first picture in texas.
For my first meal in Texas I wanted nothing more than a delicious margarita and a Mexican food feast (the only drawback to Germany is it's lack of Mexican food, this Texan experienced serious withdrawals). So Mom, Dad, Granny, Erin, Lesley, Laura (future sister-in-law, yay!), and I all headed to Gringo's. Gringo's is easily the most popular Mexican restaurant in Pearland, TX, in my opinion it is because of their AMAZING margaritas and green sauce. Heavenly. It was crowded when we got there, so we grabbed a table in the bar and got margaritas while we waited for our table. Have you ever eaten in a packed restaurant and wanted nothing more than to enjoy your meal in peace, but one table was making so much noise it was just distracting? Well that was my family. Between our humorous nature and their extreme excitement to see me, we were a wild loud group. Classic Schlothauers.
my sisters should be professional photo bombers.
seriously, they have skills.
me and the best margarita in texas.
gotta rep the red, white, and blue.
The next day I headed to Austin for the weekend with My best friend, S, her husband, R, another best friend, A, and her boyfriend, D, for the wedding of another best friend Sky. Lots of information, I know. By the time we made it to Austin, it was time to get ready for the rehearsal dinner. It was great to see Sky, A, and S; it was our first time all being together since S & R's wedding back in June! After the rehearsal dinner, S, R, A, D, and I headed out to 6th street, the bar/club district in downtown Austin. It was so much fun to spend time with my best friends, I had missed them so much!! We weren't from the area, so guessing which bars were good was kind of like playing roulette. My favorite was a dueling piano bar, and my least favorite was a pirate themed bar (the next day we told Sky about it and she and the other Austin-ites had a good laugh at our expense). All in all it was a great night that included lots of singing, dancing, and drinking and ended with a walk home in the pouring rain. Definitely memorable.
The next morning A and I went for burgers (not only a great hangover cure, but burgers were on my list of food to eat while in Texas). It was great to catch up with A and enjoy a delicious meal at the same time! Then it was time to head back to the hotel and gather up our stuff to go get ready for Sky & J's wedding!! The wedding was so beautiful because not only was Sky a GORGEOUS bride, but the ceremony was so sweet and you could just see the love between Sky & J; breathtaking.
The reception was equally fabulous! Not only was the food delicious (our table loved the crab cakes, lamb lollipops, and mac n' cheese bar), it was just an overall good time. Our table was so much fun, I laughed so much I didn't need to workout for a week. Don't believe me? You should see the wedding photography, every single picture of our table shows us cracking up laughing...except for the one that caught me threatening A with physical violence, oops. After Sky & J's exit, the party moved down the block to Rebel's, the country dance hall where Sky & J met, for drinks and dancing and an all around good time.
To round out our perfect weekend trip to Austin, I stopped with A & D at Kerbey Lane for some famous Kerbey queso (if you have never been, I highly recommend it next time you are in Austin. It's the best queso, ever). After that it was on the road back to Houston to catch the Superbowl! Great American ending to a great American weekend!
best friends with the beautiful bride!
Lucky for me, my mom doesn't work on Mondays AND she took off work on Tuesday, so we got to spend two days together. We didn't really do anything special (except for our delicious lunch at Cafe Adobe, mmmmm, Mexican food) but it was just great to spend some quality time with my mommy! :) On Tuesday I had to get fitted for my bridesmaids dress for David and Laura's wedding which meant that I had to get shoes for said dress altering. While shoe shopping, I stopped by my favorite store at the mall and got to see (almost) all of my favorite former coworkers, yay! I worked there for almost 3 years before moving to Germany, so I consider them my coworkers and friends and I've definitely missed them! Hopefully they feel the same and will offer me a job again once I'm living back in Texas! Wedding shoes - check! Dress altered - check! Eat more Mexican food - check! Spend quality time with Momma bear during the days and sisters at night - check!
