Algodon Weekend 2014

My family has been participating in Algodon (spanish for cotton) festivities for many many years.  The Algodon club is an organization that hosts various events throughout the year to promote the cotton industry.  One of the main events is a ball where guests wear 100% cotton formal attire.  The evening is filled with dinner, live music, dancing and the much-anticipated announcement of the Don and Dona for the year.  This pretigious honor is granted to a couple who has contributed to the cotton industry over the years, and it's a huge secret until announced that evening.  My grandparents were selected as the Don and Dona this year so we got to be in on the secret.  We were all over the moon.  They are so deserving of this honor, and I couldn't be more proud of them.  Many of the cousins came in town from all over the country to support them and see them recognized at the ball.  We had a great weekend celebrating and enjoyed a fun, kid-free evening out.

Addie was modeling some necklace options trying to help her MiMi decide what would look best with her dress.  :)

Friday, we met some of the family for an impromptu lunch at a little Mexican food dive restaurant in town.

Addie reading books with her Uncle Cale

Cale brought me a raspa (aka..snowcone) to enjoy that afternoon.  Oh the taste of summer in the Valley....can't beat it.

Walking back from an afternoon of swimming

Too cool for school

Mom and Dad ready to head to Algodon

The hubs and I ready to party

Cody and Britt are on the board this year and were presented at the ball as well

The 2014 Don and Dona

The court all bows to the Don and Dona as they are presented

Love these two

Grandpa

Grandma

Some of the grandkids

My handsome hubby and I

Our fam (including my 35 week belly)

My beautiful momma

Weekend Adventures

At the end of May, Addie and I took a long weekend and headed to Harlingen to see the family.  I had been crazy busy at work for too long and needed a fun weekend away with my girl.  Unfortunately, Jason had to stay behind because he was still too busy to get away.  I'm not sure if it was her age or the events of the weekend, but we had the BEST time.  I would venture to say it was our best trip to the Valley thus far.  Ad and I flew down Thursday around lunch time, and she was perfect on the plane.  My mom picked us up from the airport, and we headed straight up to my grandparents house to visit and met my dad at the farm.  We hung out for a few hours before heading back to Harlingen to indulge in some Pepe's for dinner with Cale, Cody, Britt and Hayes.

Addie and Grandma

 

Friday morning, we woke up and headed down to Brownsville to the zoo.  Cody and Hayes joined us while Cale and Britt were at work.  Addie loved seeing all the animals at the zoo.  She is starting to talk soo much and would tell us what the animals were and what they say, etc.  The weather started getting HOT and very steaming just before lunch so we called it a day and went to meet Norton for lunch.  When we got home, Addie and Dad napped while Mom and I headed to Marshalls to do a little shopping.  When we got home, we took Ad to the neighbors pool to swim.  She had a blast splashing with Papaw and jumped off the side of the pool to him several times.  Cale, Cody, Britt and Hayes came over to my parents for dinner that night, and we all enjoyed a yummy spaghetti supper before turning in for the night.

We love the petting zoo

Petting the sting rays

 

Saturday morning, we got up early and headed down to the beach.  Addie had never been to the beach so I was so excited to take her.  We rented chairs and umbrellas and of course Papaw came prepared with lots of beach toys.  Ad loved seeing the "yellow boat" (the banana boat) and even got a kick out of jumping the waves with Uncle Cale.  Mom had packed a cooler with lunch so we ate under the umbrellas and just enjoyed the breeze and sound of the ocean.  The beach is my happy place, and I couldn't have asked for a better day.  Addie played so hard all morning and had the best time.  She was literally snoozing in her carseat before we made it out of the parking lot and slept the entire ride home.  We took her back to the neighbors pool late that afternoon before heading home to shower, get dressed and head to Cody and Britt's house for dinner.  Cody fried fish, and we had yummy sides and dessert.  Grandma, Grandpa, Travis, Sarah and their kiddos all joined us, and we had a great evening together.  It was the perfect end to a wonderful day. 

Hayes man

The highlight of her day....getting to sit on the yellow boat.  Uncle Cale was the hero

Just chillin on the beach eating some chips

Snoozin on the way home from the beach

Uncle Cale being a good sport and letting the girls adorn his face with stickers

 

Sunday morning we headed to church and then caught a flight back to Houston.  Addie was so exhausted from the weekend, she slept most of the plane ride home.  She was sooo excited to see her daddy when we landed.  Thanks Mom and Dad for such a fun weekend.  It was the definition of carefree summer days, and I couldn't have asked for anything better.