Baseball Season

Baseball (technically T-ball for us, because of Samuel's age group) has started for our family. This year Samuel will be playing on the "Athletics". This is fun for all of us, except all the driving I need to do to get him to practice and games, which is usually about three times a week. However, we all love it, and I am actually starting to appreciate this great American game. It is just wonderful to be in the outdoors away from all electronic and modern. Esther and I bring a blanket, snacks, some toys, and we are good. It is a great time for me to slow down and enjoy the moment.

Samuel plays at the Dad's Club in Pearland. It is an incredibly well run organization and only by volunteers. I can't remember how many teams they have but it is an outrageous number. They have about twenty-four-hundred children playing this year and in spite of that everything runs as smoothly as clockwork. We were very impressed last year and that is why we are back.

Rodeo and Spring

This is the best weather in the year here-early spring. The temperatures are in the low 70s (20s in C), and for most of this time we have the Houston RODEO. Every time we drive by the Reliant Stadium the kids ask when is the Rodeo coming again. When March came they knew that they would be going to the Rodeo. It is a great place to bring children. There are carnival rides, farm animal exhibits, of course all the rodeo competitions, and a concert every night. And some great BBQ to be had! And anything fried you can imagine, from which we steer away. How about fried butter, or a fried pickle? Did you know that just about anything can be fried!? There are also the funnel cakes, and cotton candy and any other fun food that you might have eaten as much as you wanted when you were a kid! This is one of those times when I love being a parent. The looks of happiness, pure joy, and marvel in our children's eyes are constant. They are priceless. We also dress up for the occasion. Here is Esther in her best cowgirl outfit, well, her version.

Fun in the backyard

We had a beautiful week in the 70s all week last week, and Esther and I took advantage of it. We lay a blanket in the backyard and just lay there enjoying the dry and warm air. Well, I did more of that, and she did more of this:

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Our little Ballerina

Since last September Esther has been taking ballet and loves it. Every Friday morning we put on her ballet clothes, and she is ready to dance all day. Her teacher Tricia is great and can keep six or seven three-year olds engaged and wanting to keep coming.

Samuel in the Local Newspaper

A week before Thanksgiving of 2010, Samuel's Kindergarten class was selected to be interviewed by a reporter from the local newspaper - Houston Chronicle. Here is a link to the newspaper article. You'll get a good giggle out of this. Samuel's answer is toward the very end. He could not have said it better!

Houston Chronicle Article

He Will Be Six

In a week Samuel will be six years old. He has grown up so much this past year. He loves school, his teacher, and is very eager to do all the extra homework that I give him, of which he thinks is the required school homework. Often, Esther would want "to do homework" with him. They sit together at their little table and draw, write, scribble in Esther's case, do mazes, and whatever they feel like doing.

Samuel's favorite thing to do lately is drawing, and he creates some fun things. He chooses interesting and bright but appropriate colors. His latest subjects are fire breathing dragons, himself using a variety of weapons, and our family. I will take some pictures and post them one of these days.

He also says many thought provoking things, such as: "Mommy, you are not the leader, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are." You might guess when he might have said something like this. Also he asks: "Why are you always telling us what to do? Why can't the kids decide?" He also says sweet things like: "Mommy taught me that we have a beautiful world created for us, so that we can be happy." I don't remember when I said this, but I'll take the credit for it!

His teacher says that he is a "Super Kid". When I have lunch with him on Thursdays, I can tell that he is well liked by teachers and students. We hope he continues to be for the rest of his school and college days, and life in general. We are so proud of our boy!

These two pumpkins demanded that they share a room. The plan was different, but when we were setting up Esther's bed, both of them said that they had to be in the same room. This actually solved many sleeping issues. Samuel was afraid of the dark, and Esther would scream in the middle of the night if a thunderstorm started. They would come to our bed, and then nobody would get any sleep. Now they keep each other company and rarely visit our bed in the middle of the night, which we greatly appreciate. Sometimes we'll find them sleeping in the same bed, and since Esther always falls asleep after Samuel, we'd ask her why she is sleeping in Samuel's bed and she'd say: "Samuel needs me..." What does one say to that?! I have to admit after she's completely asleep I move her so that she can get a better sleep. The room in which she slept while she was a baby was the coldest in the house, because of our crazy air-conditioning. She now likes it cold while she sleeps, and she never uses her covers. I wonder if she will outgrow this...

Exploring....?

I know that they were playing some exploring game, but I am so sorry that I don't remember what. We were just about ready to get in the car, and I saw how fun and cute they looked with their matching goggles. I am glad I took the picture. At least we have a visual memory, if nothing else.

Just had to share. Central Park a week ago...