Texas Junk Co.

Angela and I spent most of the day Saturday together... brunching and shopping... so fun! The absolute highlight of the day was our visit to Houston's own "Texas Junk Company." While it mainly is just a big building full of junk, the draw is the 1000 pairs of used cowboy boots on sale at any given time. Check out the TJC in Lucky Magazine: Texas Junk Co

Angela and I spent over 2 hours searching for "the perfect pair" of cowboy boots. We both came away with two perfect pairs... imagine that. I think we did a pretty good job. I credit my brown ones to Angela who found them and was going to get them for herself, but when she saw that I really liked them and that they fit me perfectly, she handed them over. Is that a good friend or what??? You don't know what kind of friend you have until they give you the boots off their feet!

Here Lillie is modeling a good country dog... note one of Angela's new two-toned ostrich boots. So cool.

Memo from the CPO

As the CPO = Chief Picture Officer of this blogging operation, I feel it is my duty to update you on the following change in equipment.
Well, I have recently had the need for yet another camera upgrade. It seems my last Olympus does not sustain blunt trauma very well. While a few tears were shed, I have been blessed with a new, and improved, Olympus Stylus 1010. It has got a few more features like face detection, panoramic pictures, and a few more mega-pixels. It think it is almost my friend... we had some bonding time most of the day on Saturday. So, as avid readers, I thought you all would like to know where most of your documentation is coming from.
And for those of you who are wondering... yes, it still fits in my holster!

SBS 10 Year!

This past weekend was Bryant's 10 year high school reunion. Aside from the actual reunion on Saturday night, we went to an Astro's game on Friday night and Bryant played golf with friends on Saturday morning. The actual reunion was very fun and it was great to see/meet all of those Second Baptist Eagles. My Saturday also marked my own reunion! Angela and I had the joy of attending Knox Holton's 1st Birthday Party... poolside at the Houston Country Club. Knox knows how to throw a serious get-together. OK, so here are the connections:

Knox: the baby

Kelly Clanton Holton: my friend from Ozark, roommate in NYC, mom of Knox, also went to high school with Bryant

Michael Holton: my friend from Ozark (since we were 8), husband of Kelly, father of Knox

Angela Torn: roommate of Kelly and me in NYC, also friends with Michael
Other friends at the pool included the Clanton's (Kay Kay and Oscar), my camp friend Shannon Richardson (also a HS classmate of Bryant's), and many more Knox supporters!!!

It was so great to finally meet Knox, after one whole year. And Angela and I equipped him for his Colorado hikes with a set of camo shoes... so cute!

The Dollins

Please allow me to introduce you to the Dollins: Beau, Pam, Hallie, Maverick, and Heston (and Rudy the dog).

Bryant is long time friends with Beau from high school. Beau and Pam were married two weeks after Bryant and I started dating back in 2001. Since then, they have made some incredible additions to the family... I spent an entire day playing with the Dollins crew this week and it was the best. We were very busy with swim lessons, Chick Filet is Open! (Mav will let you know when it is closed on Sundays), princess costumes, and a new game... hide and seek with Ida. Basset Hounds can be stealthy. While I like to believe that I was the highlight of the day, I have no doubt that Ida was the hit. Heston even responded with "Ida" as his very first "Heston, can you say _______" words! It has been such a treat to get to know their amazing kiddos a little better. You guys really are so great! What fun we have had this summer!

The Birthday Continues...

Bryant's 2-week long birthday celebration (eat your heart out cast of "the hills") continued with his Houston fan club. It was a fun Sunday brunch at Cyclone Anaya's!

In attendence: The Great Stephan Shaw, Trisha and Jim Zucker, Angela Torn, The Dollins Crew: Hallie, Pam Heston, Maverick, and Beau, Sarah and Bryant Lee, Kathy and Barry Lee.

And then there was the waitress who tried to spoon feed Bryant his birthday cake... Awesome!

For dinner I drove Bryant out to College Station, TX to eat at La Bodega--- one of our favorite date spots back when young/crazy college kids in love (cue Trisha Yearwood)!

And many thanks to Brandt Leibe for his help with Bryant's birthday presents... 100 year old maps of New York and Arkansas (2 states where we've lived).

Happy 7 years of dating Bryant!

Girls Night Out

I recently had the pleasure of spending a couple of nights with the girls. Angela, Bryant, and Erick were in Austin on a "a very important business retreat," so I stayed at Angela's with a few of my friends.

Those in attendance:
Ida: needs no introduction
Lillie: Angela's yellow lab
Mocha: Lillie and Angela's canine housemate
Ellie: Our friend Erick's golden retriever

Please note the following sleeping arrangements- yes, i slept in the bed too.
We did all the usual stuff such as walks and eating (though we did need to quarantine each dog so no fights broke out over stolen kernels). Aside from that, we did all that one does at a slumber party... chick flicks, occasional romping, and sleeping late. The movies of choice: Wimbledon, Princess Diaries 2, Bridget Jones The Edge of Reason, and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

Needless to say, by the end of each day, we were pretty wiped out!

