Easter Party at Thursday School

 I had the hankering to make a bunny cake this year.  My older siblings tell me they remember Granny making this cake, but all of my memories of Granny are in a wheelchair.  I do, however, have vivid memories of Grandmama making it one year.  So when the homeschool Easter party came up, I knew what I wanted to bring!

 Then I had to figure out how to transport it!  I couldn't wrap it.  So David got the all important job of holding the cake... until he fell asleep about 5 minutes after we left the house!

 I discovered I had enough clearance under the steering wheel to hold it, then.

 Finally made it to the party & what a great looking spread!

 My beautiful baby went with us, of course.

 And this is the only picture I got off all my kids together.

 Rebekah sucked the toppings off a cupcake.

 And then we had an egg hunt!

 This was Egg Hunt #1.  We're going for a new record this year...

Botanic Gardens

This month's field trip with our homeschool group was a trip to the Botanic Gardens!  Unfortunately, we didn't make the connection to go through with them because of a miscommunication.  But that's ok.  We're a group of our own now-a-days, and we had Grandpa with us also.  Little did I know that the aquarium in the visitor's building would be so exciting!

They told me I had to get a picture of Nemo!

 I want a waterfall like this in my yard...

with a swimming pool at the bottom would be nice, too.

 We toured some basic "gardens"

then went on the Native Texas Forest Boardwalk.
There were fun & educational pit stops along the walk.

The kids loved these tubes you could talk into.
Grandpa was at the other end talking back to them.

The Botanic Gardens doesn't have a playground,
but there was this log to play in.  Since my kids
are still mostly little, this was an exciting stop.

The water features are always a hit, too.
And I really enjoyed the Rose Garden.

At this point, all these fountains created an immediate need for someone... and the nearest facilities were about a 5 mile hike (it seemed), uphill with a double stroller loaded down.  So that's all the pictures I have.  That was about the end of the trip anyway as we went back through the Boardwalk to get back to the car.  It was still a fun day.

Cemetery Picnic

 The second Saturday in April is the annual cemetery association picnic/meeting/work day.  There was beautiful weather for it this year.  The cemetery looked beautiful - freshly mowed, new & old graves mingled together, with bluebonnets left to flower, iris and rose bushes starting to bloom.

 I enjoy the old stones and rusty, old fences.  The kids enjoyed the picnic and running around in the cemetery.  And no, it's not weird to picnic at the cemetery once a year!

All Aboard the Birthday Train!

 Rebekah really loves trains, so we decided that riding the Forest Park Miniature Railroad might be a good way to celebrate. 

Waiting for the train...

Here it comes!!!

 Getting ready to roll.

 I think I'm pretty good at arm's length photography,

except when I'm holding a baby.

I always cut off the baby at the bottom.

I'm slowly getting better, though...

I think...

 Sarah doesn't like wind blowing on her head.

 Rocked to sleep!

 Rebekah enjoyed every bit of it!

What a fun time!

Then we came home for a late nap, birthday cake made by Grana,

playing outside before heading to bed very sleepy.

 Will she remember this day?

Maybe if I say, 

"Remember the time we rode the mini train for your 2nd birthday?"

Happy Birthday, Rebekah!

My sweet Bekah Boo is TWO today!

You are a handful, always getting in to the pantry or the markers or the cat food or the butter.  You are also a joy, full of life and energy.  You have the best belly laugh and the sweetest songs and the cutest expressions to entertain me.  You are full of love and very loved in return.  Happy Birthday, Rebekah!

Tiny Talk Tuesday: Gurgles & Coos

For no apparent reason, I am reminded of the last time we were at Walmart.  On the way out, David said of the older, bearded, greeter, "I just saw a man with the face of Santa Claus!"

These kids are always saying something that makes me think, "I need to remember that for Tiny Talk Tuesday."  And if I don't write it down immediately, it is lost forever.

Elizabeth was trying to convince cousin Curt to come outside and watch her swing on her tummy.  He said he knew how to do that.  She walked away saying, "He's a smart one..."

Isn't that the most beautiful sound?  aahhhh....  She's gonna have to increase her decibels, though, to be heard around here!  I bet my kids are louder than Smokey, the World's Loudest Cat...

April ONE (almost)

Oops!  I forgot to post a picture yesterday!  But that's ok, because today we went over to fish beside the bluebonnets!

 Elizabeth was so proud that she got to hold Baby Sarah for some pictures!

 And my beautiful #3 is going to turn 2 years old this week!  Wow!

Elizabeth is all over fishing with her Daddy.  But I can hardly wait for her to catch her first fish!

This is an extremely poor example of baby wearing... but I had a good hold of her with one arm... and I caught a small bass at the same time!