~ Gibsons are We ~: We took a little trip...

Ninnie and I gathered Haley and the 4 kids and went to see Aunt Ann and Uncle John in Houston. Just like the Nashville trip, it took 9 hours instead of 7. I don't think that is too bad, considering we had such a large group and so many were kiddos! On the way there, we only made 2 stops!!! They were two well thought out stops, which is why it was a 9 hour trip and why we only had to stop twice. We stopped in Baton Rouge at a Chick-fil-A to eat, and also let the kids play in the play area for a good while. Then we stopped at the huge Texas welcome center (you know everything is bigger in Texas haha!) for a break. On the way to Florida we stopped at least 437 times, so this was a huge improvement!

At the Texas welcome center. See that huge Texas star in the background...

When we finally got to Aunt Ann and Uncle John's, we visited with them and then we went to Ihop to eat. No pictures that night!

Day 1 was a trip to the Woodland's Children's Museum, which was such a learning experience. Gage thought he would be too old, but just believe me when I say that they ALL had a blast! Here we go...

It was set up with different stations. This first one is a mini "home" that had brooms and a kitchen table, food, a sink, etc. Everything is labeled. As you can see, Lily Kate loved the broom...

She and Ella swept the front porch...

And here she is washing dishes... (I wish, maybe one day!)

And then there was a mini fire truck...

Oh, and here is Miss Lucy Cullen. At first we didn't know there was an infant play area, but she was quite happy in her stroller watching the others...

This is the market. It was probably Lily Kate's favorite, because of the buggy. She was so cute pushing it, and going to buy her fruit and veggies, and paying for them at the register!

First she had to stop at the ATM and get some cash...

Please notice she brought the broom with her!

And then she oh-so-carefully chose her fruits and veggies...

And then it was time to check out. Look at this super cute and friendly cashier, Ella!

And this station had books and dress up clothes and lots of fun props...

Lily Kate loved the buggy from the market so much that she took it with her to each station! Here she is taking her buggy in the castle with her. So cute!

Leaving the dress up station, passing the mini home, and onto the sand!

Here is Lucy Cullen again, happy and content as can be!

A few more stations... and please note the buggy is still with her!

Here was a "truck" they drove...

I have no clue who this is, but Lily Kate made him her friend!

Gage and Ella "fishing"...

And the final station was Gage's favorite, but everybody enjoyed it. It was chipped up tires that were the "dirt" and it had shovels, big trucks, dump trucks, and even buried dinosaurs!

It was a fun station but made a huge mess. So much that Lily Kate went to the mini home and got the broom to clean up! If only she did this at home...

Ninnie and Lucy Cullen found the infant area and had lots of fun...

Lucy Cullen also met a friend. His name was Liam...

Even though Lily Kate had a blast in the "big kid" section, she also had fun in the infant area. Lucky her got to enjoy both!

Day 2 was the circus, and I mean the REAL circus! It was at the Reliant Stadium (which is absolutely huge) and was so much fun. I don't have many pics because we had to park 782 miles away and once we got inside and found our seat they turned the lights off. Lily Kate loved the music and dancing. Gage and Ella loved it too. Lucy Cullen wasn't too sure about it. I think it was a little too loud for her, but she was a good sport anyway.

Of course the elephants were my favorite. They might have been Lily Kate's favorite too...

After the circus we went back to Aunt Ann's and Uncle John's. Ninnie, Aunt Ann, and Lucy Cullen rested at the house while Uncle John took the rest of us swimming. The pool at their country club is just beautiful. But again, no pics. I'm sorry, I really failed at taking pics this trip!

Uncle John took Gage and Ella riding in the golf cart. They loved it!

Our last full day in Houston was spent at the Galleria Mall. We had plans to meet my Grandma Doris and Debbie at the Rain-forest Cafe. My sneaky Aunt Ann pulled it all together and made our "lunch date" turn into a birthday party for my mother. I won't let her secret out and tell you how old she is!

The birthday girl with Aunt Ann and Uncle John...

and with Debbie and Grandma Doris...

And here are just random pics taken throughout the party...

Lily Kate loved the elephants and tigers, just like at the circus! Hay Hay and Grandma Doris took turns taking her to see them when they were active.

Ninnie got some great gifts. The best was the "old grandma" doll that Grandma Doris gave her. It sang songs, but only in Spanish!!! It was so funny, and anybody that knows Grandma Doris would understand that she got it because it was "old" and just happened to only sing in Spanish! She is hilarious!