Hooray for Fall!

One of our favorite things to do is go to the park with our neighborhood friends late in the afternoon after Kate's nap.  Well, in the summer when it is 134 degrees in the afternoon it just does not happen.  The last few days have reminded us why we love Austin's weather so much.  Yesterday afternoon we went with the Jacksons to Doss park and had a great time.

Kate and Drake playing around

Charlie and Alexander hugging.  Such good friends!

Curious George comes to Austin!

In light of Hans Rey's birthday, the creator of Curious George, our local bookstore had a birthday party!  Curious George was there, and there was singing, dancing, a puppet story-time and of course, birthday cake.  Kate was weary of Curious George, but Charlie loved the story time and having his picture taken with Curious George.

We left with a monkey for Kate, which has quickly become her number 2 after her beloved baby, and Charlie's first chapter book!

Doing the hokey pokey

A very happy Charlie!

Zilker Zephyr

On Uncle Keith's last day in Austin we decided to take him down to Zilker Park to play and ride the Zilker Zephyr train.  We spent a bit at the park first.  The kids love the musical instruments they have and the HUGE playground.

Banging away and loving it!

This is what happens when you ask Uncle Keith to put sunscreen on Charlie.  Nice right?  

The boys enjoying the ride.  Love how Uncle Keith represents!

Mommy and little Kate on the train

Uncle Keith was sad to leave his niece and nephew.  Wouldn't you be if you had to leave this?

Uncle Keith is Here!

Uncle Keith got here Monday for a nice visit.  Charlie and Kate could not be happier to have him here.  Kate wakes up and yells from her room, "Uncle Keith, where are you?  Come on!"  Lots of hugs and kisses from his niece and nephew.  Paul is thrilled too because he has a pool buddy in the evening.

Yesterday Uncle Keith took Charlie to Chucki-Cheese for some boy time while Kate napped.  Although yesterday was a sad day for us, as it marked five years since my father has passed away, we made it a happy day because we celebrated Charlie turning 4 1/2!  Apparently half-year birthdays are all the rage when you are so young.  Cupcakes all around from one of our favorites - Madcakes.  Yummy!

Today we all went to the Hoppin House for some jumping and foam pit fun.  Kate, the little minx, loved jumping into the foam pit.  She would yell "to infinity and beyond" and jump.  Yes, Buzz Light Year in Toy Story.

G-O-A-L!

Charlie scored 3 goals this past Saturday at his game.  Here is a video of one of them.  Please excuse the screeching Mommy in the background.  I got a little excited.

Kate Singing!

Kate loves to sing - namely her ABCs, You are my Sunshine, & Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  However, as soon as she sees Mommy with the camera she pouts and turns away.  I managed to capture her with my phone here.  She did most of her ABCs, and then if you listen carefully she goes right into you are my sunshine, starting with "how much I love you....so don't take my sunshine away." 

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes!

Last weekend we had some friends over for dinner who had a 7 year-old girl.  Being a bit older and fashionable, she had shoes with lights that flashed when she walked.  Our Charlie thought these shoes were the coolest things he has ever seen.  Later on in the weekend I took the kids to the shoe store just to get their feet measured to see if they could wear their crocs through the end of the fall season.  Well, Charlie spotted light up spiderman sneakers.  I hated them.  He loved them.  We did not get them at the time, but I said if he was good all week maybe we would get them later.  He needs sneakers for the fall/winter anyway.  For the week, all we heard about were the light up spiderman sneakers.  We decided on Fun Friday we would go get them.  (Charlie goes to school M-TH, Friday is our "Fun Friday," - the kids and I do something fun to end the week).

When we got there they did not have the real spiderman - aka, red and blue and hideous - shoes in his size, but they did have plain black ones.  Made me feel a bit better and Charlie decided that these were even nicer.  Charlie in his new shoes!

Those of you who really know Kate must be wondering what was Kate doing in the shoe store?  Oh, she took off her crocs immediately and followed the poor salesman while we went looking for Charlie's shoes going "shoes please," "Kate shoes."  Then she kept picking up any shoe she could reach trying to get them on her feet.  Considering she would need proper sneakers anyway, I decided to have her try some on.  Well, when the salesman went to the back to get her size, I spotted a pair of black ballet flats in her size.  I figured lets see how these fit while we wait.  Put them on her and that was it.  "My shoes."  Would not let me take them off for anything.  Refused to try on the sneakers.  Screamed her bloody head off when I tried to take them off.  Smiled and laughed and said "my shoes" as she pointed to her feet.  Kate and her shoes.

