Sea World

Now that it's been a few weeks and we've replaced everything from the stroller, I have enough emotional distance to post about our day at Sea World:)...
We left early--6:30 am so we could get there right when the park opened at 10. Mom, Dad, Tyler, Shad, and Shad's oldest 2 kids (Hailey and Zach) met us there. We got into the park pretty quickly only to discover that no rides open until 11 am! Bummer!

Walking into the park (RIP little stroller, RIP)


So we went and watched a "4-D" pirate movie. Megan was a little nervous and didn't want to wear the 3-D glasses, but we watched the whole movie and she was excited to tell Dan about it when we got out(he sat outside and fed Brooke while we watched the show).


Then we headed over to watch the Shamu show--it was great. Megan loved it, Brooke loved it, and Dan and I really enjoyed it. It's just amazing to watch such huge animals swimming around. There is even a baby killer whale right now and it was so cute!



After Shamu, Granny took all 4 kids to get seats for the ski show while my dad, brothers, Dan, and I went on one of the roller coasters. It was great! And there was no one there so we went 3 times.


Here we are enjoying the ski show (meanwhile, our stroller disappears!). There were some pretty cool wakeboarding and skiing tricks. I thought the coolest thing was watching 2 of the guys barefoot ski--they'd start on the little dock, lying on their back! Ouch!


After a little trip to the security station and some lunch, we headed over to watch the seal show. Only one seal was cooperating that day (and he wasn't even doing much), so halfway through their little story, the trainer broke character to explain why. It was mating season for the seals and in the wild, they don't even eat during that time. So it's hard to use food to motivate them when they don't care about food. It was pretty funny to watch the trainers try to keep their story going when none of the animals were playing along!



It was getting pretty roasty at this point so we checked out the aquarium where the sharks are and also the penguin house. Ahh, air conditioned. It was nice and Megan LOVED it.



We finished out the day by watching the dolphins get fed and eating some sherbet. As much as Dan and I had mixed feelings about our day at SeaWorld, Megan had a great time and asks about going again at least twice a week (or anytime we see a commercial for it).

Swim Lessons

We started off the summer with a fun-filled four days of swim lessons at Granny's house (June 1-4).
Having taught swim lessons for a few summers, I knew I didn't want to be the one to do those initial lessons with my own child! They just listen better to another voice.
I recruited a few of Megan's friends to join in the fun (get a swim lesson from me and then play in the pool), but because of sickness and things, only one was able to make it.
We had a lot of fun learning and playing with Grace and her mom.
By the end of the week, Megan was swimming with her face in the water as far as she could hold her breath! Go Megan! (and thank you Granny!)

Granny and Megan


Happy little fish



Trying to convince Gracey that it's not too cold :)


All wrapped up! It was actually "cold" for Megan (you know, a chilly 80 or so) while she waited for Gracey to finish her lesson so she could get back in and play.

Random and cute

If Megan's braids weren't ridiculous, this probably is...but it's so SO cute!
May 26, 2010



May 31, 2010



Megan wiped out after some Memorial Day BBQing, swimming, and hanging with the extended fam on May 31, 2010...


Our little Brookie is getting more mischievous...check out her new hangout!
May 28, 2010


Enjoying their afternoon cups of milk...May 19, 2010


Crazy messy face...May 30, 2010


Brooke in her cute suit before playgroup on May 18, 2010. (this suit was lost with the stroller--I'm glad we got to let her use it a few times before that!)


Silly face with her fresh out of bed hair. She's showing you the cat on her pjs--Megan on May 13, 2010.


Ready for bed on May 11, 2010.


Snuggles before bed on May 11, 2010.

Gray Hairs...

