Summertime

G has decided that he is on an all watermelon diet. I bought our first one of the season yesterday, and he has literally eaten the entire thing and NOTHING else! Ah, summer...if it wasn't so messy!

Ode to Steve

I swear Steve was letting me "pet" him through his plastic tank Thursday night. Sure he's had his ups and downs, floating near the bottom, loosing some fins around Christmastime, but he pulled through and persevered. I liked how he greeted me in the kitchen by swimming up close to where I was standing and the way his light gave off a warm glow. How was I to know that Steve was saying good-bye to me on Thursday? I feel quite guilty that I didn't linger at his tank a little longer.

Today Gregory and I buried Steve in our front garden out by my beautiful rose bush. Beforehand I had tried explaining the concept of death to the three year old by telling him that it's when your heart goes to Jesus and your body goes to sleep. Is it really that simple? I hope so.

After I stuck Steve in the ground, G. couldn't stop staring at his lifeless body, then he said, "Mommy, in heaven there is a great big swimming pool." Couldn't have phrased it better myself!

Our good friend Steve resided with us from March 2009-May 21, 2010.

He was a good fish.

For You Mom

Somebody fell asleep last night singing "The Lonely Goatherd" with Goat :)

Safari School

On this past rainy Saturday, G. and I headed down to the  zoo for Safari School where we learned a lot about sea lions. 1.  Sea Lions have ear buds, seals don't. 2.  Sea Lions can climb stairs because they use all flippers like feet, seals do not. 3.  The ends of a sea lions flippers have a waxy part to them to help them push the water.

While the sea lions were cute, nothing beat seeing Baby Baylor. It was his first adventure out in public and because it was drizzly, we got to stand there and watch him romp for half an hour without a crowd. G. wanted him to come to our house to play!

G wanted to see the birds after Baylor and while we were in the bird garden, the rain started pelting us! We ran all the way to the car laughing, getting soaked. I think that was the part he liked best!

Prom Part II

Here are the more "official" pictures of Matt and Linda on their way to prom!

Prom Part I

I borrowed these pictures from one of my former students, Lindsday Childs (stunning blonde in blue dress). Last night Gregory and I got to be a part of the pictue taking festivities at Carlton Woods as we sent Matt and his date, Linda, off to his Junior Prom.

 Linda, Matt's date is the one in the long pink dress. She looked gorgeous! My favorite dress is the long Scarlett O'Hara looking one.  Doesn't this look like a Miss America contest?

Lindsay, Meaghan Kanady, Linda, and Christianne Johnson (former history students all!)

After these pictures, Matt and Linda along with a few other couples went to America's to eat then off to the Prom at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott. Good times!

April 24

Happy 4th Year, Addison! Thank you so much for inviting us to your birthday party at Build-A-Bear. Thanks to you, I know sleep with all these babies every night. Tygger Panda is as cuddly as can be. He is also a very good knight. Than you!

Will ya look at all the pink in this picture? Oh how we love cookie cake!

Addison and her pink unicorn.

G. and his panda "Tygger".

 Later that day we toured a few tonwhouses up on the East Shore, where Mommy really wants to live. One can always dream....

Kansas

This past weekend we were lucky enough to travel to Wichita to celebrate an early mother's day with Mema (green sweatshirt) and Nana. G. had a great time visiting with Reverend and Mrs. Houghton and Ed. We both liked Mema's new place!

On Sunday, we took Mema and Nana to the Wichita Zoo to show them the flamingos AND baby animals AND horses.

Gregory and mommy took the boat ride again to see the lemurs and lots and lots of turtles who were sunbathing themselves. One of mommy's all time favorite places is the Wichita Art Museum. When we had a little time to spare, we went over there to walk on the cool glass floor and the skyline of Wichita (ha, ha!).

On our exit and entrance, G. had to greet the bronze buffalo. I think there is a picture of him way back when with this buffalo too!

We got to eat at La Galette where mommy had her favorite split pea/lentil soup and G. snacked on yummy meringues before going to Botanica. Is there any place prettier in Kansas? Visiting with the locals...

and feeding the big gold fish. Gregory has been wanting to climb a tree and this was his best attempt yet. On Monday afternoon we got to visit with Papa and Grandma Joan at Riverside Park where mommy used to play (on steel equipment way back when).

 

and G. finally had the chance to climb a tree just at his level. Perfect!It was so good to see you all.

P.S. Here is a picture of a house that my great-great grandfather Taylor built and lived in.