Easter 2013 (and a tea party!)

The other morning, I was reading to the kids, and we read a Fancy Nancy book about tea parties. All of a sudden, their eyes lit up and they asked if we could have a tea party, like Fancy Nancy - alfresco ("that's Italian for outside"). We had no car, no other plans, and it was almost lunch time, so...why not? I already had some muffins cooking in the oven, and our cupboards were literally almost bare (we're getting ready to move, ya know?) so I decided to make some sun tea and that we could eat the muffins, and that could be our tea party.

I carried their little table and some chairs outside (our apartment backs to some greenery - to cover up the freeway on the other side ;) and they picked some little purple flowers they found amongst the weeds, and there we were. When they said they wanted to get fancy, I had them put on their Easter clothes, because you know what? I haven't been very good at all about picking up my camera, and thought maybe I should at least get a few pictures of them all Easter-ish and cute. So, that's the story of our little spur-of-the-moment tea party. They were too excited to sit still anywhere for very long - and we also brought out the Easter baskets and they put little trinkets in them and we had a little Egg Hunt as well, along with our tea. 

How's that for Fancy? I was the only one who wasn't as fancy. I did wear a skirt - but with flip flops. And do you know what? Fire ants started crawling on my legs and that got me jumping a bit. I am sure I didn't look very lady like. But such is life, we can't all be as fancy as, well, Nancy, I suppose :)

Today we did our Easter Baskets (we don't really talk about a bunny delivering baskets, the kids just know that they get some surprises in their baskets). We also took them to an Easter Egg Hunt at our church. It's nice to do the fun and rather sugary part of Easter the day before. Sunday, we try to focus on the more spiritual part of Easter. It's a nice balance and so far it's been a relaxing and fun weekend. There is a tradition here in Texas that is new to us, which is confetti eggs. Have any of you done the confetti eggs? I have never heard of them. Jacob's co-worker sent some home for the kids to do - and he just remembered tonight. So they'll get to do the magical confetti eggs tomorrow after church. Good times!

Though we often have picnics, I was happy that we took the time to have a little tea party, alfresco. Sipping sun tea on a weekday afternoon with three of the most darling little people in the world was something my soul needed. I love my little family more than anything and hope you all have a wonderful and memorable sabbath as we reflect upon our loving Savior at this Easter time. Happy Easter!

8/9 months

I realized a week or so ago that I failed at posting any pictures or my monthly update on all that Hazel is doing these days. So, here are a couple from the day we had our tea party. She was looking so sweet in her Easter dress. And that hat! It's her sister's sun hat, but she kept putting it on her head, and then we all laughed when Hazel would try to peek out or take it off. A game in itself! I know the next few weeks will be crazy as we're getting ready to move, so I thought I'd just write a little note so Hazey knows what was going on during those months...

Darling little Hazel...during your 8th and 9th months...

-We bought you a new house! Well, it's for all of us, but most definitely for you as well. I know you're going to love our big backyard, the neighborhood playground, and the pool. AND, you will finally get a room of your own - right in time to celebrate your first birthday! Consider it the kind of gift you only get...every now and then :)

-You are so fast! You like to stand up and "walk" around, and can stand unassisted for a few seconds. You love to grab onto Mommy's legs and just stand there, holding on. I know it won't be long until you're walking and running - but I'm going to place my bet on right around your birthday. (please, no sooner! you're already growing up way too fast!)

-You are a sheer delight! So happy and just so fun to be around! Giggles galore, and the cutest little smirky grin. 

-I think you truly will be our brunette. Mini Audrey Hepburn!

-You love love love finger foods. We've been doing baby led weaning (which is NOT weaning from breastfeeding, it's a British term that means we add food along with the liquid gold, but it's not just mashed up baby food. We did purees for the first couple of month, and I made most all of your food! But now we just follow your lead and hand you REAL food (not steak, mind you). You LOVE it and you're so proud of feeding yourself like a big girl!) Some of your favorites are banana, apple, mango, pear, melon, avocado, pasta, carrots...etc.

-You also have finally got the hang of signing!!! One day, it just all clicked and when I asked if you were "all done" with your dinner, you looked at me and started signing back "all done", with a huge grin! It's a magic moment when that happens, for sure!

-You LOVE LOVE LOVE the water! You always have, but now that it's warmed up again and we are hitting the pool - oh baby, you are SUCH a water baby! I love it! And when we start the water, whether it be for a shower or a bath, you crawl to the tub like there's no tomorrow and try to climb in! 

-Still only TWO bottom teeth, I keep thinking some more will break through at any moment - I can see the top four right through your gums...any day, any day...

