House Projects

Ed and I had some great ideas on organizing the kitchen while on our honeymoon. When we got back, we tried to build them with the Home Depot gift cards we got for wedding presents - 1 project came out really well (the shelf) and the other not so well. I didn't put up pics of the second one yet - the pantry overhaul...but as soon as we complete it and get it functional, I'll post pics of that as well! For now, here is our "Pots and Pans Shelf"

Inks Lake with Matt and Ash

Ed and I are stuck here in Houston for the holidays due to a severe lack of vacation hours (and money) and coincidentally so were Matt and Ashley! So we had Christmas dinner together (on our new China!) and then headed to Inks Lake for Matt and Ashley's first backpacking experience. I have to admit, it wasn't the most difficult of hikes, but it was beautiful weather and we were the only primitive campers there!

We had a bit of a scare when we heard a truck stuck in the dirt and then heard a gun shot...way after dark...but the LCRA rangers came to check it out and it was some illegal after-hours hunting at the "Deer Park" next door to Inks Lake.

After calming down from that, we had some fun using the long term exposure on the camera(s) and headlamps...came out with some pretty freaky photos - these are all natural - no photoshopping...

Wedding Pictures!

Our wedding pictures came in! They're awesome and we're so happy with Jason's work - Here's the website, but we'll be getting a CD with all the pics soon - let us know if you would like any of them! There are a TON of photos...if you're looking for more of an overview rather than every single pictures, feel free to check out the "Kristin's Favorites" at the bottom right of the page - that's only about 200 photos. Enojy!

Our Wedding Pics

Alaska!

I went to Alaska for the first time last week! It was amazing!! It was for work, so I was only there for a few days, but it was really awesome! I drove on ice and experienced iced windshields and saw LOTS of snow! We go back to present results in March and I'm hoping Ed can come and we can stay a few extra days! Here are some of the pictures:

Thanksgiving and Ashley's Dinner

Once we returned from Belize, we went to Christina and Paul's for a late-Thanksgiving with Christina, Paul, and Ashley. We had some great food on some awesome china and some great drinks! There was turkey and mashed potatoes and green bean casserole and ham and broccoli casserole and pie! Ed was the official photographer - so here are some pics.



This past weekend we went over to Ashley's for a delicious Italian style meal with Shrimp Scampi and veggie alfredo and tons of other pasta and sauces. Ed and I brought a bread dipping sauce made from all the herbs we collected from the garden after trimming. We had a great time with Ashley and Matt and Paul and Christina and Greg - great wine, great food and a great time! We're so lucky to have great friends that can cook! Although now we can't WAIT to have a dinner at our place on our new china!

Day 7 and 8

On our last full day at Hamanasi, we went on a Mayan Tour over near the border of Belize and Guatemala - we learned a ton from Pedro and his friend Junior all about the Mayans and their sacrificing rituals and their symbology. We stood on structures that they belive were started in 1100 BC!! One structure we saw (the royal housing) was started in 300 AD and completed in 800 AD...and to think that we put up sky scrapers in 1 year!

Here are some of the awesome pictures by Ed


We left Belize on day 8 - very sad to leave but we were very excited to see Belize from the little prop plane that took us back to Belize City! The Country is so gorgeous Here are some pics from our trip leaving -

Day 6 - Birding and Kayaking

Sorry it's taken me so long to finish this up, but our last 2.5 days at the resort were so very busy! On Day 6 we went birding...which sounds very boring, but it was a TON of fun! We saw Tucans and Colored Aracari and tons of hummingbirds and social flycatchers and seedeaters that performed a jumping dance for us - It was a blast. And with Pedro as our guide, we were always on the move! He can pick a tiny bird out from 100 feet away while driving 40 mph! This trip definitely peaked our interest in learning what birds are around us in Texas, since the Houston area is right in the migratory path between the north east and Central America. A few of the women with us on the birding trip took some very good shots with their zoom lenses - I'll post those when I get them.



After birding, we had lunch and then jumped in a Kayak for some Kayaking on the Sittee River. We saw a HUGE croc in the water, a baby one sunning, tons of iguanas and Kingfishers darting all over the waters surface. It was a nice time...although Ed and I realized that we need to take a course in how to paddle!