New York City Meets Houston

If I were enjoying 70ish degree weather, I'm not so sure that I would be willing to come to Texas, specifically Houston, to endure 100+ temperatures. (This whole business about it really being "101" but feeling like "108" is beyond me...over 100 is hot.) Anyways, one of my closest friends in the whole world decided to brave the heat and come spend a weekend with us. She actually said that the heat felt good after having rain for a month in New York City (where she lives). Kim and I met our sophomore year in college and have been friends ever since...we were suitemates in college, shared an apartment after college, and were roommates in Fort Worth while we both attended SWBTS. Now she lives (and loves it!) in New York City and the last time I saw her was in 2006 when Hudson and I went to the Big Apple to see her digs. Here's a little recap of our weekend together (suddenly the song phrase "so happy together" runs through my mind.)


This was the temperature outside our house at one point...we elected to stay inside.


Playing in Micayla's tunnel to see if she would laugh. I don't remember if Micayla laughed or not, but Kim and I did!


Eating at Gringos. Kim thought the name was comical, but the Mexican food was delicioso! (Okay, it is probably considered Tex Mex, but nevertheless, it is yummy.) (She also thought that a daycare center called "land of the little people" was just wrong.)


Micayla and Mommy enjoyed Gringos too!

I also introduced her to Pioneer Woman...though I had to explain who Pioneer Woman was, and how I "know" her...and that led to explaining about BigMama, BooMama, Kelly, Angie, and MckMama, just to name a few. I think she and Hudson believe that I am certifiable (as in crazy for following people I don't know). Anyways, we decided to try PW's "Best Chocolate Sheet Cake Ever." And here is our attempt at photographing some of the steps. (Note to self: point and shoot cameras don't really do this justice.)


Chopping nuts.




Melting butter. (Pretty self-explanatory I think.) (We weren't really consistent with taking pictures throughout the process, so just know that there were about 10 more steps to making the cake.)


Because all of a sudden, Kim is adding the vanilla to the frosting while the cake is cooking. And you didn't know that we'd already finished making the cake!


Ta da! Finished product. And it was good. Now, I have a similar recipe for something called "Texas Sheet Cake" that is quite good...Hudson said he prefers that recipe, but couldn't tell me why. Needless to say, the cake was good.


Kim also found a new friend in Tucker, who was relentless in his desire to have attention from her. Thankfully she's used to dogs and could handle his incessant need to be the center of attention when Micayla wasn't around.


Taking some down time to read....she said that her weekend was relaxing! Who knew that we could provide that? We do have a 10-month-old, you know, who isn't really the "relaxed" kind.


We know she came to see us, but she really came to meet Micayla. And they enjoyed playing together a bunch!


Building a tower together. I'm not sure which one of them had more fun...maybe Kim?






Together again! Love you friend! Hoping that we don't have to wait 3 more years to see each other....