first official day of summer

It's been a long time since I've been able to just relax over on "this" side of town (the west side of Houston, where I grew up), without having to drive all the way back to our home in Friendswood -- it's about a 1-hour commute. On the list of positives that I'm trying to focus on with our looming deployment rapidly approaching, is being able to live and work in the area where I grew up, with the peole I love.

Yesterday, I kicked it all off with Mom. We hung out, shopped, and were in absolutely no hurry to be anywhere or do anything -- it was great. I told her that I felt like I was on vacation!

We started our day out with a [much-needed!] manicure and pedicure -- hot rocks and all. Then we drove out to a new teacher supply place and stocked up on a bunch of fun goodies (including a new fire fighter outfit for Aidan!). Then we stopped in Blue Willow, a great independent book store in Houston, to visit with B -- my dear friend and fellow book junkie. It was fun to just wander from place to place!

Next we headed over to Liebman's Wine and Fine Foods for some wine tasting (and way too much wine purchasing!). Then we rounded things out with a shower gift at Baby Gap and a trip to the Aveda salon to replenish my supply of Firmata and Confixor.

My first official day of summer vacation ended with a yummy dinner at Taste of Texas with Mom, Ty and Aidan. How bad can sharing a porterhouse with the guy you love be? Although, I will say that navigating the salad bar with a 2-year-old in my arms proved to be rather challenging.

Finally ... the cherry on the top of my perfect day ... my Fightin' Texas Aggies KILLED the University of Houston on the baseball diamond in Regional play, 22-4. Yep. That was the final score.

It was a pretty darn good day.