it.  Of the two sinks in the master bath, one worked and one did not.  The working one had a slow leak beneath it that required a cup to catch the water.  Since this was the only working sink, we used it a lot.  The cup of water filled up quickly and over flowed often.

All of the sinks were bowl sinks which may work in a hotel or someone else's bathroom, but not ours. They are terrible for everyday use and the kids could not even reach over them to turn on the water.  Over time the seals that connect the bowl to the granite leak and then you have another water leak.

The finished product is great and I am glad I went the route of hiring a head contractor to manage it.  We had a demolition crew, electrician, plumber, mirror men, and granite men.  It was a lot of folks for  one week but well worth it!

New Year's Resolutions

In January I set two resolutions for the new year. The first was to start using my reusable grocery bags on a consistent basis.  The second was to floss Logan and Catherine's teeth EVERY day.

1 out of 2 is not bad.  I am proud to say we have been flossing their teeth NIGHTLY for six months now and the kids are down with it.  Back in December Logan got his first cavity and I felt SO guilty.  I mean we brush, obviously, but flossing just got pushed aside some nights.  

My attempt at reusable bags has not been successful. I do use them but not on a consistent basis. They are so much easier to use as they hold a lot more and never tear but I forget them every time!

4th of July

We had a food filled fun fourth with Granny, Grandpa, Uncle Donald, Aunt Clare, Cousin Michael and Baby Laura.  Everyone flew into town on Friday and we visited at the house.  We ate Torchy’s Tacos for dinner that night and it was a hit.  How could you not like Torchy’s? 

Saturday morning we went swimming at the hotel pool.  My parents stayed at the hotel because we only have so much space at the house. It was a lot of fun to watch Logan attempt cannon balls in an effort to copy Uncle Donald and his dad.

After our swim, the boys all went to whole foods and got a little crazy. In fact, I don’t think Donald, Brian, and my dad are allowed to go by themselves ever again.  We literally had a feast with tons of left overs.  Brian and I ate like kings for the next 5 days.  We had buffalo burgers, hot dogs, pork ribs, seared wild (b/c it can’t be farmed raised with this crowd) tuna steaks, halibut, red snapper, asparagus, grilled mixed vegetables, grilled artichokes, grilled corn, baked beans, potato salad, and a spinach salad with strawberries, pecans, and a homemade vinaigrette. 

I was so proud of Catherine because she turned down the typical kid favorite hot dog, and instead ate red snapper, tuna, and about 6 ribs.  She also ate all of the vegetables.  She is definitely my daughter.  She loves to eat and I am told that when I was 3 I was the exact same way.

Later in the day the kids played in the yard with the sprinklers and water squirters. I took my parents to 5pm mass at St. Rose and we enjoyed the homily from our new priest Fr. Rafael.

It was a fun weekend and I am so thankful that the Dawson Clan traveled to Houston to share it with us. I know they don’t like to leave New Orleans often!  Just kidding!!

Blueberry Pie

This is hands down the easiest pie you could ever make.  You can substitute blueberries for any berry. I only use 1/2 the sugar. I normally do a weave but we were patriotic today.

2 9in frozen pie crust

3 cups fresh berries

2/3 to 1 cup sugar

2 tbls cornstarch

1Tbps butter

Put berries in pie crust.  Mix sugar, cornstarch, and a dash salt and sprinkle over berries. Dot with butter.  Weave 2nd pie crust on top.  Bake at 400 for 40-50 minutes.

Let pie completely cool before serving.

HFM

A favorite destination this summer is the play area at the Houston Fire Museum. We dress up in fire proof gear, drive a fire truck to a burning house, and save ALL of the stuffed animals that were in harms way.

The museum was originally Fire Station No. 7, the first fire station built by the Houston Fire Department after it went fully paid in 1895.  It was built in 1898 at 2403 Milam in midtown. Sometime in the 80s it was completely renovated and became the museum.  It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is one of our favorite ways to spend a hot afternoon.