Brings back memories of when she was 15 months and had to wear a pair of red mary janes out of Target because when I tried to take them off she had a complete breakdown (we wore them out of the store still tied together). 

More Snuggles Mommy

Every night before Kate goes to sleep she gets stories and then we snuggle and sing lullabies.  By the time we are done she is already ready to go in her crib and go to sleep.  Last night when I asked her if she was ready for 'night night,' she looked at me and said "no night night Mommy - more snuggles." Then she put her head back on my shoulder.  More snuggles it is.

Thank you Internet!

I have to wonder what parents of inquisitive 4 year olds did before the invention of the internet...namely google.   Either they made up answers or had a lot more general "how things work" knowledge than I have.  Some of the questions Charlie asked me today were "how are rocks made," "why do farmers were overalls" and "how do helicopters land".   Oy vey.  This last one I tried to play off by saying, "just like airplanes honey, and you've been on an airplane."  Nice try.  While gesturing intently with his hands, he exasperatingly explained that airplanes land on a runway while going forward while helicopters land going straight down.  Right.  I guess I will just have to wait for the day he has a legal question.

Kate's Day at the Children's Museum

Since Charlie had school on Monday and Kate was home with me, I decided to take her to the Austin Children's Museum for baby bloomer's day.  On Monday mornings they have a sing-a-long, story-time and they are only open for children three and under.

Kate had a great time!  She danced to the music and then we explored the museum.  I must say she was a bit easier to keep up with than Charlie used to be at her age!  Charlie and I used to go all the time when he was little before he was in school.  He would get so excited we would end up just running around without really spending any time in any one place.

Kate had a couple of favorites.  One was the kitchen area.  She spent a while pretending to wash her hands, and then making me all types of food.

Washing her hands

Cooking for Mommy

Dancing to the music

They had a whole exhibit of life-size games.  She loved the chess board.

Funny, her very favorite thing was a little fish that had a hole on top.  There were about 12 balls that you put in the hole, then when the fish was filled to the top you pulled a board off the bottom and all the balls fell out.  Well, this kept her occupied for a good twenty minutes (Hours in 2 year old time).  Umm, can I buy one of these somewhere?  

She was so determined.  So cute to watch

Charlie's First Soccer Game!

We signed Charlie up for his first soccer team this fall.  Well, a couple of weeks before the season was to begin we got a telephone call that they could not find a coach and if somebody did not step up they were going to disband the team.  We called our friends the Rileys, whose son Tripp is also on Charlie's team.  With both husbands traveling relentlessly, we figured the only way we could do it was if the Dads would co-coach and Elizabeth and I manage the team.  So far so good!

This morning Paul and Wes got up and took a full day training coarse to learn how to coach the boys.  Dare I say, but I think Paul is now getting very excited about the whole coaching job. Even though he asked me as he left the house at 9 am this Sunday morning "what on earth did you sign me up for?", he came home at the end of the day excited and happy, with pages of notes.  Love my husband so much.  He works so hard and still has made it a point to make time to do this for Charlie.  He is the best!

Charlie had his first game this past Saturday.  With no practices, because our first one was rained out by the monsoon we had, the boys took to the field.  Paul and Wes coached brilliantly.  The boys had a fabulous time.  They play 3 v. 3, no goalie.  Pretty much its every man for themselves, in that I did not see on pass the entire game. :-)

Pre-game huddle

Shaking hands with the other team after the game

Buddies - Charlie and Tripp

First Day of School

Charlie and Kate had their first day of school this week!

Charlie is back at the same school, but this year he is a Penguin in a new room. Very exciting!  For about a month now we have been counting down the days until he would go back to school.  Last year he was a Dino and he absolutely loved his teachers.  It was hard to say goodbye to them but he was looking forward to being a Penguin, and being in the oldest class in the school.  On the first day he was ready!  Got his lunch and backpack all packed and waited by the door until it was time to leave.  His teacher said he had a fabulous day!

