Easter 2013

We had a blessed Easter this year.  I had Good Friday off work and Austin had a school holiday.  DiDi was so kind to babysit in the morning so that I could go to the dreaded DPS to finally get my Texas drivers license.  Austin and I went to our neighborhood playground and just hung out together (David did have to work).  My mom also kept him while he was napping so I could go shopping (for myself!).  Thanks, mom!  On Saturday morning, we went to the Easter egg hunt and breakfast at Lakeside (country club).  We had been practicing hiding and finding plastic eggs around the house but Austin still was not very interested in the egg hunt at Lakeside.  They had a specific area for 1-3 year-old kids where the eggs were just scattered across the grass.  They counted to 3 and the 50 toddlers went charging towards the eggs, all except for Austin.  Maybe next year.  He DEFINITELY was not interested in the Easter bunny.  He was terrified of that giant bunny.  He didn't cry but gripped extremely tight onto whoever was holding him when the bunny came near.  There was also a petting zoo that had goats, sheep, chicks, a llama, and bunnies.  He didn't care much for that either with the exception of briefly petting the bunnies.  Allison and Annabelle (who just turned 2) also came to the egg hunt.  She was much more fascinated by finding eggs and the animals.  It was a fun morning with family.  

Scoping out the eggs with Daddy

Turtle watching with Daddy

Finding eggs (but not during the real hunt)

I found one!

Gripping onto Daddy. What is with this giant rabbit?

1-2-3, go Austin, find some eggs

He really just wanted Grandad to hold him and walk with him the whole morning

Unimpressed

Ok, if Grandad helps me, I will try it out

Had enough egg hunting

Bye, see ya later

DiDi, Annabelle and the goats

Checking out the bunnies

Soft bunny

We celebrated Christ's resurrection at church on Sunday.  We are really enjoying our new church here in Houston. We have met some great friends already and Austin does well in his Sunday school room (sometimes he gives us the pouty bottom lip when we drop off but he always warms up and has a good time).  Annie joined us at church too!!  After worship, we headed to lunch at Lakeside with Grandad, DiDi, Aunt LaLa and Will, Uncle Stephen and Aunt Ricki, and Allison (David was in NYC on a business trip and Annabelle was sick so she stayed home with David's parents).  It was a beautiful display of food and Austin even had a sugar cookie with a bunny on it.  The Easter bunny was traversing from table to table and once Austin spotted him, he did not take his eyes off of that bunny and made sure he did not come even close to our table.  Thanks DiDi and Grandad for treating to a yummy Easter brunch.  After nap time, we celebrated Easter with David's family at MiMi and Big Deal's house.  We hunted for eggs again in their yard before the thunder storm rolled in.  Austin's big cousins, Ben and Summer, helped him find eggs.  He really likes playing with them and watching them do big kid things.  It's so cute!  We opened Easter baskets and had a nice meal.  We even got out after the rain and blew bubbles.  He loves blowing bubbles right now.  It was a wonderful weekend with family and we are thankful that everyone is here so we can share these memories.  We are thankful for the reason we celebrate Easter and pray that Austin will grow up to know Jesus and how much He is loved by Him. 

Happy in Grandad's arms

Or Uncle Stephen's - I think he likes being held up high

Checking out his Easter basket at home - Elmo, watering can, big boy Camelback water bottle

Attempt at one good picture

Enjoying his Easter treat - a giant sugar cookie

Posing in the bushes - his own doing

Counting eggs with cousins

Loves his MiMi

For me?

Mine doesn't have any money (the Easter bunny at MiMi & Big Deal's house gives money)

Pretty spring colors

Money for me?

Chasing bubbles

Bubble wands are the best!

Summer makes great bubbles

So excited for the bubbles

Ah!

Spring break

Since Austin goes to a school that is part the public school system, he had spring break. The grandmothers stepped up to help out. Mimi took care if Austin on Monday and DiDi kept on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday he got to go the Houston rodeo livestock show petting zoo. Aunt ricki, great aunt Carrie, and cousins Lisa and Mary from Austin went to the rodeo too. They sent me a few pictures from the outing. Apparently Austin did not like the real pony ride.

Great grandmother BB also came in town with Lisa and Mary. Carrie had us over for dinner on wednesday. Austin quickly learned to say BB and repeatedly said Bee-bee and would run up to her and reach for her hand to walk with him. So cute!

On Thursday we headed to Austin with daddy and DiDi. We stopped at Amanda's to see baby Paige who is now 1 month old. She is so little and precious. It is crazy that Austin was never that little. Austin was not too happy when I held her- he was jealous of the "bay-bee".