-We can't imagine life without you. You are very very sweet and loved more than you can probably ever imagine! I can't believe that in a couple of weeks you'll be 10 (TEN!!!) months old! I've already started planning your first birthday party! I think you're gonna LOVE it!

-Your Momma loves you like crazy cakes!!!!

outings // UT turtle pond

We had visitors over the weekend - Jacob's parents and youngest sister came and spent a few days visiting, and it was great to see them. The kids, of course, had a blast with Grandma and Grandpa Carter in town (and they quite adored Aunt Emma, who even with a broken leg, got down on the floor to play with them a bit). 

Our company were great sports and tagged along on Monday morning bright and early to my Nature School class. I haven't said a whole lot about my class here - but I adore them. My kids LOVE it. And it's such a great excuse to get outside and explore our new city while getting plenty of sunshine and fresh air! I have a private blog for our class, which I will make public once we're done and "out" of class for the summer, for reference for anyone else who might like to start up Nature Preschool group. More on that later...Anyway, this week our outing was to the Turtle Pond on the University of Texas campus, and our topic, of course, was TURTLES! We were not disappointed with our findings at the pond, and stayed a good couple of hours. I think the kids could've stayed about all day and still enjoyed every minute!

After our circle, story, and song time, I gave each of the kids a baggie  of special turtle food, and set them loose. It was funny to see how some of the kids just about dumped it all in at once, and others took their time to sprinkle a bit here and there, luring the turtles close. 

Sorry if it's overkill of Aspen - just sitting there. But there's something about her "W" sit, her bright yellow boots, and her sloppy pigtails that just makes me smile. Plus, she wasn't running crazy, like some. She sat and waiting and watched, and then she found some rocks...and if you know anything about our girl, you know, she loves LOVES rocks!

Some of the kids also pretended to go "fishing" with the lilly pad stems. So cute!

After Nature School, we ate a picnic lunch and then headed over to the Natural History Museum (the Texas Memorial Museum) on campus (another wonderful free family thing to do here in Austin - definitely worth a visit!) where we saw lots of fossils and bones. Fun stuff! It was quite a day on campus! Jacob and I kind of reminisced about that "feeling" you get when walking around a university campus. We'd generally go hang out on UW's campus a couple of times a year - so it was nice to know we have UT in our backyard now so we can get that campus-feel fix every now and then. Who knows, maybe we have some future Longhorns in our home?

Thanks, Grandpa & Grandma & Emma - for the nice visit! We hope you enjoyed Texas!

Outings // Austin Nature and Science Center

Sheesh. It feels like forever since I've posted. I have been busy with life, long nights with my teething sweetheart of a baby, company in town, and planning lessons and outings as I've started up a Nature Preschool group here in Austin and been loving leading our little group of Nature School Troopers! A lot going on around here - not to mention chasing after caring for my own kiddos. Lastly, and to be quite honest, I've also been sitting on the fence trying to decide what to do with this here little ole blog. I've had mixed feelings for quite a while about it - and I've brought it  up before - but I've had thoughts of making it private, and thoughts of lots of other things. Mostly, I want to be sure that this little space where I share a lot about my little family is a positive place that brings a smile to readers and doesn't in any way make them feel...bad about themselves? Does that make sense at all? I have all sorts of emotions and thoughts that are too complicated to share so for now I'm just letting them stew a little while I try to decide what to do. In the meantime, here's a little post about a wonderful Saturday our family spent together a couple of weekends back. We had a BLAST! I still can't believe how lucky we are to live in such a great place - SUCH a great family city, and SUCH great weather!

The Austin Nature and Science Center is across from Zilker Park (and it's free! there are so many great low-cost or free family things to do in this city!) We spent hours there and could've stayed even longer! Fun for all!

Please don't laugh at my sunglasses. I'm a little self-conscious in shades because, in general, I think most everyone looks ridiculous in them (including me). But, when it's bright and sunny all the time and you're eyes came from Seattle, you have to wear them here and there. I found these last fall for $3 at Old Navy. I'm not sure if they're meant for guys or girls, but they do the job, and they kind of make me feel like I belong in Top Gun or something ;)  Our kids make us laugh all the time because they say "it's SO BRIGHT! Where are my sunglasses?!" Each kid, minus baby Hazel, has at least 2-3 pair of sunglasses in the car...to be prepared. Anyway...

These girls...Aspen just adores her baby sister, and her baby sister quite adores her, as well. 

And all of us adore Daddy!

Yep, it was a fun day. I can hardly wait to go back with my troop of Nature School kids! They're going to love it!