Mitchell Wildlife Park=Awesome

Not too far from the house there is a great state park.  What makes it particularly special is that it has specific trails just for mountain biking.  They were so much fun to zip thru!  Challenging enough that the four of us had to stay focused, the kids each took at least 5 falls each, and Scott got to whoop and holler around the corners.  The landscape was so foreign.  Sand right under the fallen pine needles, and lots of greenish, murky standing water.  The kids were thrilled to go from there to frozen yogurt for lunch (well earned, as we were all sweating).  We will definitely revisit this fun take.

Ethan was the photographer!

Scott copied Ethan.

There's my smart, careful girl!

Spring has sprung...at least at Trader Joe's.

What's up with this grass? Dude.

     So, Scott headed into an exciting day at the office (on a Saturday) to watch a guy feed wires through the wall.  This also gave him a chance to ride his bike to work for the first time, and according to Scott it was great.  The kids and I drove the 9 miles at lunch time (stopping at an amazing farmers market along the way).  We scooped up daddy and headed to the Marketplace.  Our plan to get sandwiches and eat in the sun was executed to perfection.  After a nice lunch Scott and I grabbed a few coffees and the family hoofed it to Memorial Park...and what the heck was up with the grass!?!?  Scott and I were fascinated by the fact that it was perfectly green, extremely short, no crabgrass, and kind of rubbery.  No, it wasn't astro-turf...we know 'cause we pulled some up.  It provided a perfect venue for rough housing and head stands.  Barefoot, of course.

Ethan informed me that "Badgy" is now a Texas Ranger.

Perfection.

Weird moment captured on film.  Pause in rough-housing to look at helicopter.  Hilarious photo!

Ethan receiving an indian sunburn.  That is a real pain face.

But, as Scott says," If you play with the bull, you get the horns."

Scott's new, new, new office.

Such talent.

For you Gammy!

Magnets are pretty cool.

      Kids and I ate lunch at my old oak table today.  Mom and dad gave it to me years ago (I think it was mom's great aunts...) and the old boy has been in storage.  Felt weird to sit in my old seat, Fiona in what was Gammy's seat, and Ethan in Gampy's old seat.  Can't remember the last meal I had looking at those familiar cup stains and old cigarette burns!  Ahh, the character of old furnishings.
     More lizard catching, and skateboarding....  Getting very comfortable.

Magnet lab.

We figured out a way to move the car with out touching it!  Smart.

Things from around the house we collected to check if they were magnetic.  There is a piece of dog food in that pile... ha, ha Ethan.

Perfect setting for homemade veggie burgers.  Oui?

Nice warm fire... What?  It does get cold here.

It's official.  

Found her climbing fence after lizards.

He's getting pretty good!

This little guy was just outside the bedroom window.

Yay...DMV DAY!

     Today the kids got the great experience of homeschooling in the various waiting rooms associated with becoming an official Texan.  The first step was to get the car inspected.  Painless because the waiting room was stalked with People magazines and complimentary iPads for kids to play Minecraft on.  Nice right?  So we were smiling on our way to the tax office to change car title, and registration...  The room was huge, all brown and lit with fluorescent lights.  I hate brown, and fluorescent lights.  The wait there was about an hour, but successful.  Then on to the DMV.  Yikes!  HUGE!  Turns out we needed our marriage license!  Yup, to prove my maiden name!  Plus birth certificates.  So, we will post-pone the average 2 and a half hour wait for another day.
     This evening the kids tried out for their leveled swim classes that they start in February.  Ethan surprised everyone, including himself by starting at a higher level than his sister.  He is a shark, Fiona is a dolphin.
     Check out the little friend that was on the bathroom ceiling last night.  Keep in mind the ceiling is a good 12-15 feet high, and I did not have a telephoto lens on the camera.  Scott had to whip a towel to get him down, and then squish it.  I went to bed with goosebumps and shuddering.  If Scott wasn't home I may have called 911...seriously.

Hello my little friend.

Tax office.  Looks like fun, right?

Calm down Ethan...

Loved this.  Should be enforced at most high schools.

Back to School!

     Today the kids hit the books for the first time in weeks.  Felt good to be getting back into a familiar routine for all of us.  Not too many complaints from the students, or the teacher.  After the school part of our day, we decided to explore the local playgrounds.  We found a few, each with neat new equipment to investigate.  Upon our return home we acquired Eliot from across the street, who had recently returned from school.  The kids played in the driveway, then came in for an epic nerf gun battle.  All in all a pretty fine day.
     I need to go tell Ethan he needs to go to his own bed.  Fiona is in the midst of her nightly reading to her brother, and I will most certainly get stink eye for wrecking the fun.  Just part of my job.  Hence the nick-name "Fun Wrecker".

Fiona's using the quill Gampy made for her!

I felt barfy just watching them spin...

A day at The Marketplace

     Scott and I took the kids to see their new town center.  What a great day.  We walked the trails around the city center, and stumbled on a koi pond!  The fish were so curious about the kids, and gave us quite a show.  Also found a beautiful war memorial park next to the library.  They had kayaks to rent to paddle along the water way, but we think it will be fun to wait for visitors, and try them out then.
     Just wrapped up another intense night of Jenga.  Funny thing about that game...there is no winner, just one BIG loser.  For the last few nights that has been Scott!

I have been dreaming of this tub since I first laid eyes on it.

Winner.

Loser, in action. (But we love him for trying.)

Winner.

Winner.

Brave Explorers

     We put aside lingering chores and allowed ourselves to enjoy the day.  Part of it anyway.  There was still vacuuming and box breakdown going on...  The kids enjoyed a solid hour of lizard study.  Fiona has a calling.  No one sees the little things, and she squats down and comes up with a small friend.  After they explored the neighborhood on their bikes with their new friend Eliot, we decided to explore as a family.  Ahhhh... Another moment I had envisioned for the last few weeks, finally come to pass.  We stopped at the duck pond, and a few playgrounds.  Also a nice picnic/fishing spot!

Little acoustic by the fire.

More lizard love.

He has smiled non-stop and is acting like a puppy! 

Little "Ferris Beuler" no?

Catch and release fishing area.

Brrr.... Cold here.

     So the kids and I were out delivering thank you notes to all the kind neighbors who brought flowers, cake, free child care and great advice...as we were headed to one couples home, they were walking towards us.  Both had on hats, gloves, winter coats and scarves!  The kids and I had no extra layers!  We were enjoying the sun and commenting on the temperature!  50's today.  Down right cold if you are a native Texan.
     I MUST WARN YOU.  IF YOU SCROLL THROUGH THE PICTURES THERE IS ONE PARTICULARLY OFFENSIVE SHOT.  IT INVOLVES SCOTT, VERY FOCUSED ON A TASK AT HAND, AND NOT SO FOCUSED ON OTHER THINGS...

Ethan is still getting used to the palm tree outside his bedroom window.

Found this oldy but goody in a box.  Kids wanted to know who the little boy was!  Mom, remember where we had this taken?

Fiona origamied her blankets.

And origamied a towel...into a hat?

We love the peanut butter choc. chip cookies from Gammie!

And the peppermint pattie brownies from Auntie!

Ethan, you little devil!

I WARNED YOU! Guess EVERYTHING'S bigger in Texas.