Dear Megan-
If you ever in the future find yourself wondering when exactly your mother began to get gray hairs, I would like you to know it began on May 27, 2010.
As I walked out of a friend's backyard carrying Brooke and 3 bags and you ran around to the front door of the house, I wasn't too worried (you've done this before you see--you really like their front walkway). I knew if I chased you, you would only run farther, so I called you to come to the car. You started down the walk and instead of coming to the car, you smiled and continued on the sidewalk away from the car and toward the corner.
I called again. Again, you ignored me. I decided I'd try the "I'm leaving without you" ploy and got into the car and even started it, hoping that would convince you that I was serious and you needed to come. Nope, not that either. I got out of the car and counted--slowly, angrily, with that "you're in big trouble if you don't come before I get to five" face. One, two, three, four, five. Nope, not coming.
I even discussed w/a friend as she put her kids in her car the difficulties of having a "runner"--a child who LOVES to be chased. The dilemma--if I chase you, you will run. But if I don't chase you, will you stop?
These friends live on a corner, so you even walked all the way around the corner where you couldn't see me anymore. I thought if you couldn't see me, you'd come back to make sure I was still there. And you did--you came halfway back and when you saw I'd come to the corner, you doubled your pace back the opposite way. You were halfway down the block by now and I could see that little look in your eye that told me you weren't coming back. Unfortunately, there's an empty lot behind their house and the sidewalk ended at a driveway.
Sure enough, you reached the end of the sidewalk and turned down the driveway into the road AS A CAR CAME AROUND THE CORNER! Now I started running as fast as I possibly could (in the middle of the road mind you, so the car would notice that I was chasing my child) and OF COURSE you started running as fast as you possibly could away from me.
Thankfully, I'm still faster than you when I sprint. And thankfully, I was grateful enough that the car didn't hit you that I didn't kill you myself after I caught you and hugged you close to me. And thankfully, Daddy was home to give me a hug as I told him in tears how close you came to being hurt. And thankfully, after 40 minutes in time out, you told me you were sorry many, many times and said "I will listen to Mommy". I just wish that would always be true!
Oh my Megan. That's when the gray hairs began. And that's when I decided you needed a leash. No, I don't think you're a dog. I just think I'd rather force good behavior than wait for you to experience the consequences of that particular poor behavior.
I love you. Really, I do.
Love, Mommy

Keeping busy...

We've been doing some fun learning activities lately. I'm always on the lookout for easy things to do with Megan--so if you're the same way, here are some ideas to check out:

Homemade bird feeder: Pine cone smothered w/peanut butter and rolled in oatmeal (you're supposed to use birdseed but we didn't have any on hand). We read a book about a bird and then made the bird feeder hoping we'd get to see the birds enjoy it out on the fence. No such luck. It was picked clean in a few days, but I bet it was squirrels and we didn't see them. Megan liked making it though.




Quick, easy treat: Fudgy buttons (2 TB margarine, 1 1/2 tsp cocoa, 1/2 cup powd. sugar, 1/2 tsp milk, 2 TB creamy peanut butter). Melt butter, mix in rest of ingredients one at a time mixing well in between. Drop by teaspoonful onto waxed paper, flatten top with your thumb. Makes 12 1-inch patties. This was an easy treat for Megan to help with. It's quick and it makes a small amount that is perfect for that afternoon need for something sweet. Sorry, no pics of the finished product--we ate them too fast!



Toothpick towers: I found some foam beads at WalMart for about $3 a few weeks ago. We tried putting them on pipe cleaners and making bracelets first--but Megan needed more help with that than I was hoping for. So one Sunday afternoon we tried putting the beads on toothpicks--bingo. Megan spent about 30 minutes sitting quietly, carefully putting the beads on and pulling them off of the toothpicks. We took it to church the next week--it was a great Sacrament meeting distraction.



Mommy's little helper: I got Megan a spray bottle and some sponges from the dollar aisle at CVS the other day. I filled her spray bottle with water and give it to her when I need to get some cleaning done--she likes it and I like it. I just make sure to give her a spot to clean that I won't care when it's soaked with water (like the bathtub while I'm cleaning the rest of the bathroom).