Kate had her very first day at school.  She is a Buddy, and goes to school two mornings a week.  Being that we have been taking Charlie there for two years, she was used to the environment but I did not know how she would do when we left her and said goodbye.  Well, we got a "bye Mommy, bye Daddy, wuv you." She was fine.  I arrived 15 minutes early to pick her up thinking that maybe she had enough at that point.  No, she was dancing and playing and having a grand old time.  Her teacher told me that Kate was a little helper all day, and that she talks a lot.  haha. :-)  Kate also sang "twinkle twinkle little star" for all her classmates.  Funny, when I asked her what she did in school, she informed me "play with babies Mommy."  Apparently her class is full of babies, but not Kate - she is a big girl. :-)

When we went for the second day, I thought she would cry knowing this time that I was going to be leaving for a while.  Sure enough, when we entered the room every single child was screaming for their mother.  My adrenaline started pumping and I was trying to gage how Kate was going to do.  Well, she wanted down and walked over to the creative play section.  I followed her and said goodbye, and I got a "bye Mommy, wuv u."  Yup, that is our Kate. :-)

Kate all ready on her first day!

Kisses for his little sister

With Daddy

Snuggles with Mommy

 

Kate Marie's 2nd Birthday!

Well, our little Kate turned 2 on August 20th.  We call her a minx.  That pretty much sums up her personality, which she has tons of!  Loves to say hello to everybody and is almost always smiling.  She is very vocal, pretty much speaking in sentences.  She knows most of her ABCs, can count to 10, and can sing twinkle twinkle little star and you are my sunshine.  Her brother is her hero.  She follows him around and tries to do everything he does.

Kate gives the best hugs.  Her little arms reach around your neck and she squeezes so hard.  Her favorite books are the ABC book by Dr. Seuss, Barnyard Dance, and an Elmo book she has.  We read these three books every single night.  The other day in the car Charlie and I were able to recite Barnyard Dance out loud by heart because we know it so well.  She loves to look at her books and pretends to read them.  Her favorite toys are her baby dolls, and her purses.  She loves to throw her purse on her shoulder, pick up her baby and tell me she is going "bye bye."  Trying to be like Mommy I suppose.

She started swim lessons and has absolutely no fear.  She swims under water to her instructor.  She loves the water and loves putting her face in it while trying to blow bubbles.  I'll catch her singing the songs to her baby that her instructor sings to her.  Having an older brother has made her quite fearless.  Some of the falls she takes I would think would leave a normal person incapacitated.  Kate, however, gets up, wipes her hair out of her face and keeps going.

We had a little party for her at our home.  Since it was high vacation time being the week before school started a lot of her little friends could not make it, but it was a great time with good friends!  Mema and GG were here from NY too so that made it even better.

Blowing out her candle on her actual birthday

All dressed for her party

Playing with her friends in the kiddie pool

Group shot

Four generations - Kate, Mommy, Mema and GG

Charlie and his ladies waiting patiently for birthday cake

Smearing her name for good luck, in what was quite possibly the most delicious cake I have ever tasted!  

World Cup Final

The World Cup was big in our house.  I think we probably watched 80% of the games.  Charlie and Kate had both US and England jerseys and wore them proudly for our country's games...so needless to say they did not get very much wearing!

For the Final, we had our favorite World Cup fan family over to watch with us - the Castanos!  Aunt Merry was here studying for her Boards so she took the day off and joined us as well.  It was a fun day and the kids had fun playing around while we watched the game.

Bela and Kate coloring

Sofia and Charlie flying their pipe-cleaner airplanes off our staircase

Watching the game

Dinosaurs in San Antonio!

On a Friday in August, four friends and I decided to take our 10 children to San Antonio for the Dinosaur exhibit at the Witte Museum.  The exhibit was just wonderful.

Our crew looking at the dinosaurs. 

Digging for dinosaur bones.

I think this was Charlie's favorite part.

After looking at all the dinosaurs we decided to check out the rest of the museum.  They had a massive science center that the kids had a ball in.

This was Kate's favorite part,  You danced on it and the lights would light up.  She spent LOTS of time here laughing.  

After exploring the rest of the museum, we headed over to Kiddie Park, which is an amusement park made for preschoolers.  We had a picnic lunch and a cake for our friend Ms. Elizabeth's birthday.  All the kids helped her blow out the candles.  After that it was time to go on the rides!

Cake time!

On the boat ride with Tate 

Charlie and Tripp holding hands waiting to get on the boats.  So cute. :-)

Kate having a good old time!