Bluebonnets and lots of Indian Paintbrushes

This past weekend we headed out of town to see the bluebonnets.  We were a little late in the season though and did not see as many bluebonnets as we would have liked. However, we saw many Indian Paintbrushes, the red flowers in the pictures, which were also very beautiful.  This was Maggie's first time to see the Bluebonnets.  She said: "Had much fun with the purple flowers!"

Spring Break

For Spring Break we went camping for three days to Goliad State Park.  We had a great time being with family, friends, and everything beautiful that nature has to offer.  Our major activities were kayaking on the San Antonio River, biking, playing games, taking pictures of red cardinals, and just being outdoors.  It was a true escape from the daily grind...

This is our car ready and full to the brim with anticipated fun:

The little travelers:

Setting up camp.  (This was Maggie's very first camping trip, excluding the time camping while I was pregnant with her. )

Breakfast:

Accompanied by buzzards:

The camping ground was next to a historic site - an old Spanish Mission.

Making Cobra Bracelets:

Playing with a Frisbee:

Bows and Arrows:

Biking:

Many kayak trips along the calm waters of the San Antonio river.

The Red Cardinals:

Esther's Artwork

Esther's "Chicken" was chosen to be at an exhibit.  Her artwork and 24 others made it to this exhibit selected from 700 other students' artwork.  We are so proud of her!  I love her chicken-happy and colorful, just in the right places. After this exhibit her artwork has been hanging at the front of her school until the Houston Rodeo ends.  

She is so shy, still.  Esther would not stand in front of her painting by herself, so daddy needed to stand with her for courage.

How can you not love this woman?!  She has done what I have only dared to dream about...

Funny, but you should watch to the end...

Maggie and Rody

Icicles on our rosebush

This is what shut down our schools last month.  A little ice on the road and a few icicles in the morning.  How can you not love winters in Houston???!!! I will miss winter so much in a month or so...  It's been a beautiful one...

Reading Good Night Moon

Maggie

She is so fun!  And probably will be a little spoiled.  She loves to run! Dancing for her is running in circles.  She is so happy!  And sweet and polite.  She says "Thank you mommy" all the time, and lately she's been saying "Yes, ma'am", indiscriminately of course and her daddy hears it too.  She loves her sister Esther.  The last time she was getting a vaccine, she did not cry for mommy and daddy as she has in the past, but through her tears she said: " I won' Tamuel!" Tamuel is the name she's given Esther.  We don't know how she ever came up with it, and we have tried to correct it many times over, but she refuses to call her "Esther".  At this point we hope this is something that sticks for ever.

Central Market

I LOVE Central Market.  The produce from this store does not go bad in the refrigerator just after a week.  I also buy flowers there, because they not only have a variety, but they package them for you so neatly and beautifully.  It is rare, but if the flowers, hydrangeas in my case, wilt too quickly, when I return to Central Market and simply ask which are the freshest flowers and casually mention that the last ones wilted quickly, the employee behind the counter apologizes and without asking further questions gives me the best four hydrangeas they currently have and writes a ticket that says No Charge...  I have shown up at the deli counter 10 min before closing and asked to have a few things sliced, which obveously will take longer than 10 min, but my meat or cheese is sliced and packaged with a smile.  They even take the time to ask me whether I prefer a container or a plastic bag!  These few reasons will be enough for me to keep going to this store again and again, in spite of the half an hour drive to it, but there is more.  I have not mentioned yet the perfect flow of the store, the countless variety of breads, cheeses, meats, chocolates, fresh organic produce at wildly acceptable prices, and of course the free bread and cheese samples.  And last but not least the little piggy bank at the front of the store which will take my children's quarters for a fresh banana, apple, or a pair and thus make their experience just as good as mine.  It is easy to LOVE this store.