Why do we try to keep busy? Because when left to their own devices, these girlies keep themselves busy making whatever messes they can find! Like when Megan proudly told me she got Brooke more cheerios on May 27, 2010.

What's the problem Mom? I'm fine...


Brooke's happy...


And we made our own breakfast!



P.S. If you want lots more ideas, check out Chasing Cheerios. This Mom does TONS of cute, cheap, creative, learning activities with her kids and posts them. I love looking at them all.

5 Years...

Way back on May 14, 2010, Dan and I celebrated our 5th anniversary. We got to enjoy a lovely dinner out at the Taste of Texas Steakhouse. The weather was terrible--thunder, lightning, wind, rain, but we had friends to watch our kids and weren't about to give up on a night out. We'd been wanting to eat here since we moved to Houston and we weren't disappointed. It was DELICIOUS! And it's a very fun atmosphere. I went there for a best friend's sweet 16 about 10 years ago and it was every bit as yummy as I remember. The service was excellent--when they found out we were celebrating our anniversary, we got a free dessert to share and they took a picture and printed it out for us to keep. Our server even gave us the official recipe for their cilantro vinaigrette after I commented that I loved it. Taste of Texas is pricey but for a nice date every few years--worth it!
I'm so glad I'm married to my best friend. It's been a wonderful five years and I can't wait to see what 5 more bring. I love you Dan!

{when I finally scan the picture of us from the restaurant, I'll post it}

Fun in the Sun

As soon as May hits, we hit the time of year in Houston where you are either involved with water or you are inside. Unfortunately, most neighborhood pools don't open until the first week in June so for playgroup in May, we rotated around to some nearby splash parks (including our backyard). On May 11, we had all the ladies and kiddos over for some sprinkler, popsicle, swing, and slip'n'slide action. It was a blast. We have such a fun group of playgroup buddies. Now if only our patio existed in real life like it does in my dreams :)

But...it doesn't! So we all hung out on the grass in the quickly dwindling shade.

Mother's Day 2010

On Mother's Day this year, Dan and the girls made my day SO nice. Dan got up with the kids so I could sleep in, he made breakfast, and he got me both chocolate and a book to enjoy. Wahoo! Time to myself plus a treat I didn't make equals bliss.

As always on Mother's Day, I feel so very grateful for the Moms in my life--my wonderful Mother, Mother-in-law, grandmothers, sisters, sisters-in-law, cousins, aunts, and friends. I am amazed at the incredible mothers that surround me.
I can only hope to be as talented, kind, organized, and fun as my Mom someday.

I also am so thankful that Heavenly Father has entrusted me with these sweet, crazy, wonderful, smart, hilarious, and fun little girls.

Megan couldn't resist a little swing in the buff while we watered the garden on May 10, 2010.


Brooke LOVES to peek through the intersection of the couches. It is definitely her favorite spot. This sweet smile was on May 7, 2010.


My "little" brother turned 13 on Mother's Day this year. He has finally passed me both in height and in the age I was when he was born (I was 12). It's hard to believe how grown up he's getting. I was experimenting with marshmallow fondant and made a cake to cover both occasions. I think it tasted better than regular fondant. But it wasn't as good as buttercream. And it mostly tasted like powdered sugar. Next time I'm adding some vanilla or something as part of my liquid in an effort to fix that.

Ridiculous?

Yeah, probably a little. But when one of our playgroup buddies kept showing up places with ADORABLE french braids, my mind started turning. Megan doesn't have a lot of hair, but surely it's enough to make a teeny little braid or two. And LO AND BEHOLD! It was! I love them. She's only let me do them twice. And I really need more practice, but with a busy 2 1/2 year old, there's a VERY limited hair-doing window. Sigh. Someday she'll have more hair..and maybe will even sit still. But until them, I have these pics to remember.

5/2/10



5/4/10