Rainy day play

It was raining without thundering so Clara asked to play outside. Much in the manner of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, if you let my children play outside, they will ask for a popsicle. After splashing in puddles and eating popsicles, they will get cold and ask to come inside.

When they get inside, they will ask for a warm bath. Being in the warm bath will remind them of playing in the pool, so they will leave on their swimsuits.

Wearing swimsuits will remind them of playing outside, so chances are, they will ask for another popsicle!

6/22/11

The End!

Popsicle Princess

6/18/11

Grammy arrives

6/8/11

Grammy came into town to get acquainted with south Houston and we got to pick her up from the airport!  Our tradition is to pick her up after her early flight (the first flight of the day is the best for standby travel!) and head to breakfast and rocking chair riding at Cracker Barrel!

That evening we met Grampy – and his Texas-sized pick-up truck – at the ‘fountain restaurant’ to drop Grammy off.

Just peeking in

6/7/11

We made plans to go to the beach one day with friends while both of our daddies were on business trips.  We loaded up all four car seats ready for our sandy adventure and were about 20 minutes away from Galveston when rain drops started splattering on our wind shield. We kept hoping that the rain would stop, so we drove onto the beach and gave the kids snacks to eat in the car.  A look at the radar on Kacey’s iPhone, however, showed another cell heading straight for the island. So, promising that we would return to the beach, we backtracked to Moody Gardens and went to the Rainforest Pyramid.  The kids loved watching the otters and ran off some energy, nearly falling into koi ponds several times.  After the rainforest, we enjoyed a great lunch at Mosquito Café and picked up treats across the street at PattyCakes Bakery.  Finally we drove back to the beach, where the kids played hard.  The late afternoon was the perfect time for our little fair-skinned brood to be frolicking in the water and sand – we relied on their rash guards to protect them and no one got burnt! Our drive home was very quiet as one by one they all nodded off!

Raise your toe if you know the answer -

Who is the cutest baby girl?

6/6/11

Memorial Day

5/30/11

Memorial Day was a wonderful family day.  We started the morning with our ‘special day’ breakfast of Dunkin’ Donuts and then went blueberry picking.  The farm was having a special event because of the holiday, so the girls got to see a pony and rabbits.  Elisabeth loved the rabbits and would follow them as they moved around the pen. We stopped at Walmart and picked up a kiddie pool on the way home, which has been a hit for the entire summer.  I had actually gone to pick one up earlier, but the one that I purchased would not fit in the trunk.  The family parked next to me tried to help me maneuver it into the trunk and then helped me carry it back to the garden center.  This episode made such an impression on Clara that she still talks about the pool that did not fit into our trunk! That evening Nathan and I also had the opportunity to go on an anniversary date.  5 years!  It is hard to believe how time has flown by!  We enjoyed a special meal at Taste of Texas – a place we have been told to visit since we moved here!  Better late than never!

The Fountain Restaurant

My dad started a new job just south of Houston, so we have been fortunate to see him weekly or so. We have been meeting for dinner about half-way and the establishment of choice, for the girls at least, is the ‘fountain restaurant’, Goode Company Taqueria.  We make sure to bring plenty of change to donate!

5/25/11

Blackberry picking

5/25/11

We picked berries again this spring – blackberries are much easier than blueberries! I had to explain to Clara that the red berries were un-ripened blackberries, not raspberries, and I promised that we would be able to pick raspberries when we moved to Chicago!  Elisabeth did not quite get the picture and puckered-up with some of her sampling selections!

A red-letter day!

Clara wrote ‘Tulip’ after we talked about how to spell it.

5/21/11

Daddy took the girls to the carousel!

(Clara is searching for her token.)

Ah-dee!

05/21/11

Both of our girls have lifted their hands above their head to signal ‘All done!’

A brother or a sister?

05/18/11 – We brought the girls to the ultrasound and the technician told Clara that she would tell Clara the ‘secret’ and then Clara could tell us if she was going to have a brother or a sister.  So the tech whispered in her ear and we predictably asked, ‘Clara, what is the baby?’  She responded, ‘A brother or a sister.’  The second time, we did get a clear response – we are having a boy!

On a side note, Clara asked me why they were changing my diaper when I was lying on the examination table for the ultrasound!

Pudding Finger Paint

Beginning…

Middle…

End!

05/11/11

Michigan for Mother’s Day

^05/07/11

Grandma’s back yard and Tulip Time in Holland, Michigan

There is nothing that compares to the blossoming of Spring, and the flowers delighted both of the girls.  Clara was so excited to hear that there was a tulip festival and Nathan’s Aunt Carol was kind enough to lend the girls Dutch costumes to wear to it.  They looked very authentic and were repeatedly asked for photo-ops!  Clara, however, had no interest in being a model and Elisabeth didn’t quite get the idea, though I have a feeling her personality will eventually develop into more of a performer! 

They both enjoyed watching the Klompen-dancing and Clara almost ran out into the street to join the performers.  I don’t think they have any Kinder-Klompen in Houston!

Attempts at a picture with Grandpa and Grandma

 

05/08/11

Our precious baby girl!