Trip to Las Cruces

Alex and I were excited to be able to make a trip to see Grandma Sandy, Grandpa Roger and Great Grandpa Al. Jay was able to join us for the weekend. Phil and Diana also made the trip down for the weekend. Alex loved hanging out with his family and seeing all the wildlife in Grandma's backyard, fish, toads, bunnies, not to mention the dogs!! Alex was a gem on the plane and had all our seat neighbours in stitches with his goofy laugh and all his other antics. He was in awe of all the planes and people. He hadn't been on a plane in a few months so it was like it was new to him. I don't think I needed any of the toys I brought with me for entertainment, just looking out the window, talking to other passengers, and drinking his special drink the flight attendant brought him was plenty!!

Goodbye Cassie

Two of Alex's best friends are moving to Colorado. Of course Alex has no clue what's going on but I am very sad to lose their mom as a good friend. We hosted a going away party for them at our house. We turned it into a water playdate. This is a picture of Alex is his swimming trunks.

My New Trike

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Isn't This Beautiful

This was written by an AustinMaMa embarking on an incredible journey very shortly-I love her words to her children.



We're standing on a cusp right now, looking forward to the journey of a lifetime.
Someday, much sooner that I can imagine, you will be grown...leaving for journeys of your own, and we will be looking back to this one.

My sweet babies, I want you to know that you are my raison d'etre.
It is all for you.
Sometimes I feel as though I could dissolve into nothing more than the love I feel for you. My heart swells with such power at your smiles, joy, tears, questions....
I survive on your happiness, wonderment and beautiful presence.

It's all for you. When I have dreams of the future, they're always of you...saucer-wide eyes staring up at the redwoods, squeals of delight bouncing across the cold water of a creek, hushed whispering questions while fingers point in a museum...warm, toasty bodies snuggling up for one more chapter...pleeease.

Each time I step outside my box, in the face of misunderstanding eyes, to inquire about the chickens these eggs came from...."they're for my children...I just have to ask..."
Each time I stand up for our rights...hoping that you'll understand that you can too...

My heart beats in time with yours and I know that your's is in time with mine. When I seek joy for myself it is also to seek joy for you...to show you that there is something more to this life...that you can be as full of wonder, peace and happiness as an adult, as you are as a child.
I hope to lead you, seamlessly, and whole, into your future and the place from which you will soar...high above, but always, always in my heart.

I hope that when all is said and done, and I am but a memory to you, that I will exist within you as the knowledge of love.

I love you.
Always.

Library Time

Every Thursday we go to the library to listen to Ms. Kathleen read stories. This is a picture of Alex at the library coloring after the stories. Alex really loves books right now, especially pulling them all off the shelf. We were surprised when we got home today by a package from Grandma Sandy. In it there were books for Alex. Runny Babbit and another Shel Silverstein book called Don't Bump the Glump. Tonight he insisted on reading Peek-a-Boo Zoo and Where's That Cat so we will have to read our new ones tomorrow. Thanks Grandma!!

Alex likes to Play a Little Dress Up Before Bedtime

A Video

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Tiger Lillies

Take Me Out to the Ball Park!!

The Big Dig

Austin Zoo

Today we went to the Austin Zoo with our playgroup.  It could not have been further from my house and still in Austin!!  What a drive, but it was so worth it.  It was a rescue zoo totally supported by donations.  It was very rustic and a little hard on the stroller but very shady and naturally done.  Alex is still afraid but fascinated by the goats which he got to feed.  It was a wonderful day and we can't wait to go back with Daddy.

Whhhhhhaaaaattttt??

Filling up is starting to really make me sick.  At least my little Jetta gets awesome mileage, Jay's beast not so much-ouch!!!  

Now That's A Worm

We had a huge storm here last night.  It was quite scary, even for me who weathered (excuse the pun) some good storms in New Mexico.  It even woke Alex up which is hard to do, except when it's 5 in the morning.  There were apparently tornadoes touching down so I was on alert to head to the downstairs bathroom ( no exterior walls) with Alex's mattress if the town siren went off.  Wait a second-our town has a siren-I guess so.  Don't ask me how I was supposed to wrangle a baby and a mattress down the stairs and into a tiny bathroom in the middle of the night, but alas it missed us.  The storm left behind lots of fun stuff in our backyard including this giant worm that we only found because we saw the earth move.  I tell ya, there is nothing like a toddler to get you down on your hands and knees in the dirt looking for snails and worms.  He opens my eyes everyday and shows me a whole new world through his eyes.

Too Cool!!

And I wonder why I need new sunglasses.

Artist in the Nude

This is Alex on the kitchen floor drawing on the "big" paper, lately one of his favorite activities.  We have recently banned the markers after we got a preview of his work on some of our walls.  Unfortunately it was done with the only markers I have that are not washable.

Could This Be It

No, this was just a stimulus check teaser!!  

My Mother's Day

Since Jay had to work on Mother's Day we celebrated on Saturday which actually turned out a lot better because everything was quiet!!  My day started out with getting to sleep in until a whopping 8:15-woohoo.  At which point I was awaken with sloppy kisses and hugs from my guys!!  No better way to wake up.  I was then surprised with all my cards and my beautiful picture and poem Jay put together for me (very nice!!).  After swimming lessons I got taken to my favorite restaurant for lunch (chuy's).  Alex's present to me was a three hour nap that afternoon.  In the evening Jay and I got our first evening out without Alex since he was born.  We hired a babysitter (girl from across the street) to come over and we went to dinner and a movie.  Boy was that a weird sensation being out without AJ.  I must say I was a little stressed the whole time, but did manage to enjoy myself and my husband.  We went to see What Happens in Vegas which was a cute little flick.  We've booked her for next weekend too!!!

Picasso???

This is what happens when you talk on the phone too long.  If you are wondering why he still has the marker in his hand it's because every time I tried to get it from he screamed bloody murder.  I have since bought him new markers that only write on a special paper (sneaky mama).

Mother's Day Picnic

On Friday our playgroup had a Mother's Day Picnic at Kelly Park.  It was a scorching 96 degrees Fahrenheit (that's damn hot for you Canadians).  One of the mums brought her water table which quickly became the most popular activity there.  Our contribution was chocolate donuts which Alex quickly got a hold of as you can see in the picture.

Grooming the Dog

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Cinco De Mayo Celebration

Today Alex and I hosted the Cinco De Mayo playdate at our house.  We didn't expect the total downpour that started about 4 in the morning so unfortunately we crammed almost 26 people into our house.  It all worked out and everyone had a great time!!  We ate lots of great pseudo Mexican food, drank virgin margarita punch, listened to Mariachi music and took turns wearing the sombrero-OLE!!

My Sensitive Little Man

This book made Alex bawl tonight.  We were reading together having a great time when right near the end when the frog, the sheep and the goat fall in the mud and the duck drives off Alex starting bawling his head off.  At the same time he was trying to tell me something in his language which I took to mean "that was not very nice of the duck to leave his three friends in the mud like that right after they helped him out of the mud".  Well, Alex I totally agree with you!!  I think it was the first time I had seen him have real empathy towards something.  We quickly finished the book and gave each other a huge hug which seemed to make him feel a lot better.  He's definitely a sensitive little guy-just like his mama who still cries at Hallmark commercials.

Love My Bento Box

Love our new Bento Box and so does Alex.  Will be perfect for school!!