Weimar

On Bryant's actual birthday, we made our way out to Wiemar, TX to visit Paw Paw and Jean. We spent the day eating BBQ, feeding deer, playing screw your neighbor, and riding in the trailer as Paw Paw pulled us with his tractor. We had such a great time catching up and enjoying the ranch.

The whole crew
Kristi and David... aren't they cute.

The deer were not afraid of a little close proximity.

Tractors: very useful and great for photo ops.

Yes, these are all daddy-long-legs spiders. Seriously?

Bryant and I on our tractor tour

And here is Paw Paw with a little bit of "Ranch History 101"

Happy Birthday America! --- and Bryant

This July 4th marked the First Annual Lee Family 4th of July Picnic. Kathy and I rallied the troops and restricted all "why are we eating outside in the middle of the summer in Houston, TX" comments. The day was a total success! The spread included deviled eggs (for Sarie), cheese and crackers, fruit salad, and Wacamole. For dessert I made a kickin' bourbon pecan pie with homemade whip cream! Yummers. Paula Dean really is the master--- here is a link to the recipe i used for our Bourbon Pecan Pie.Activities:

1. Wiffle Ball (who knew it was spelled like that?) --- and Ida was the wiffle ball winner!

2. Egg Toss- Congratulations to our reigning champions, Kristi and David!

3. Helmet Wearing- yes, I was the only one partaking in this activity.

4. Frisbee- and retrieving Sarah's rogue Frisbees from the neighbors' yards.

5. Swimming- no pool, no problem... is breaking and entering frowned upon on our nations birthday?

Needless to say, the First Annual Lee Family 4th of July Picnic was a success!

We concluded our day with an amazing dinner at Perry's Steakhouse for Bryant's birthday.

Robert Keen! Robert Keen!

A couple of weeks ago, we joined the Zucker/Hanks crew at the Sam Houston racetrack for a race or two and the Robert Earl Keen concert. It was a surpsingly breezy and cool night, so we enjoyed the great company and a little texas country music!

We did catch a couple of races...

Tricia's dad, Jim Hanks was in town for the weekend and it was great to catch up with him a little.

We also had the unending pleasure of hanging out with our friend Stephan Shaw.

Overall is was a great concert and great, great summer evening in Texas!

HBB!

Happy Birthday Bryant!!!
I love you!

Ida and Friends

Some might think that Ida has had a rough time recently--- 3 city's, airplane rides, leaving Grumps. But the truth is that Miss Ida May has had a pretty good summer so far. So meet Ida's friends that get her through each day:

Lillie Torn and Mocha:

These 3 play every Tuesday and Thursday and Ida even spends the night every once and a while! Lillie and Ida have been best friends since they were pups!

Chester Blackman:

Chester is a new friend and they are the perfect height for eachother! Chester has a new baby (Audrey) in his apartment so he likes to give Ida "nanny lessons."

Roo Mendl:

Even though Roo looks small, he packs a punch and has mastered the "ear-grab-and tug" move. And when nobody is watching, they are pretty good friends!

Madison Zucker:

Ida and Madison have been pen pals since they were puppies--- often sending eachother treats and toys in the mail. They finally got to meet for the first time. Madison is slowly warming up to the idea of Ida being in her house every now and then this summer!

When Ida is relaxing from her endless friend visits, she has claimed a few favorite spots around the Lee's house. Her #1 nap place is in the sunshine spot created from the skylights in the den.

Day of the Dad

Happy belated father's day!

Bryant, Ida, and I drove back to Dallas for the festivities. Mom was even back in town. The whole Langbein crew was together for the first time in a very long time! We had a kickin' dinner Saturday night at S&D Oyster Bar (pronounced "OWSHTER" if you are Steve Langbein)!

This father's day was extra special as it was my boy-cousin Rusty's first father's day. Perry even requested matching outfits for the occasion! Happy first father's day Rus!
The Langbein/Edgar clan (minus Carly-- we missed you Carls) had lunch at the Langbeins--- and it was surprisingly G-rated... I am guessing mainly because of the 10-month-old in attendance.
After lunch we got all of the Dad's together to spell out D-A-D.... apparently this was quite a difficult task for mere dad's to handle.

And here are all the fathers/daughters/sons of the day! Ames, Stevie, Sarie, Bubba, LeeLee, Rus and Bruiser.

The Houston celebration continued later on in the week...
Kathy and Barry returned from Colorado on Tuesday and we had a belated father's day celebration! I took over the kitchen---- artichoke dip, pot roast, and chocolate cake! How can you go wrong? Barry cleaned up on the gifts... He even scored a "Barry Bagels" shirt, direct from their Toledo, Ohio headquarters.