Sunday, November 30, 2014

Lakehouse: Kapalkas Work Vacation

Nancy and Ron came to visit for Thanksgiving, see the new house... and help work!


Stephen's very first project for the house was to deal with the terrifying driveway. It seems the alley kept growing taller, so pulling into the driveway felt dangerous, occasionally with one wheel in the air. Stephen bought truckloads of gravel (two different grades) and rented an excavator from the job site.


Ginger and Nancy spent the week painting the two mostly brightly colored rooms- the dark burgundy master bedroom and the gold yellow dressing room. A new neutral green is much more calming.
 

 Ron worked outdoors, cutting down some vines and bushes that were trying to taking over the house.



We visited the Seymour Botanical Conservatory in Wright Park. We've long admired the lovely dome outside, and were glad to see inside. They had special exhibits and plants for Christmas, plus a hot cocoa bar that more than covered the $3 admission.


Ron and Nancy helped with an InterVarsity dinner party- make your own pizza night


Fun chatting and encouraging college students.


We spent a short day in Seattle to see the sights after a week of hard work. Ron and Nancy last visited Seattle in 1997, when Ginger was going into 6th grade.


Thanks for a wonderful visit!

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Lakehouse: Texas: Zach + Anna Wedding and Austin

Texas: Zach + Anna Wedding

We took another BIIIIG Texas Trip in the fall, about two weeks long. Still not enough time to fit in everything! A week in Dallas and a week in Austin.

Ginger was so happy to see Jenna, who drove down from Jacksboro for a couple hours. She is driving trucks in the oil fields to save money for grad school.


We had dinner with Michelle and met her baby, Evelyn.


 Nancy and Evelyn had similarily colored outfits. Michelle's friend made her some tutu's- since no pink is Michelle's rule, they came in blue, black, and purple.


Ginger spent a day with Nathaniel at the Perot Museum of History and Science


Nathaniel continues working as an electrical engineer in Ft. Worth while he pursues a Master's degree (and makes friends with ancient wolves)


Lots of our Dallas time was spent preparing for Zach's wedding. Mandy made butter-flavored cream cheese mints.


Uncle Don is the proud father of the groom. He got a lung transplant over a year ago. We are so glad he is breathing well now.


Anna, bride-to-be, invited Ginger and Mandy to her henna-themed bacholorette party. She is an ASL translator and just finished her internship in Texas after getting her degree from home in Indiana. 


Ginger got an octopus henna tattoo. These were drawn by the talented Morgan.


Mandy and Ginger felt like they were marrying off their little brother. (Anna said they helped him avoid "only child syndrome.") 


Sharon, Bill and Bid



Bobbi was emotional walking down the aisle with her son, and Anna was beautiful in a re-interpretation of her grandmother's dress.


The ceremony was in sign-language, with a translator for the hearing. Zach and Anna attend a deaf church. Waving/fluttering hands in the air is the correct method of deaf applause.


After the newlyweds headed out, Bid hosted a "cousins party," and we got to meet some relatives.



Austin Texas Visit

Ron, Nancy and Bid drove us half-way to Austin to hand us over to Rene and Honey. Our families haven't seen each other since our wedding, over five years!

We took at tour at the Dr. Pepper Museum in Waco Texas.


Our favorite part was the recently excavated well. Its water was once used in the bottling process. After it was sealed up, employees dropped bottles down it for years.


 

In Austin, we got to meet our new baby nephew, Henry.

 

 All the Austin clan are moving- the Dehlers are in their new home, Montalvos are shopping, and Wendls are under construction:


 Finley led the tour at each of the sample homes we toured-


 She was a big fan of the garden path in one beautiful backyard.


We watched Bailey play the tuba at his band concert.



We got to enjoy the fantastic Austin Tour of Homes



An exciting night at the video game parlor


Sohpie invents a new fashion statement with her winning tickets


 



Making Halloween cookies is a favorite Montalvo tradition. This may be the first time we got to do it with the whole clan. 


While looking for the their own home, Honey and Rene are living upstairs at the Dehler's house. They pulled a slideshow out of storage to look at some wonderful childhood pictures.


Enjoying hot drinks in the cool fall weather.


 Finding our favorite Dr. Suess art at Art on 5th.