Way Back When-esday

I cleaned out my closet the other day (yay, me!) and I found this. Joseph typed this, all by himself, when he was only four and a half. I had forgotten how advanced they really were at that age. (I had not forgotten how crazy they were about sports.)

And, although we often lament the fact that our poor, third/fourth children have never gotten the attention, and therefore had the early achievements, of their first-born brothers, guess what? Helen is starting to read! And I don't think Will is that far behind, if we just make the effort.

Which is easier said than done, of course.

Austin or bust!

Last weekend, I took the first of four planned one-on-one trips with each kid. Joe and I went to Austin. Just the two of us. For two whole days. What fun.

We went to the Capitol. Twice. Once on Saturday when we got there. And again on Sunday so Joe could take pictures with his iPod. He took pictures for an hour and a half. How cool is that?


Joe on the south steps of the Capitol Building


Joe standing on the seal in the Capitol Rotunda.


My little Capitol Building photographer - he had so much fun!

We hit a couple of my favorite Austin restaurants from the year I spent there in 1996-97. Tex-Mex at Maudie's for lunch on Saturday, and Hut's hamburgers for lunch on Sunday. Neither place has changed much.

We did what Joe wanted to do--which was play putt putt and go bowling. Sure, we could do that in Houston too, but not with only the two of us. We played only one game of putt putt due to the record-breaking heat, but we bowled three games. He loved it.


Putt putt - notice Joe's hole in one.


The putt-putt place had snocones, too. Guess which color he picked.


Ah, bowling. It has air conditioning!

We planned to see the bats at Congress Street Bridge, and our hotel was right near the bridge. Little did we know that this past weekend was the seventh annual . . . Batfest!! Our hotel had all sorts of information available about the bats, and a live bat to see. And the bridge was closed off to traffic for the festival--lots of vendors, food booths, and two live bands. It was still HOT (106 degrees at 8pm!!) but very cool. We saw the bats--all 2 million of them--come out just after 8pm. According to what we learned, they went to eat 20,000 lbs. (which Joe--ever the math kid--quickly noted is 10 tons) of insects and were back to the bridge by morning. Pretty amazing.


Congress Street Bridge - with Batfest and people waiting for the bats to emerge.


Self-portrait of Joe and me waiting for the bats.


Can you see them? IPhone pictures don't do them justice.

We also stopped by the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, including the gift shop where Joe ever so carefully picked out a gift for each family member. He did a great job. (At least after I talked him out of the garish, blinking, keychains with each person's name on them.)


Joe brought back an Austin puzzle for Helen, an Austin toy truck for Will, a football (from the museum's Texas High School Football exhibit) for Charlie, and a Texas flag themed golf ball for Cort. Good choices!

All in all, a great trip. I'm so glad I decided to do this. Next, I'm taking Charlie to San Antonio. Will and Helen will each get a trip in 2012. I can't wait!

Wordless Wednesday

20 Questions

During carpool to and from summer camp today, the boys' friend Cate taught them how to play 20 Questions. I got this report from Cate's mom, who drove them home:

So Joe announces his first topic: a liquid. Charlie's first guess: "rum punch."

Later Cate chooses the topic: a place. They ask questions and narrow it down to a store in Houston. Joe's guess: "Spec's."

Cort is so proud.

*For those out of town, Spec's is the largest liquor store in Houston.

Taking pictures of our kids at the beach

As you can see, our standards weren't high.

But we did get one cute one of them all.

What a great, great trip.