Photobucket

Trying out this photobucket slideshow stuff. Seems like a lot of steps, but maybe it might be fun???

Here are some photos from my Aunt's Easter Brunch.

*update: well that wasn't too hard!!!

Old Smokey

Kyle comforting Noah, he woke up scared and without pants.

Our rolled car and fire and police crew.

Last night, our car rolled across the street, on to the neighbors lawn, and hit the electric box. We were just minutes from going to bed when we heard a loud crash, waited a few seconds, then our power went out.

I didn't want Kyle to go outside to see what happened, because our neighborhood is wacked at night. But he did, and we saw our car across the street with a small fire under it because it hit the electric box. OMG!!!

So yes, we did call 911, and all the appropriate people came to the rescue. Everything ended up being okay, except our car's bumper. We're hoping insurance will fix that.

Still we were all wake until about 2 am, because the electric man didn't bring the right tool to turn off the electric box. We waited because we had to move our car.

I'm suspicious as to what happened. We've live here three years and the car has never rolled. It had been parked in the drive way since about 4 in the afternoon. How does it suddenly roll at midnight? The passenger side door was open. I don't think I left it open. All very fishy.

I want a car with automatic locks. A similar unfortunate car incident occurred when we last moved. Kyle got the UHaul stuck in the street - remember that?

Too much drama, not enough sleep last night.

Passover Fun

Noah and Jacob sipping their "wine" (sparkling grape juice) with spoons and relaxing on pillows.

(Eli's first Passover)

Turbulent times, are not no more. All is good, and we are on track to move as planned. Kyle, thankfully, still has his job lined up, and we are counting ourselves lucky and blessed.

We did our very first seder with our friends the Smiley's yesterday.

(That's Sean and his sister. His wife took the picture.)

We had so much fun and it was just what we needed for the kids. They tried to follow a long, but mostly sat there and sipped there juice with their spoons.
(Playing during the seder.)

The food was yummy. We made this new vegetable kugel which was very tasty, I want to make it again just because. There was also a good brisket, matzoh ball soup, passover chocolate chip cookies, and lots of wine. We also made Tispisti, a dessert made with almond meal and imbibed with sweet homemade syrup.

I don't think Noah and his friend Jacob ate, they were to busy chatting with each other and running around enjoying each others company. They did have fun looking for the afikoman, and kept saying, "Here's the afikoman!" holding up an invisible piece. When they did find it, they were rewarded with froggy treats.

I made afikoman covers. I think I should try to sell some next year. They were easy to make, and could be personalized or used for a passover craft.

It was a great start to the passover season, and I feel pumped, armed with kosher for passover recipes and a pantry filled with matzah. Still have one more family seder to go to on the last night.

Chag Sameach! (Happy Passover!)

6 months

Eli turned 6 months amongst some turbulent times.

He has two teeth coming in on the bottom and a great big head. Those are the highlights this month. His head has a circumference of 18.5 inches, and the nurse kindly charted this, showing me how it was well beyond the highest percentile. Folks, he has a great big head.

He's also:
-eating more solid foods
-sitting up a little better
-sleeping in the crib (YAY!)
-getting better at nap time
-smiles like crazy

He's got the best temperament, very chill, likes to really explore his toys. He also loves his big brother and loves to laugh with him. Sweet, sweet boy!

Turbulent times can be discussed later. I've been talking about them so much, I'm sick of thinking about what's recently hit the fan.

Boy Bits

Head lock!

Noah's been loving bouncing Eli in the saucer.

Noah -
We are trying to create a series of steps for Noah to help him going to sleep. He does not have the easiest time relaxing and enjoying sleep. His steps are:
1. Turn you lights off.
2. Get in your bed.
3. Put your head on your pillow.
4. Close your eyes.
5. Go to sleep.
6. BE VERY QUIET! (which he usually yells during naptime)

The steps seem to be working and give him some system, similar to sheep counting, for going to sleep. If we stick with it he might just get it. We have a star chart so that he gets a star every morning when he wakes up. Once his whole chart is filled up he get's a Chuck E. Cheese reward.

My other favorite game he has been playing is called "Let's be bunnies." I told him that bunnies talk very quietly and whisper. We have been playing this game when Eli is sleeping or when things get to rowdy. I love this game!

Eli-
There's a tooth about to pop from the bottom gums. I can feel it, and he certainly has been very irritable. Could also be irritable from getting off schedule this past week with our traveling.

He has been doing some rolling from tummy to back, but not consistently.

I'm am enjoying hearing both boys in the backseat of the car laughing and cutting up together. Noah laughs, Eli smiles or laughs back. It's cute.

Texas Railroad

Train watching.

Relaxing on the train ride to Rusk.

We rode the diesel train to Rusk from Palestine last week. We thought it was going to be the steam train, but apparently they switch trains every month. We'll check on that next time we go.

It was a relaxing hour and a half train ride through the country side. Eli slept and Noah watched out the window. One woman even commented on how well behaved Noah was and how luck we were. He's tricksy that way.

The train has a concession stand so we ate some popcorn. And there is a hour or so layover in Rusk. We could have planned better for that as well. Apparently we could have pre-ordered our food, which we didn't, so we were left to eat hotdogs and expired lemonade. Next time we'll take our own food or preorder so that we can check out the train stop a little more. Most of our time was spent in line, which just isn't fun.

Then we went back to Palestine. Another hour and a half drive. We did pass the steam train on the way there and on the way back. It was a fun trip and definitely one we'd like to do again. Thou, we might consider different lodging. The hotel we stayed in was strange, it was more like a poorly designed apartment. It was fine, but Palestine is sketchy. I felt less safe there than in Houston. There was also a lot of in door smoking, something else I am no longer used to.

I'm becoming such a city slicker.

New Home

Foot injury.

Houston cousins munching down on some brownies.

After a grueling week of looking at houses, losing houses we liked, and then waffling between the final house decision, we did indeed find a house. Between two visits, we looked at about 30 or so different places to live in. This house is not perfect, but it has potential. It's a 1950s ranch house with a swimming pool. The pool will be the first thing we need to manage. We'll need to put up some sort of fence to keep the little ones out.

The neighborhood has a park and things for the kids to do. Which was what ultimately helped guide our decision in this direction. I wanted a neighborhood that was active and lively with kids. This place was very active when we drove around it.

It is done and decided. Now we need to pack and get over there. Our cousins there were very helpful. Maureen cooked us dinner twice and watched Noah one day so we could look at house. I don't know how to repay people who are so kind to us. I hope to pay it forward someday.

There was some stress, some relief, and the B and B we stayed in was great. Only one minor injury. Noah fell off the bed playing Nana Dinosaur with Mary and Catherine. They technically had permission because we weren't clear what Catherine was saying about their game. Sooooo...he's all better now. Must have landed funny and maybe he'll learn a lesson about the woes of jumping on the bed.

Anyone need a house to rent in Austin?

Go Fish

Making matches.

Tonight we taught Noah how to play Go Fish. We had to be very detailed with the directions but on his level. It was very successful and he had a lot of fun playing. We did have to play with all the cards showing for the first time. We were also explaining to him how he should ask for cards to match and what that would sound like. It was fun, and I could see his wheels turning and wrapping around the game. I think we'll be playing like this for a while.

I wonder at one point kids become competitive. We aren't pushing that, it's all friendly and helping each other when we take someone else's cards. Thus far, he doesn't have a distinction between winning and losing.

I was trying to remember when I learned Go Fish. I don't remember. It's just there in the brain. It's so neat to see him learning.