We drove out to horseshoe bay at lake LBJ after that. This was Austin's third time at the lake but his first time while walking. They got a new fence around the pool and steps down to the lake so that we can feel more comfortable playing with him on the porch. We didn't go on the boat this time because the water is not quite warm enough and the pool was too cold but next time we definitely will. We went on lots of walks and did a lot of looking at boats, airplanes, ducks, flags, and of course trucks. They are building a new house next door so the construction equipment served as entertainment for our boy. We even went to coopers BBQ in llano on Saturday night. Austin ate none of the meat. He wouldn't even try it- oh well he proceeded to eat lots of veggies that i brought. We had a visit from Tom and Carolyn Spurgeon and Austin liked sitting in Tim's lap and playing with his shapes. Austin loved taking walks with grandad. He even learned how to throw rocks- hopefully this is a safe activity. :) On the way back we stopped to see Meredith and Matt and baby Caroline. She was born in December and I hadn't seen her yet. We were at a restaurant and I didn't even get a picture. It was a fun week - tomorrow is back to reality.

Austin learns about goats from cousin Lisa

Petting (or stomping on) the goat with Aunt Ricki

Fascinated by the little yellow chicks

Not sure what these are...maybe guinea pigs?

Taking a walk with BB and cousin Mary

Swinging with BB and Mary - Austin loves his BEE-BEE.  Ha, it was so cute how he pronounced her name.

Story and song time with BB

DiDi and baby Paige

Curious about this "Bay-Bee", Paige.  

I snuck one picture while Austin was distracted

Just a boy watching for boats

Porch reading with DiDi

Catching some rays while enjoying some yogurt.  Too bad he has mommy's fair skin.    He is going to know hats, sunscreen and t-shirts well. 

HI boats!

BYE boats

Playing with Mr. Tom.  He asked to sit in his lap right after he met him. 

Snacking on some popcorn with Grandad

Watching for trucks while in line at Coopers' BBQ

Sweetie pie

Spotting the faint moon.  He finds it even when it is a sliver in a light sky.

Hanging with Daddy

Mommy's boy.  

Enjoying winter while it lasts

After living in Denver for 4 1/2 years, I became accustomed to cooler weather.  I had forgotten how mild the winters are here in Houston and how this is the time to be outside and enjoy comfortable temperatures.  So we have been getting out and enjoying before the heat and mosquitoes arrive.  We are also enjoying Austin's animal noises recently.  He has learned to say "mmmmm" when asked what a cow says, "Baaaaaaaaa" when asked what a sheep says, "naw" when asked what a horse says, "ak ak ak" in a very high pitched squeal when asked what a duck says, and when asked what a pig says.  According to Austin, a duck and a pig speak the same language.  He also says "choo-choo" for train and "vrrrmm" for truck and airplane.  He finds the moon in the sky, even when it is faint at 7:15am on the way into his school.  He points up to the "yites" when I turn them on and off.  He asks for "wa-wa" in a cup and is really into saying "Hi" right now.  Also, when we sing a song (barney song, wheels on the bus, if you are happy and you know it, etc) he claps when I am finished singing and says "yay!".  And, of course, "Trrruucks" are still his favorite!

Slide at our neighborhood park (about 7 min walk away)!

Valentine's Day!

What a cheese-ball

Precious angel (most of the time)

Watching cousin Trey pitch..first baseball game!

Walking the bleacher ramp...over and over and over

A real, live...."Truck", as Austin calls it even though we told him it's a school bus.  He'll get there.

First trip to Lupe Tortilla...we played with the statues while we waited because mom did not want to get in the sandbox or let my 18-month old get trampled by the big kids.

What is this thing?

Practice egg-hunt

The swing in our front yard is finally up and running!

Rodeo parade at school- don't you love the "rope" used to keep them in line.  They walk to playground every day with this and it takes them like 20 minutes to walk 100 yards...ha!  He saw me taking a picture and started crying and broke loose from the rope....oops!

 

Trying to get a picture with my cowboy

He did NOT like the hat

Meet Ben...this is Austin's best buddy in his class.  Miss Ashley says they are inseparable.  Cute!

Peek a boo

Little piggy

 

I snuck a picture of me in here...I ran the Woodlands Half Marathon on 3/2 - I set a PR (my previous PR was in Oct 2010 in Denver, pre-baby).  I ran in 1 hr 38 min 8 sec, which is 8 seconds faster than 2010.  The weather was perfect, a cool 40 degrees, low-humidity and sunny.  Thanks to MiMi, Daddy and Austin for coming to support me! 

My little architect

 

Steady hands