Baller

Step 1) Learn to put the ball on top of the Tee - check!

Step 2) Learn to swing bat with purpose - well, we need to work on that one.

Beware of quiet children

Xander has done this twice.  Each time, he was supposed to be taking a nap or, at least, resting in his room. He heard Aria fussing.  Then, he "entertained" her by putting every single item off of her shelves (mostly toys and books) into her crib.  There was barely any room left for the poor girl!  He got a lecture about how this was not a safe thing to do.  Such a silly boy!

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a wonderful visit from Grandma Carla and Grandpa Tom.

Xander and Grandma planted some Oregano in the garden.   He also showed off his first tomato harvest.

The kids both received a play dough recipe from school for a math program.  The recipe made some really nice play dough.

On Sunday, we took a trip to our favorite sand park.  However, someone had dammed a water feature next to the park, which resulted in a little lake in the middle of the sand park.  Aria LOVED playing in this mini-beach.

Grandpa and Xander played with his Rokenboks.

Xander and Grandma played some Popcorn Ninja, which is just the silliest game since Fruit Ninja.

There were quite a few sessions of sidewalk chalk and kiddie pool splashing to wash off the chalk.  In addition, Grandpa did all sorts of projects around our house and Grandma helped clean.  After all that help, they even watched the kids so Dolphin and I could have an evening out.  We ended up going out to The Oasis, an Austin landmark, where we watched the sunset during our dinner.  We are SO thankful for Grandma and Grandpa.

Side walk summer

Summer isn't summer without some side walk chalk.  For whatever reason, after drawing a picture, Aria feels the need to lay down on her artwork and roll around in it--or maybe that is just part of her artistic technique.

Zilker Botantical Gardnes

Aria and I took a trip to the Zilker Botanical Gardens, and we both enjoyed ourselves and the plant life.

She did want to get into every body of water that we encountered. Else wise, I was able to let her roam about freely with a little course correction now and then.

Everyone visiting the garden, gets a little lucky with these 4 leaf clovers.  Aria incidentally picked one before I could stop her, but they were so abundant, I didn't feel too guilty.

Even though I a had a full stroller with packed diaper bag and camera, Aria insisted on climbing the stair on the way out of the garden.  So, I had to carry the stroller up.

Aria just loved romping around freely, waving at EVERYONE, and especially making friends with other kids there.  Aria is a like magnet once she sees other kids, she has to make friends with them. 

Happy Belated Mother's Day

I'm a bit slow on posting these days.  On Monday, a product that I have been working on for 3 years will GA (become generally available).  The product was the work of thousands of contributors so there is intense pressure to make sure it goes out on time with great quality. Fortunately, last weekend was quiet enough from work that I was able to celebrate Mother's Day with my family.

Dolphin commissioned this drawing for me from one of his coworkers (nice to work with a bunch of artists).  It was supposed to be a picture of both kids, but you know artists?  I guess they don't like to take or follow direction as well as engineers.  I love it anyway.  It's a drawing from a photo when Xander first got to hold Aria.

In the morning, Dolphin got up with the kids so I could sleep in.  I woke up and found them all to be eating breakfast.  Xander yelled "We're eating monkies!"  There was monkey bread and a mimosa for me (NOT for the kids).  Yum!

After breakfast, things got a little touchy.  Dolphin went to take a shower and the kids decide to remind me of the true meaning over motherhood.  Xander was upset because I wouldn't draw pictures for him without him trying first, and Aria was upset because I made her come inside.  They both were having meltdowns simultaneously.  Thanks kids!

The day did get better as we had lunch out, some shopping, and some play grounding.  Xander's still wondering when Brother's Day is though.

Toddler Eating

I can use a spoon.

But why bother?

Mother's Day Quiz

Xander's class did a little quiz with each child about his mom.  Here are the answers from Xander:

My mommy's name is Amy.

My mommy is after all of the fives years old.

My mommy's favorite color is purple.

My mommy likes to eat all kinds of stuff.

My mommy likes to drink different kinds of stuff.

My mommy likes to make grilled cheese.

My mommy works at her work and sometimes at our house.

I know my mom loves me because sometimes she tells me.

My mommy is special because I love her so much.

Shoes and socks!

What is the fascination with taking off shoes in the car?  My car has become a shoe and sock repository.  After school, the kids yank until they have naked feet.  I have to admit the shoes and socks kind of accumulate for a few days before I shovel some out.  For a while Xander had outgrown this behavior.  Unfortunately, his sister has re-inspired him to start taking off his shoes in the car.  ARG!

Kindle Master

I don't know why I'm so surprised that Xander has become quite the Kindle master.  He can navigate through the screens quite easily despite not knowing how to read.  He knows exactly where to go to find free comics and Netflix cartoons.  Thanks again, Grandma and Grandpa, for this fun gift.

Aria is still more into traditional books than eBooks.  Although she is quite good at annoying the heck out of Xander by pushing randomly on the screen while he tries to do something.  Aria has Xander's vast traditional book collection to work through, and I can tell she already has different tastes in books.    Occasionally, when Xander wants more attention, he'll agree to sit through a baby story.

Harvest

We have French breakfast radishes!  Why do my radishes look so funny shaped?  Maybe I picked them too early.  Xander tried one and it was way more spicy than those we get from the store.  He's decided he isn't a fan of food that lights his mouth on fire.  Oh well...more for me!

Aria's vocab

Some update on Aria's vocabulary for posterity sake:

Ba - la-leh-la-leh-la (that sound you get when you move your tough quickly in and out of our mouth against your top lip) = Banana

Ba-Ba = Bottle (well really sippy cup, we have long since forgotten about real bottles)

Bah = Ball

Bah-Bay - bye bye

Buh = Book


Dada = Daddy

Dah-guh  = Dog

Hah = Hi

Mamamamama = Mama

Maaaah = More

Sza-sah = Xander

Bot -man = Bat Man (isn't it so weird that she speaks this word so clearly?)

Thow-ah = Flower