Take Me Back To Texas!

Yay! We're in Texas!

The birthday card I got mom (because she's a Democrat) : ) She added her own artistic embellishments with a Sharpie marker...in any case, it's a pretty funny card.

Watching Calliou with Papa

Painting Jackie's nails

Mom and Mike (who loves to have pictures taken when he is sick)

I met up with Emily in Austin and we caught up on the last zillion years. She's just one of my dearest friends from high school! We also went to Ikea (as you can see here) but it was really hard to look because we just wanted to talk. We did manage a silly photo in the egg chairs, though! : )

Homemade garbage bag smock by Mormor

Jules doing some water play. Mom had the great idea to give her several containers of colored water. She had the best time mixing them and discovering how colors change when combined. : )

Mike in his Dallas office at Stagen.

Who duh man? You duh man Mike!

Mindy (another great friend from WL) and I had a FABULOUS lunch at Pappadeaux's. (Okay when you go, you MUST try their wood-smoked Tilapia. It's like heaven.) : )

Mom and Dad's Summer Travels

Mom and Dad

Morocco

Ephesus

Backyard of home in Norway

Living Room in Norway

View from front porch (see the rainbow?)

Norwegian fjord

scenes from a walk in the mountains

scenes from a walk in town

Bergen Harbor

Old house (can't remember the Norwegian name for it)

I think this is Bergen, too.

Mom and dad are always traveling somewhere. And just like last summer I am stealing some of their photos to put on the blog. They started with a trip to Rome, then a Mediterranean cruise, then Finland, and finally Norway. : ) After seeing the photos, I was ready to pack the girls up and head to the airport. : )

Mormor and Papa visit!

Right now we are visiting my parents in Texas (we miss you Chad!). The photos above are from a brief visit with my mom and dad a few weeks ago. Before we leave I am trying to load as many of mom's pics to the blog as possible. : ) It's really kind of fun to have someone else be the photographer for a bit. : ) It's usually me behind the lens. I love all of Julianna's subtle expressions in the shots above.

Duck Pond at Twilight

Zoo Ya!

Aunt Jackie and her fabulous Jason

lovebirds and Ava

Jason was so awesome to carry Ava around the WHOLE zoo!

Watching the gorillas nap through the big window.

Talking zebras

Dad, Jacks, and Jace (as Ava calls him)

Dinner

This afternoon I was in a pretty unfriendly mood. The girls and I had many, many errands to run, the sun was beginning to set, we hadn't eaten dinner and I began this huge pity party for myself because all I wanted to do was go out to eat with the girls and Chad was working and I can't take them out because of their allergies and the last few times Julianna's lips have swollen even after we quality controlled the food, spoke to the kitchen manager and to this day don't have a clue as to why she had a reaction and I just became very angry we couldn't get some pizza. RIGHT NOW! (Breath). Then I made an executive decision. At out last stop, I fed them some turkey meat at the deli counter, some crackers in aisle 4, and soymilk aisle 15. So there. We ate out.

Once we got home, I fixed something more appropriate and we sat at the table. When I went to the kitchen for seconds I turned to watch my two little girls exchanging in a most delightful and quirky and heartwarming conversation:

Jules: (leaning over and in a serious voice): "Ava."

Ava: (looks up)

Jules: "I need you to make me a promise."

Ava: "Nope."

Jules: "Ava. I am talking to you. I am your sister and you will listen to me now."

Ava: "Shoes."

Jules: "Ava. When mommy gives us a cookie later you need to share half with me. Half of your cookie."

Ava: "ookee."

Jules: "You will get to be a princess if you share your cookie with me."

Ava: (begins to eat again)

Jules: "Do this with your head if you said yes." (nods her head)

Ava: (nods her head because she does everything Julianna does)

Ava: (the nodding causes Ava to BURP loudly and unexpectedly)

Jules: (throwing her head back and laughing) "Ava! You are a burping girl today! You are so sil-wee!"

Ava: (realizing she has done something funny, laughs heartily at herself and attempts to make a second burping noise)

Jules: "Oh Ava. You are my sister and you like to burp. I love you everyday." (then reaches for some of Ava's food on Ava's plate because Jules finished her food twenty minutes earlier, Ava screams, Julianna's hand retracts, both girls are calm, and quiet rests on the little house)

I laughed to myself and in that moment, I was truly thankful I wasn't sitting in a loud restaurant waiting for food to be delivered to my table. I thanked God for my blessings and the trials which have and will make me stronger. I thanked God my children have food to eat, can feed themselves, and I am here in our home making it for them. It was that simple.

This Evening

Care-free summer evenings

Too busy to stop and pose for mom. : )

Pirate Jules

Can't keep shoes on this kid for very long. ; )