Retirement, Zoo and Father's Day, Oh my!

We had a fun filled long weekend last week. The events started with a trip to Austin to watch my Dad get recognized for his retirement at the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals annual conference. Landry loved watching Papa on the stage and on the big screen. Scott, Mariana and Audrey met us in Austin for the festivities.

Thanks Papa for all the hard work you have put in. You have truly affected the lives of thousands of teenagers and adults during your time as a teacher and administrator. Good or bad we don't know - but you have affected them! Just kidding! It was an honor being known as "Coach Hughes' daughter."

We celebrated the retirment back in San Anotnio at Dad's restaurant of choice - County Line. To see the happy man with his ribs look here.

Friday we ventured off to the San Antonio zoo. We all had a great time and here's the proof.

Landry and Audrey on the lions.

Landry with the map ready to show us where to go.

First stop - Flamingo exhibit!

Landry and Audrey checking out the HUGE snake. See it coiled up there. Imagine meeting one of those face to face. Actually - I'd rather not even imagine it!

Landry and Steve must be watching something really riveting.

Nope, just a bear that looks really miserable in the Texas heat! That was a trend that I noticed amongst the animals. Even the animals that are supposed to adapted to the heat seemed a little hot.

The zebra found the one strip of shade to stand in.

The rhino found his one shady area too!

And don't let these humans fool you. They were actually stalling in the new air conditioned hippo exhibit. Trust me, checking out the back sides of two hippos was not near as exciting as they make it look! Hippo bottoms or stalling in the AC - definitely stalling!!!

Of all the things we saw - the funniest was the neurotic ostrich who was apparently hungry. However, there was no food around, no gnats in the air - nothing. I think ostriche's are capable of having hallucinations in the hot Texas heat! Check out the video at the bottom of the blog!!!

Saturday night we went to Sarah's first birthday party. Landry had a great time playing with his cousins and Aunt Amy got to feed Sarah her first bites of ice cream! We were just bonding Beck!

We finished th weekend up with a celebration of all the father's in our lives. Happy Father's Day!

Wow - what a weekend!

I'm What???

Last night while Landry and I were laying in bed and getting him tucked in we had another one of those "deep 5 year old" conversations. We started out talking about kindergarten when Landry asked if he would see me at school. I told him no, if Mommy gets to be a teacher she will be with older kids. To which he responded "Yeah - Mommy old, Ginny old." (Mrs. Ginny was Landry's preschool teacher from January - May; and he adored her). Here's the rest of the converstaion:
ME: Well, how old are you?
L: I'm not old, I'm brand new.
ME: Oooohhh (while I ponder the brand new thing). Well how old is Mommy?
L: Mommy is "5 old" like Ginny.
ME: Ooohhhh. (Thinking OK - that's not too old.) Well how old is Daddy?
L: Daddy's not old.
ME: What? (I know he misunderstood the question). How old is Daddy?
L: NO - Daddy is not old.
ME: OK (confused and perplexed about what makes one old - I tread down the family list). Is Mimi old?
L: Yes. "19 old" (BTW - 19 is the biggest number Landry knows right now. Sorry Mimi - he said it not me).
ME: Is Papa old?
L: Yes.
ME: How old?
L: (Shaking his head in wonder) I don't know.
ME: Is Audrey old?
L: NO - Brand New.
ME: Is Tia old?
L: No.
ME: Is Uncle Scotty old?
L: Yes. "19 old"
ME: Is Grandma old?
L: (With a smile on his face that said "silly mommy") Noooooo Mommy.
ME: Is Grandpa old?
L: Yes.
ME: Who else is old?
L: Micah and Meagan are brand new.
ME: So - what makes a person old?
L: (Now with the "duh mommy" look on his face) Jesus!

Well, although no one wants to be called old, if my oldness comes from Jesus then I'll take it. AND - I'm in pretty good company (Old and Brand New alike)!

Here's an update on the job situation for Steve and I:
Steve has an interview Thursday (3:30) at Clemens High School in Schertz for a Boys Asst. position. The pluses: distance (10-15 miles away), no second sport, back to the arena of boys basketball. The cons: it's not a head job - but it is with a good program so that would be good on the resume for future years.

I have an interview on Monday morning (10:30) with a middle school in the Comal district. The job is teaching Skills for Living / Career Exploration. I looked at some textbooks online for this class and the class looks like it would be tons of fun to teach! The kids learn about their interests and aptitude and what careers they might enjoy, communication, being in the workplace, etc. I also talked to the middle school principal here in NB and that is still in the works but 85-90% chance it will happen. However, I probably won't know about this one until early to mid July due to transfers and tests, etc.

Please keep us in your prayers as we both want to be where God wants us.