A visit from Mimi

Mimi made it down for a visit. Unfortunately, we didn't find the battery for the camera until Saturday night. We spent Saturday swimming and then they went to Chuy's for dinner while I took a cooking class on interior Mexican cuisine (more on that later--maybe). Here's what we did Sunday.

A trip to Big Top candy store on Congress. I think this is Grace's (translatation--daddy's) new favorite spot. They have all kinds of candy, any kind of candy you could ever want plus a soda bar which by the way does not open until 12 on Sundays. Isn't this a great picture? There are no sad faces here at the candy story. Not even when we leave because, well, we never leave without some (lots of) candy.

Grace is a true professional. She knows exactly what to do--get a pail and look for zots for daddy.

Lucas is just there for the lollipops. They make him so very happy and so very sticky. I think we all enjoyed the sugar fix.

We certainly enjoyed the visit and Grace is eagerly awaiting the trip up to McKinney in July for the family reunion. She has started singing her Mimi song which goes something like "I wish Mimi would visit my house but she can't because she lives in McKinney with Gary and Casey Jones." Oh, this child!

Two of a kind

I took all of these pictures the other day (not the one on top, obviously) thinking how cute the two of them look together, these two little people with their own personalities, trying to live and play together under the same roof. It's been an adjustment for all of us. The first picture was taken last summer--look at those rolls. It seems like a decade ago. I can tell you that there is no way we are getting another picture like this unless you want one of a  little boy screaming for his life. 
Here they are brushing their teeth together. Lucas loves it up there. He loves playing with the water and brushing his teeth. If his sister is doing it, he wants to be doing it too.  I know we need to get Lucas his own stool but he is still too short even with standing on Grace's stool so I rigged this thing up for him (actually Steve started it). Look at how happy he is to be a big boy.
They started coloring together too, although I think Lucas would be just as happy to dump out all the crayons on the floor and walk on them.  About half of his scribbles end up on the table. He's also become interested in "helping" his sister with her pictures too. She doesn't like that too much.
Playing together in the playhouse. They sit across from each other and giggle at each other...usually.
Waiting (patiently) for Daddy to put their sink together.

Of course don't believe they get along all the time. They have their moments (many, many moments) but when they are getting along or playing together it is just too sweet. 

It's a Wonder

We finally took the kids down to Wonder World in San Marcos last weekend (2 weekends ago, 3 weekends ago, hmmm, it's all blurring together).  I know, I know-- I'm a weekend behind. Unfortunately, we didn't get to do to much this past weekend as we were all sick...all of us! No fun. And then Steve had to go out of town. I'm also out of a camera, sort of--more on that on a future post. So last weekend's adventure will just have to do for this post unless you would like some picture of wadded up kleenex and crusty noses.Here's Grace getting ready for the cave tour. The whole tour consisted of a trip through the cave, a ride up to their observation tower, a walk over to the crazy house (yes, we felt right at home) and a train ride through the petting zoo. 
If I had to pick out Lucas's favorite part it would be this---scooping and pouring out these rocks. He couldn't get enough of it. Silly boy. A gold miner in the making?
Here's Steve carrying Lucas in the Baby Bjorn. The folks at Wonder World recommended a front carrier for babies who couldn't walk or who were just learning. He's just a little big, don't you think? He was not a happy camper. In fact it didn't take long for him to start crying. Oh, wait did I say crying, I meant screaming and in an underground cave no less. Of course Steve and I are seasoned parents and we know how to get our kids to behave....
Yep, a dum dum I thankfully found at the very bottom of the diaper bag.  I'm not even sure how old it was.  Nominations for parent of the year, anyone? anyone?Bueller? Anyway I think this face says it all. Bliss and quiet, well at least as long as the lollipop lasted. Which reminds me---I need to start carrying around bigger lollipops.
Grace and I navigating the steep stairways and narrow paths. She really enjoyed this. She was keeping her eyes out for bears because bears live in caves. See the logic. Smart girl.
We finally made it to the observation tower after a particularly loud tantrum by Lucas. He just wanted to get down and run around. Don't they look so sweet? 
A small snack while we wait for the train to start.  Food makes everyone happy. Sorry there are no pictures of the crazy house. It was so crazy it made mommy a little sick. See, me and the crazy house don't mix--just for future reference. Maybe I'll get pics next time, or you will just have to check it out yourself.
Grace and I enjoying a drink and some popcorn. If you look in the background you can see the waterfall which we drove through to get to the petting zoo area. Pretty cool!
And once you get inside the petting zoo, you get mobbed by hordes of hungry deer.  Grace got really excited but was too scared to let them eat out of her hand. I don't blame her. We left that up to daddy. She did let them lick her hand and proclaimed " See it doesn't hurt, it tickles!". Still not enough to make me want deer tongue anywhere near my hand.
Grace petting the deer, obviously. Sorry, I'm all out of witty remarks. "Witty?" you laugh.
The zoo area had lots of different animals but you stayed on the train the whole time which was just fine with me. There were peacocks, turkeys, emus and goats but since I'm sure you've seen these before I did not include pictures. Not sure but looks like somebody is getting sleepy.

Definitely getting sleepy toward the end of the train ride. Who can blame him, it takes a lot of energy to throw a really big tantrum. Grace really liked the popcorn so much so that she actually swallowed it---weird. 

Here is the true wonder of Wonder World---getting both of my children to fall asleep at the same time. Glorious! Good bye Wonder World, I love you.

And coming to a post near you--sprinkler time, or the story of how I broke my camera.