Last Weekend Rewind

Anaka's final weekend in Houston happened to coincide with one of our favorite neighborhood events, White Linen Night. It's a great tradition brought to the Heights by some of the residents who relocated here permanently after evacuating New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. While WLN events go on all over the neighborhood, we stuck to the main drag near our house, Studewood. It was hot as blazes but we still walked and enjoyed being outside and taking part in all the comings-and-goings in the 'hood.

We started with dinner at The Big Mamou. They have one of the larger parking lots on the street, so there was a lot of hustle and bustle with vendors and artists and music. They are also across from a little shop called OoLaLa, which is a big draw for suburbanites or people who don't come up this way often.

Ray enjoying the shade of the patio; Anaka and Mathis decide on some fried goodness

It was nice to be outside, believe it or not!

The scene in the parking lot; Amy and David came over from the west side to hang out

Truitt was enthralled, especially with all the live music

Uncle and Niece; Mathis showing off his cuteness

Make yourself in to a crawfish! LOL

Ray- always 1st in line at the beer tent

Some kinda crazy jug band down at Antidote; Truitt was mesmerized

Amy and Truitt tripped the lights fantastic...

...while Mathis just sacked out

Sunday it was finally time for Anaka to leave us. Saaaaaad!!! We didn't do much- had some breakfast and hung out. Went to Target. You know- typical stuff. The big deal on Sunday was that Anaka was going to FLY home by herself. It was to be her 1st time flying alone but we weren't worried. She is very smart and mature.

When they got to the airport, Ray was able to get a pass to walk her to her gate so it was easy as pie. She made it home to Austin safe and sound and we miss her already!

One thing we always do when Anaka is here is go to Picture People and get some photos taken. Well, for reasons I won't go in to, it didn't happen this year (stupid Picture People) so instead Anaka and Mathis had a little photo op on the front porch...

Lots of kisses and squishy faces