We got a late start this morning, thanks to a baby who slept so hard he ended up with some epic bed head.

We were so late, in fact, that I didn’t even bother to fix his hair before we went to take photos down by the bayou. It wouldn’t have mattered if I did, because the perma-scowl on his face would have messed up the photos anyway.

He was happy as long as long as someone held him, so we gave up the idea of cute matching baby photos and just threw everyone in together.

Then we tried to get one of my mom’s kids and grandkids as an Easter gift. After ten minutes of trying to get everyone to look at the camera at the same time (Birds! Butterflies! Grass! What the hell is that noise?) we just quit. I think it turned out cuter that way.

After lunch, we loaded my two biggest nephews up with Monkey and headed a couple hours north to see the latest progress on the lake house.

My uncle has been working on this house for nearly four years. He’s nearly finished with the massive lakefront property, and although the tall windows facing the water are impressive, I think it’s the little touches that are the most beautiful. He and his wife have chosen handsome woods and stones, exquisite tiles, and nifty accents with which to decorate their home.

I can’t wait until everything is done and we get to spend our first holiday together here. I’ve always loved holidays at my grandparents’ house, but we’ve more than outgrown the space, and children are beginning to run rampant over conversing adults. It’s definitely time to move the insanity to a larger venue.

Tomorrow is our last day in Texas, and I think we’ll spend it laying around, lamenting all the food we’ve eaten and trying to psych ourselves up for the long drive back home.

We sure love our family, and miss them when we’re apart, but we’re ready for the peace and quiet of home again.