Then on Wednesday, my very dear friend, S, took off work to spend the day with me. I'm just too lucky! We got to spend some one on one time catching up and running around town shopping, perfect best friend day! Then when my sisters got out of school, we met all met up for...you guessed it, Mexican food! The only thing S and I love more than spending time together is spending time together while drinking margaritas. True friendship. Then we headed back home to do the only reasonable thing four 16-22 year olds would do; build a gingerbread house. What actually happened is Momma bear bought a gingerbread village for my sisters, but they realized they can't make it without me. Not that they didn't want to out of courtesy, but they can't, they are incapable. Good thing they are pretty, otherwise I would worry about them...
we're practically twins
yes, we made a gingerbread house in february.
because we're cool like that.
I woke up VERY early the next morning to head to Hobby airport for a very early flight to head to Mississippi with Laura. My brother picked us up from the airport, but he had class, so Laura and I got to spend the day together (and I got to drive his fancy new truck! Don't worry Mom, I didn't crash or get a ticket). We ended up going to the MAC counter at the mall and we got our makeup done. It was so much fun; I hadn't gotten my makeup professionally done since prom! Then we went and had yummy seafood and Coronaritas for dinner at Shaggy's. I tried oysters and was surprised how much I enjoyed them (I kinda cheated though, they were cooked).
Then on Friday David had a short class and Laura and I just had a lazy day before we went to his graduation ceremony. It was so great to get the chance to support David at his graduation; I'm one proud sister, that is for sure! After the ceremony we had planned to stop by the house of one of the guys in his class for a bit before heading to a some bars. But then the "little get-together" turned into a full on house party with cheap beer and drinking games and we stayed all night. I personally enjoyed myself, it was great to have a fun, chill night and just spend time with David and Laura!
Saturday was another lazy day which probably sounds boring, but I was so exhausted from going, going, going and my body still wasn't fully adjusted to the timezone. We got lunch and ran some errands before packing up and heading to the airport. I was totally fine with leaving David for another 5 months, but then when I hugged him I totally started crying. Anyone that saw us must have been VERY confused. The three of us got out of the truck and David hugged and kissed Laura, then he hugged me and I started crying like a baby and I wouldn't let go. Totally weird and embarrassing. Hahaha.
and then david made this face.
why do they ruin such good photos?!
my big brother. i'm so proud of him.
don't mind me, i'm just going to steal this as a keepsake.
After a quick flight back to Houston, Dad and I took Laura home and then stopped at one of my favorite mexican food restaurants to get food for one last meal before I headed back to the "Land of No Mexican Food" aka Germany. So I enjoyed taquitos, southwest eggrolls, enchiladas, and LOTS of green sauce. Yummy! Then my sisters did what we do on a typical Saturday night; we put on our matching footed onesie pajamas and took some awesome self portraits. Then we watched our favorite movie (that we happen to have all the words memorized to), The Wedding Date, and had a sleepover in the den. "Ladies, that was a top noight! Top noight!"
i think this picture is probably one of my favorite pictures we've ever taken.
all of us rocking the duckface. not planned.
The next morning I actually ended up getting really sick, like food poisoning sick, but since my ticket was bought from one of those travel sites it was non-returnable, non-transferable, non-exchangeable. So I spent the morning packing and trying to sleep off my bug, luckily I started to feel a bit better by the time my flight was boarding. Mom, Dad and Erin stayed with me until I went through security and I am proud to say I didn't cry like a baby leaving Houston like I did when I left Mississippi. I almost did when I said bye to my Dad, but I stayed strong! Plus, I knew I would hear from my dad soon via Skype or text about my lack of play on our Words With Friends game, he's such a pest! (Just kidding, I love you)!
All in all, it was a great trip home. Every moment was filled with family and friends and people I care so much about. It was exactly what I needed to cure the winter blues! My next trip home in July will be a bit longer and give me the chance to see more friends and family, so get ready people! Pencil me in now because, let's be honest, you know you want to see me!
