Last weekend Mimi and I drove to Dallas for Taylor's 2nd birthday party. We spent a few nights with Diane and Richard and their puppies. I spent most of Saturday with Taylor and John and Mimi and Diane came over for the party. I attended John's last soccer game early Saturday morning, another cold one on the soccer field! But the sun was bright and must of been shining right in John's eyes, because when Jason made a stop on the way home, John said, "Park in the shade Daddy. I don't like the sun in my eyes!"
This is a mojito-rita, a mojito made with tequila rather than rum. I do NOT recommend it! But the restaurant, La Hacienda, on Preston Road north of SRT, is excellent. Mimi, Diane, Richard and I ate their Friday night.
Taylor wearing her 2 year old shirt. She was excited about the birthday party, but I don't think she really knew what was going to happen.
I gave both kids the superhero capes, just like the ones I had previously given to Travis, William, and Jake and Claire for birthday presents. John loved his, Taylor wouldn't leave it on. She really is into girly things. To get this picture I told John I wanted a picture of him in his cape. He face me straight on and smiled Cheese. I told him I wanted to see more of his cape in the picture, so he turned sideways, then almost put his back to me, and turned his head to look over his shoulder. From this picture, I do believe he could leap tall buildings.
The princess castle bounce house going up in the backyard. The kids were mesmerized by the expansion as it filled with air.
John and Claire are having a great time in the bounce house. I don't know what they are sharing, but John is handing something to Claire. Probably a leaf.
Jake loves to jump, especially on a trampoline or in a bounce house. If neither is available, he jumps on the bed, the couch, even the hard tile floor.
Claire can catch air too.
Taylor enjoys her birthday cupcake. All the kids were shooed outside to eat their cupcakes where crumbs don't matter.
I think Jake looks wise beyond his years in this picture. He had just told me he has a pterodactyl on his shirt.
Taylor enjoyed opening presents, but when Ashley would tell her who the present was from and to thank that person, she would try to give the present to that person. I don't think Taylor is comfortable being the center of attention of a large group of people some of whom are strangers, or at least she doesn't see them much.
Nana helps Taylor dress in her Tinkerbell costume she got for her birthday. The next picture shows Taylor in her Cinderella costume.
John, Claire, Jake and Maddy got involved in playing on the fort. They were really into some type of make-believe world, just shouting, sliding, climbing and generally having a great time. I grabbed Claire at one point and called her a pirate, she told me she was not a pirate; then I tried mermaid, nope, not a mermaid, then who are you I asked? Claire Bear, she told me. I have called her Claire Bear since she was born, and whenever she talks to me about who she is, she calles herself Claire Bear.
Taylor gives Jake a hug. He is very tolerant of hugs from girls. Notice the airplane in his hand, that is John's airplane. Jake did not want to leave it when they left, Jeremy said he cried all the way out of Dallas. I would have stopped 2 miles down the road at Target to get another airplane, but Jeremy said they are trying to help the kids learn they can't have everything they want. Besides, the next day they were taking the kids to Wings Over Houston airshow, and Jake and Claire each got an airplane there.
Here is some video, including Jake riding his new bicycle a week ago, Claire climbing the climbing wall, John running around in his cape, and Taylor blowing out her birthday candle. You can tell from her expression she is not quite sure about being the center of attention.
Last weekend I traveled north to watch a 3-4 yr old Y soccer game in 40 degree temps. Why? Because John was playing, of course. Here he is ready to start the game with Coach Jeff behind him.
It was fun and fast, and a much better concept than when his Daddy played Y soccer oh so many years ago. This was 4 kids on a team at a time, so lots of running, kicking the ball and goals scored. No concerns about sidelines, the ref/coaches would just nudge it back onto the field. No time to get bored, just perfect for the age group. Here is a video of some of the action.
I wanted to spend some time playing with Taylor, too, so we played tea party. She was sipping from her cup making all the right slurping noises until I got the camera out, then she played Silent Movie.
We did get a few minutes outside and a chance to watch Taylor climb up the slide ladder. She is much quicker at this than just 6 months ago.
She really is a cutie.
John and Taylor showed off their Halloween costumes. They enjoy wearing them around and get a lot of fun out of them even before Halloween.
We worked on some jigsaw puzzles too. John got the Spiderman puzzle I had given him a few weeks before in Houston. As soon as he got it out, Taylor ran and got the purse I had given her at the same time. What sweeties.
Later on John got out his very large puzzle. I had never seen one like this, but it was perfect for a little one. Only 24 pieces to make a 3X4' puzzle. A few days later I was watching another young man, and he had a similar size puzzle.
I babysat for the kids Saturday night and all went well. Here they are entertaining themselves on the couch...
...playing games on my IPad.
Taylor wanted me to read her a book on the couch rather than in the chair in her bedroom. I tried to get a video of her explaining all that to me, but as soon as she saw the camera, it was Silent Movie time again!
Taylor was reluctant to go to bed (i.e., cried a lot), and I let her stay up a bit longer. I set my phone alarm for 8:15, and told both kids that when the alarm went off, it was time for them to go to bed. John said, "but Taylor goes first." When the alarm went off, I stood up and Taylor started crying. I picked her up and carried her to bed, John headed to the bathroom. I put Taylor down, told her good night and walked out. She was silent as soon as I closed the door and asleep almost immediately. John went right on to bed too, and was asleep within 15 minutes. I like using the phone alarm, it's like something else is telling them it's bedtime, not just me.
On Sunday, Taylor was showing me how she could read. That prompted John to get a book and show me how he could read. So glad they enjoy reading!
Here is a project of Ashley's that is quite impressive. These are pictures she has taken (all but the wedding pic) and printed, then mounted on canvas that she had painted black. Looks great, and Jason only had to hang them twice to get the arrangement right!
I stayed at Diane's house while in Dallas, but she and her husband were in Austin for the UT game. I cared for the dogs while they were gone. The dogs can't wait til I come stay with them again!
