Week 4 (& another birthday!)

So Wednesday was Matt's birthday.  We got him an RC Helicopter that was bought off Amazon.....it was only when it arrived we realised it had a rotor diameter of 26 inches!  We'd assumed it was a dinky little one for flying around the house.  Needless to say Matt seems pretty chuffed with his new toy.

Christen, Jameson and their two kids Jake and new-born Riley came over on Wednesday night to help us celebrate and eat pizza.  But not before taking Laura to the golf club to show everyone how it's done on the driving range!

On Friday Melissa's mum, step dad and sister's family came round to celebrate.

Saturday rolled round and Laura and I had an enjoyable day cruising around the area not doing much in particular.  We went and played disc golf (like normal golf but you use a frisbee instead of a ball and club) at the local park.  It was really good fun although I've since learnt that there is a more serious side to the sport - having been back and seen some people taking run ups!

Unfortunately Laura's skills were not enough to win her the round!

The weather just seems to be getting better and better.  When we arrived it was high's of mid-80's (30 deg C) but it's recently cooled a little to bring temperatures back down to 20 - 25 deg C.  I've joined the local LA Fitness and taken to swimming everyday before work.  I'm into week three now though it seems to be making no difference to my waist line!  It's nice to get some exercise though.....

After our game in the park we met up with Matt and Melissa who were at Bayou Fest in La Marque.  Some of Melissa's relatives (her dad's cousins "the twins") have a BBQ cook-off team and we got invited down to eat whatever remained after the judging and see the results being announced.  They had teamed up with some other friends to enter a few different categories.  On the day they got into the final with some Pork Ribs and two different types of Brisket (a cut of beef).  In the end they walked away with 4th place overall for the Brisket.  I have to say it was all pretty amazing tasting, but some of the BBQ's had to be seen to be believed!

Everything is bigger in Texas.....especially the grills!

Amaretto filled Strawberries....

Matt and I also decided to take a trip to Texas City Dike, which is like a 4 mile break-water that you can drive along.  We got there early in the morning (7 am!) in order to get some fish....on the day we ended up getting skunked, which sucks.  It was made even worse when I managed to step in a hole and sprain my ankle (a week on and I still have some impressive bruising!).  Almost more annoying than not getting anything, we had most of our bait eaten right of the hooks!  Just furthering our frustrations with the morning.  Next time I want fish I might just go the shop.

That started out life as an approx 2" diameter crab!

The weather also turned much cooler that morning - it's the first time I've had to put on a jumper outdoors (never mind a jacket) since we arrived!  Thankfully the 'cold' weather was short lived as by about 10 am the sun was out in full force.

Sunday was our first wedding anniversary.  It was really nice to get lots of cards (along with some belated birthday cards for Laura) from people back at home.  It's great to hear from people and it was nice to know that we're still being thought of!  On the day we didn't do too much to celebrate.  We went down town (Laura's first time) and had lunch at a place called Houston's before going to the Galleria, which is a massive, very posh shopping centre.

We had our first 2 down moments of living in America though when an idiot driver (there are lots here - I promise never to complain about British drivers again!) caused us to brake hard and the only thing we bought got smashed!  The other moment was my ankle....which now was pretty swollen.  Had we been in the UK a trip to the doctor's probably would have been in order but at $150 a trip + excesses for any medication put that idea off the cards.  Rest and Ibuprofen seem to be doing a pretty good job on what is obviously not too serious an injury.