JohnG Comes to Houston

For a whole great week, my dad came to Houston! We did all sorts of things but we mostly did a special ceramics unit with my students.

We got REALLY lucky as a lot of things were donated to us...  the clay and kiln use by Saint Thomas High School. The tools and the glaze by my brother AND my dad's time and talents (and all the numerous last minute items that we needed).

So happy!

Mackenzie working the wheel.... in heels!

Some students got messier than others.

But all of them love being in pictures!

This guy should teach classes more often!

And we even went to the art car museum.... my new obsession!

And a visit to Houston can only be complete by  riding the bull at Rebels Honky Tonk!

 

 How many of you can say you got your dad to ride a bull?

All in all it was the MOST marvelous week. I feel so lucky to have a dad that would just fly down to Houston to hang out with me and my students. Working with clay can be so many things... messy, invigorating, dusty, creative, chaotic and peaceful... we really are lucky ducks!

easter

well I survived another trip home to milwaukee. I just LOVE that place. and Tomás came too!

here are some instagrams from the weekend! 

Our Easter Dinner after the Saint Anne's Easter Vigil. We got to sit the WHOLE mass... and the vigil was only two hours!

We decorated eggs!

My uncle bill, a FANTASTIC chef, made some food!

And I hung out with my dad. 

Life is good.

new year's day celebration

Ah! 

The Niemer Family New Year's Day Celebration....

We have been having this annually, for quite some time now. Even through our Kitchen remodel. 

It all starts with my mom doing a lot of cooking... some strange decorations that we all put up... some trips to our favorite South Side grocery store "El Rey's" and a lot of wonderful family and friends!

This is my mom and dad at El Rey's. We first ate at their in store lunch place and then went shopping!

YUMMM YUMMM. My mom made this one gluten free...And doesn't it look like it could come out of a cooking magazine! Hats off to the chef!

This cake pop my mom sent me a few days after the Fiesta... I tried a new technique and it didn't go so well.... so some of them looked a little wonky.

Text message conversation.

Did you miss me? 
The Thursday before Christmas I headed back towards the midwest!

But before I got on the plane to head home this kinda funny text message exchange occurred between me and my mother...


Me: I think there might be something going on... I don't want to alarm you.
(the content of the message is irrelevant except for the fact that it is an inside joke... making fun of a time my mom reacted strangely after hearing sirens)


Peggy: Richie laughing at your text

Note Richie grew a beard!

 Me: Me laughing at the picture of Richie laughing at the text

taken in my office.... I know I am strange.

Peggy: Me laughing at the picture of you laughing at the picture of Richie laughing at your text. 

This was then followed my a picture of my dad.... who didn't think all this was as funny as we did!

Well just thought I would pass along that silliness... I will have more posts to come of Christmas, Cake Pops and New Years Day Fiesta!