TEXAS COUSINS 3/17-21/2011

 After we went to the Huston Temple we backtracked a little to Katy, TX to visit with Ann's cousins whom she had not seen in about 40 years.  This is Grant and his wife Melanie.  It was amazing how it seemed like we were old friends right off the bat.  They were gracious hosts and lovingly entertained us and visited with us for several days.  So, Cowley boys, Grant is Greg's son.  Greg was Dana's older brother.

We were immediately introduced to the real boss of the family, Major.  She was a very hospitable matron of her domain.  She even graced us with allowing us to pet her..... a little.

 After we arrived Thursday evening, we visited with Grant awhile (Melanie had gone down to their other house in Galveston, TX) Ann's other cousin from Huston (Grant's sister), Teresa and her husband Earnest showed up for a quick visit too.  We sat out on the back patio near the pool to continue our visit.

 Teresa, also was so friendly and it seemed as if we had just seen she and Earnest a couple days before.  It was very nice to regroup long lost family! 

 Earnest was also immediately loved by us and we seemed to become good friends rapidly.

 Grant and Ann and I decided to join Melanie down on Galveston Island at their other house that evening.  So after a whirlwind drive down, driving past one wreck and witnessing another happening, we arrived.  Here is the front of their house taken the next morning.

 Looking down their street, I believe this is looking Northeast.  Just like on Manhattan Island and Hawaii, I got totally turned around as to which way I was facing.  Grant was constantly correcting me as to which way we were facing or heading on the island.

 This is the street out the back of the house.  Actually it is a channel on the island.  We are facing northwest towards the mainland here.

 Friday evening Teresa and Earnest came down.  Earnest IS a fisherman.  He caught 4 "little ones" that evening right off the dock in back of the house.

 Saturday morning we went for a little tour in Grants and Melanie's boat around the residential area on the water.  It was a fun ride and tour.  Here is Ann and Melamie up front guiding us along our way.

 Captain Grant and his deckhand man the rear of the boat.

 We also spent a lot of time visiting, comparing the years apart, families, experiences and the like.  Here are L - R, Teresa, Malanie and Ann.

 Off the front upstairs deck you can see where we stored our rig while there.  We slept in a guest bedroom in the house.  The trees you see in front of the truck belong to a natural preserve that was required to be maintained in the subdivision we were in. Ann and I went for a nice walk through it one day.

 Grant and Melanie were very interested in Family History.  Here you see Ann and Grant spending several hours reviewing, comparing and discussing common ancestors.  Wayne helped Melanie establish her own e-mail account, down loaded Personal Ancestral File on her computer and did some on line and familysearch.org searching and were able to discover a lot of information on her family line.  Good fun!

One afternoon when Wayne let slip that Ann violined, Ann graced us with a command performance.

 We were well fed by Melanie's culinary skills and Grant's mastery at BBQ'ing.

We spent several days with them around their house, but we also toured the sites around the island too!  We so enjoyed our time together and hope we can see each other again before another 40 years goes by!!!!!