An Aquarium and a Cold Beach

We all went together for one of Neil's business trips to Corpus Christi recently.  The girls like to play in the fountain downtown.  We like it too because its enough water to get wet without being dangerous, and there's a ready place for parents to sit down and watch the action.  

 

 

 We didn't check the weather before leaving Houston, so when Friday dawned cold and windy, we were unprepared and couldn't do much outside.  Fortunately one of Neil's co-workers offered to get us into the State Aquarium on Saturday morning with her membership.  The girls loved it.  Thanks Kim!!!

 Two girls goofing in the viewing dome of one tank.

 Julia loved chasing the dolphins back and forth trying to keep up with them.

 

 We'd promised Julia from early in the week that we were taking her to the beach so despite the cold and wind she wouldn't be satisfied until we'd spent at least a few minutes on the sand.  Her pigtails give you an idea of how hard it was blowing.

Cubbies Uniform

Can you believe Julia is already 3 and attending AWANA ?!

Julia was pretty excited to earn a Cubbies uniform 2 weeks ago. . . 

 So excited, she did a little dance for Mama when she got home from Cubbies showing off the new vest.

 

 

 

Julia is doing well with her verses and earned one additional patch already. Cubbie Bear is by far her favorite amongst Love-E Lamb and Earn-E Elephant.

It is really cool to see her memorizing (and recalling) verses every week. Makes me think about when I did AWANA as a little kid long, long time ago - God is REALLY Good.

Isaiah 55: 8-13

8“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. 9“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. 12 For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the LORD for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

Days at Home with Emilia

Now that Julia is going to a pre-school program a couple of days a week Raquel and Emilia have some time together alone.  Here's a few shots of the two of them having fun.

 

 

Action Shots

We took one of Neil's Fridays off in October to take the girls to the zoo.  One of the new (and favorite) features of the zoo is the water play area for children.  The girls really enjoy it after walking around on a hot day looking at animals.

 

 

 

Party with Steve and Vicki

Shortly after getting back from Washington, and keeping up with tradition, Steve and Vicki invited us over to celebrate Emilia's birthday with them.

Emilia liked her gift.

Here we are after dinner and part way through Emilia's digging into her piece of cake. 

 Emilia enjoyed digging into her cake.

 

 

Thanks Steve and Vicki!!!!!

Family Party

While we were in Washington we celebrated Julia, Emilia, and Cousin Rylan's birthday and we were fortunate to have Neil's Uncle Dave and Aunt Jeannette, Great Grandma Hanson, and Ryan's parents there.  Rebecca blogged about the party as well.  See her entry here. 

Julia's had a Snow White cake and Rylan's was a construction cake (see the dump truck as the cake topper?)  

Emily helped Rylan with the cards that came with the presents.

 Emilia had fun with her cards.

 Rylan enjoyed the construction theme.

 

 Even Great Grandma got in on the construction fun.

 After all of the food, we burned off energy with some balloons.