Rain, Rain Don't Go Away

Finally, it rained.  Mini has been waiting to use her Thomas the Train umbrella and rain boots since November.  With the drought, there was no rainy season.  But today was her chance to break out the rain gear and jump into puddles.

Tooth #2

Grande, your second tooth is emerging.  Bottom front left.  Hope this helps you eat better.  But having few teeth hasn't stopped you from wanting to eat everything and anything.  

Junior Pastry Chef

Check out Mini as a pastry chef.  She decorated her chef hat and apron and baked her first scone.  Strawberry with lemon zest.  It was tasty.

Ice cream in point arena

Happy Birthday, Daddy

Daddy's only one??  Mini asked this when I only put one candle on the cake.  I told her we didn't have 30+ candles.  She asked why would you need that many, Daddy's only five years old.  Funny girl.  

This was a special customized "cake" per Mini's request to make something from Daddy's favorites.  She worked hard to bake and mold this layered dessert that had brownie, mint cookies and cream ice cream, chocolate chip cookie, and white chocolate ice cream.  Grande did his part by eating cookie crumbs that Mini fed him.

Ok, Grande.  Looks like you are taking after your sister and skipping the crawling stage.  For the past week, you are all about standing.  You have learned to pull yourself up and started to cruise.  You will crawl for short distances but you don't seem to want to go very far.  Maybe the hardwood floors hurt your knees.

But you definitely enjoy standing and jumping.  

You also raise your hands for high fives now.  

Tangrams

Mini finished these kiddie tangrams in ten minutes.  I thought surely this will give me at least thirty minutes to do my chores.  Didn't work out for me but it was nice to see how proud she was for finishing quickly.

My Sleeping Warrior

This is what comes of giving a pen to a bored kid in the car.

Austin Recap

Kids, you just returned from your first trip to Austin.  It'll be one of many since your grandparents and Uncle Daniel live there.  We spent a very happy Christmas and New Year Day with family.

We drove to San Antonio to meet your new baby cousin named Julie.  We also visited your great Aunt and Uncle in Houston.  They took us on a boat ride to see the Houston's port and ships, on a ferry to Galveston, and Moody Gardens.

Mini, you flew a kite for the first time courtesy of Uncle Daniel.  A-Ma and A-Gong gifted your first big girl bike (with training wheels) and you learned to ride it quickly.  You wanted more and more of A-Ma's "La La Mien" aka spicy noodles.  You ate authentic Texas BBQ.  You roasted your first marshmallow over a fire.  And you loved the suburban mall where they have many more kid attractions (coin operated rides, merry-go-round, play areas, tiny trains).

Grande, this was your first airplane ride (you did really well!).  You learned to maneuver into a seated position and keep yourself seated.  You started to crawl.  Your first tooth is out.  You got really used to sleeping in A-Ma and A-Gong's comfortable arms.  

After being showered with so much love and affection from everyone, it was hard to leave.  Can't wait for the next trip!

Lakeline mall

The most fun the kids had was at the mall. Grandparents had fun too.

Austin Fun

Hanging out at grandparents' house for Christmas and New Year.  Mini and Grande are having so much fun, it's going to be tough leaving.  

Learning to use boys

Mini found this boy whose parents kept giving him quarters. She would ride with him on the rides when he did to get a free ride. The first couple times he wasn't too happy about it. But after a while he warmed up to her. When he got more money from his parents he found mini and showed her the coins. Way to use your feminine wiles!