A Walk To Remember

We participated in the Baton Rouge Alzheimer's Association's "A Walk/Run to Remember."   Clarification:  The Walk portion.   We did the 1 mile fun walk and raised a little money to donate to this important and family changing disease.  I was going to do it by myself with the boys because Chris had  a prior engagement, but he and his mom were able to do it with us, thank goodness.  We weren't last, but  Adam did take two Port-A-Potty breaks and we stopped at all the water tables.  Caleb only wanted to walk on the yellow lines of the road or jump off all the curbs we passed.  It was interesting and we felt great doing it together. 

Pre-playing at the children's area



Starting Off

The boys did a great job walking a whole mile!! 

Pumpkin Picking

Adam's preschool puts out a pumpkin patch every year for the public to choose pumpkins.  They  also organize the pumpkin flats into rows and designate each row for a different charity.  A portion of your pumpkin cost is put toward the charity row your pumpkin was on.  Neat.  The boys and I had a great time choosing their two pumpkins.  We saw so many different varieties.  Adam only wanted a prize winning gigantic one that would cost $40.  We had to compromise.  Caleb spent the whole time trying to see what size pumpkin he could lift.

Adam's Choice

Caleb's pick doubles as new seat

Camping In the Swamp

We met my family for a weekend of camping and fun a few weeks ago.  Having babysitters gave Chris and I a little bit of time to do some of our neglected hobbies, mountain biking and kayaking.  We rode about 6 miles on the trails of Chicco State Park and only ran into 2 snakes, only one was poisonous.  Chris kicked the other one off the pier so we could ride on by.  I was earnestly making my way up the hill in the opposite direction.  I've run over snakes before on my bike and it's not something I like to push my luck with.  The next morning, we took the kayaks down through the swampy waters around the campground.  I have never experienced anything like this water.  I've been in some yucky water before, but this wasn't yucky, sort-of.  It was so thick with vegetation just under the surface that I freaked several times.  Normally, if you're paddling and you hit something underwater, it's a fish or something.  Here, your paddle hit something on every stroke. Also, the cypress trees were so close together that I started to get claustrophobic  weaving between them.  All I could do was imagine what was just under the surface of the green algae.  This was THE exercise in self-control and not losing it.  Chris had no problems of course.  I made it though and by the time we headed back I was a lot more comfortable and could actually enjoy the beauty and quiet of this water.

Checking things out 

We would have gotten lost in this swamp if we didn't track our route on the GPS we brought with us

Looking for gators from the pier

Beautiful but claustrophobic

Hundreds of wood ducks swimming and flying around us. 

Chris Turns 33

We had another fantastic, new to us dinner for Chris' 33 birthday.  We have a new book by a chef we like from TV,  Rick Bayless. He's an authentic Mexican inspired chef so I used all his recipes for the menu.   I started by making homemade margaritas.  It took a sink-load of limes! I made a pitcher full that was supposed to serve 12 people 6oz. drinks.  Chris and I drank more than half of the picture ourselves.  This recipe was amazing and is now our new favorite drink. 

I then made a Mango Guacamole with chips.  The main course was Grill-Braised Short Ribs with White Beans, Shiitake Mushrooms, and Beer.  This pot sat on the grill and slow smoked for a few hours.  It was delicious!!

First, grilling the short ribs over a hot fire

Simmering and smoking on the grill

The Ribs are served without the liquid on a bed of the beans, mushrooms, onions, and peppers.  Check out the margaritas in our wine glasses.  I didn't have martini glasses so we improvised. 

The Impossible Cake aka Choco-Flan.  Didn't come out pretty like the picture, but it ate good.

Opening presents.  The boys decorated their own wrapping paper.

Adam Learns To Ride A Bike

We got a notice from Adam's preschool that they were going to do a Ride-A-Thon for St. Jude's.  The kids would ride a bike of their choice around the parking lot in order to raise money.  So, we thought this was a perfect motivating factor for getting those training wheels off of Adam's bike.  We've tried in the past, but really not dedicated the time/effort to the training and Adam would inevitably end up scared, crying, mad, or whining...or a combination of all.  Now we had a deadline...today actually.  He worked so hard and over the course of 2 days, and a total of about 20 minutes practice time,  he did it!!  Chris and I couldn't believe how fast he caught on.  There were some spills, but as the expert parents we are, we brushed it off and kept going.  Here are a few pics of the beginning process.  The result is a kid who asks to go ride his bike everyday and a kid who has found a whole new independence with what he can now do "All By Himself!!"

Success!!

This was one of those learning moments

Visiting Aunt Teresa

I'm so behind on blogging. I can't seem to sit down and devote the time even with Adam in school now.  Then, last week, we had a piece break on the computer and it wasn't worth fixing. So we got a new computer which took a little longer to get back to blogging.  Anyway,  A few weeks ago we drove to spend a blitz weekend with my sister now that she's moved to Austin.  We wanted to see her new place and where she works.  This trip had a cloud on it though because at the very beginning of it, Chris got food poisoning that didn't end up leaving his system for a week.  So, we did as many fun things that we could while Chris felt good enough to leave the apartment. 

We stopped in Houston to visit Uncle Jeff and his family for one night.  We took advantage of the fun pool and play time with the cousins!!  Here's Caleb trying on some goggles.

When we got to Aunt Teresa's apartment we had to try her pool out too, of course!!  It had a great view because it's on top of one of the hills overlooking Hwy 360.   Gorgeous!!

We took off to Zilker Park to fly kites one morning.  The boys loved it and we adults had a blast too!

More on this vacation later...all the other pics are on the old computer. 

Adam's First Day of Preschool!!

This was it!  Adam walked into his very first classroom this morning.  I was thinking about it and the first day of school will only happen a few times his whole life.  He was a little nervous but as soon as he crossed the threshold of the classroom there was much to do.  I gave him a quick hug and let him go.  Caleb and I turned and headed out alone.  Since that moment I've been struck by how odd it is to be without him this morning as I drive and do laundry and play with Caleb.  I've pretty much spent 24 hours a day of 4.5 years with this kid since he was born. I know it will become the norm because he will go to school everyday, but I'm trying to soak up how this transition feels and remember it.  He's so smart and humorous and such a gentle soul.  My hope is that this school year gives him the confidence to go into Kindergarten and the playmates he's been starving for.  Good luck Adam!!  We love you!!

The night before school, he picked out his clothes and got his bag ready.

Walking in to school...looking around nervously.

Walking down the long hall to his classroom

Found his Monkey Room.  I did not get one good picture of his happy face.  He kept looking around at everything.

His teacher, Mrs. Sheila, showing the kids to their cubbies.  Adam's seat is in the middle of the horseshoe at the green table right now.  She has lots of centers around the room for the kids. 

After a great first day, Adam was all smiles and full of details.  I treated him to Cane's Chicken for lunch as he told me about it.  Notice his sticker on his shirt.  He was very proud that he did not have to move his Monkey on the behavior chart!!  He will earn a piece of candy if he stays on green all week.  He hurt his leg on the slide and got an ice pack!  He was the first to find the class mascot, a hidden Curious George monkey.   He always washed his hands after using the bathroom.  He got to paint a monkey with 3 colors, but it has to stay at school.  And he came home singing,  "Where Is Pumpkin, Where is Pumpkin,"  I thought that was funny. 

Caleb telling me about his day without Adam.  He kept calling for him and asking about him all morning.  I think Caleb and I will have some great one-on-one time this year.