Monday, March 29, 2010

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Princess for a day

Not me...Katie was the princess! I just got to dress up as Snow White at her 6th birthday party!

Six year old girl at party: "What's your real name?"
Me: "Snow White"
Girl: "No. Your REAL name."
Me: "Snow White" (geez, kid)
Girl: "No it's not, your hair's too long" (referencing Snow White likeness on balloon).
Me: "I just didn't curl it, but I am totally Snow White."
Girl: "How old were you when you made the movie?"
Me: "20"
Girl: "How old are you now?"
Me: "21" (what is this 20 questions?!)
Girl: "So, it wasn't that long ago."
Girl: "Did you marry a Prince?"
Me: "Yes"
Girl: "Where is he?"
Me: "Right over there" (pointing to Jeff across the room)
Girl: "He doesn't look like a prince."
Me: "Well, he is to me." (now shut up and eat your freakin' cake!

1 of my dwarfs was shy and didn't pose for the picture
Oh...there she is...Grumpy.



Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Violet Reading

Violet can read, sort of.

Aunt Rene and Violet in Florida

Violet misses her Aunt Rene, and I do too!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Play

Playing with Violet is a lot of fun, but sometimes the magic is in sitting back and watching her play by herself. This morning she was focused and figuring things out. First reading books and talking to herself, then pretending to cook in her kitchen, then nesting and un-nesting her stacking blocks, and finally pushing her toy car around where she finally ended up at my feet, looked up and said "Hey, Mom, wanna play?". Gotta go...

Sunday, March 21, 2010

RockClimbing.MOV

Violet "Talking"

As a matter of fact, it IS my first rodeo.

Elsie, the Borden cow, I asked for her autograph, but she just ignored me.Violet thought the best part was the corn dog


Did you know, they have pig races at the rodeo? Well...they do.

Voted Today's Picture of the Day

We voted this one Today's Picture of the Day. Jeff gets the credit
But this one isn't bad either

SXSW 2010

Austin is a great town - for lots of reasons - not the least of which is FREE OUTDOOR CONCERTS! After some debate about potential parking nightmares and missed bedtimes, we decided to go for it and join the throngs of people downtown for SXSW. It was a perfect night thanks to "rock star" parking and a great Cheap Trick show!



Impressive. Most impressive, but you are not a Jedi yet.


Jeff and Violet, standing in the middle of 6th street

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Violet's Playscape: Day 2

A quick power wash and an old playscape is new again
Dad making a few finishing touches
Violet trying out the rock wall
It's finished!

Violet's Playscape: Day 1

Lisa and Roger delivering the playscape. There was only one way to do it...cut a hole on the fence large enough to drive a TRUCK through.Violet eating lunch on the deck and supervising the delivery
Starting to wonder what we got ourselves into
You might be a redneck if...
Step 1: Fix hole in fence.

String Cheese Incident

Austin Parks Day

Here are some photos of Austin Parks Day. Jeff volunteered to plant a few hundred plants at Republic Square Park, a park designed by the company he works for - TBG. Violet was very proud of her dad and came out to watch.

This grate protects a 450 year old tree in the park. Violet liked crawling around, and around, and around it like a race track.
Violet in downtown Austin
Supervising Dad

Beets me

I can't stand them, but Violet likes her beets.



Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Milestone: From 2 naps to 1

It's been interesting transitioning Violet from 2 naps to 1. On the advice of the pediatrician, after I reported that Violet's afternoon nap was creeping later and later and was dangerously close to interfering with bedtime, she suggested that we try to "keep her awake" until after lunch. This would consolidate both shorter naps into one long afternoon nap.

On the first day of "Operation 1 Nap" Violet fell asleep after lunch alright - right in her high chair!

On the second day, Violet ate lunch at 10:40, took a solid nap, and I could barely keep her awake through dinner. She fell asleep in my arms at 6:45 and didn't wake up until 8:45 this morning (1 hr 45 min later than usual)!!

Can't wait to see how today goes.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Milestone: No more bottles

This weekend we transitioned Violet from formula to whole milk and stopped using bottles. She is now using a cup 100% which means we don't have to buy and mix anymore formula!! And we don't have to wash anymore bottles (best part). She made the transition with out any to-do and loves milk. This transition also means she now gets all her nutrition from her 3 meals a day. We try all kinds of flavors - today she's having beets for the first time. Can't wait to see how she feels about them.