Visiting Kids, part deux

Brad and Nicole--Mike's two oldest children--have been here for a week. We've gone more places with them than we did with the younger girls.

On the way home from the airport, we stopped at the new outlet mall. We had dinner at a Mexican restaurant near our house. I took Nicole vintage and consignment shopping before going to the salon for her first ever pedicure--very girly. We had a belated Christmas with presents for the kids from us and their Grandma Sue.

Mike took the kids on a drive-thru tour of Reynosa. We shopped in downtown McAllen, which is almost like going to Mexico minus border guards/homeland security. Nicole found a Jesus on a cross on an anchor she couldn't live without and is also going home with a pair of Texas-issue footwear from the Boot Jack.

Brad wowed us with his drumwork at the local Guitar Center. He's also a great orange picker and we enjoyed the juice of his labors. He and Mike caught up on their vacation sports watching, including the embarrassing trouncing of the OSU Buckeyes by Florida.

PK was disconcerted by more new people in the house. Brad and Nicole had been briefed about the cat before their arrival. They alternated between befriending and teasing poor PK, answering his agitated meows with their own. Sunday afternoon, PK jumped up and sat on Brad's lap. I tried to get a picture of this momentous event, but when I called to PK to get him to face the camera, he jumped down instead.

The kids did make friends with the neighbor cat, a semi-Siamese blend. His people don't give their pets much attention, so Oliver comes over to visit while we're out in the yard and naps in our rock garden. At least there's another source of kitty love.

We spent our last day heading to South Padre Island. It was warmer/less windy than our first trip. We stopped at one of the huge seashell stores with a giant reef sculpture out front and photo op sharks, dolphins and conch shells near the front door. Ah, kitsch!

We drove across the bridge and found a place to park and walk to the beach. We picked up shells for a while before heading out to find food. Ended up at the Padre Island Brewing Company for calimari with spicy dipping sauce, seafood ceviche salsa, and other pub fare. Nicole and I conked out on the drive home while the menfolk listened to the game.

After a morning of errands, leisurely breakfasting and fine televised entertainment, we'll be heading to the airport. It will be strange to have the house to ourselves again, but I think PK will be a little happier about that.