New Hats and New Haircut and Brad

The weather has been phenomenal here(until today). Sunny skies and highs in the 80's-so nice that we spent most afternoons outside. Here are the girls going for a walk...

Off in the wagon

New hat, new shoes, new dress...ready for spring!

See me run run run

New haircut(when I said "smile for the camera" she waved instead)

This just in from New Orleans...Queenie and Grandad have decided to stay now that Bradjolina is near by. Grandad is thinking of a career change to paparrazi...

From the porch of their house

Sharing a car

The girls found a compromise in the battle for the pink car.



Lauren is still battling a stomach bug. So unlike her sister, she is still smiling and maintaining her happy babyness. She has slept away most of the weekend but is still on water and crackers for now.

Radijazz

Strollerfit had a playdate at Radijazz(indoor playground for kids) after class. I had heard that it was a neat place but full of germs. Lauren's current stomach bug is proof of that...

Sharing a canoe

Down the slide for the 100th time

Pulling up on every germ infested thing

Sharing duck with Reese

Birthday Tacos

On their way out of town, Queenie and Granda brought their eldest daughter breakfast tacos on her birthday.

This is better than oatmeal anyday

Knows her way around a breakfast taco...

Overall a good birthday for mom. Did manage to get rid of the 7 pound choclate cake(not through eating it all myself although it was tempting...) via a playgroup.

Helping mom on her birthday

Again this morning....

Let them eat cake!

We celebrated my birthday last night(the 21st and coincidentally my 21st birthday too) because all significant/related adults who live in the Austin area will be out of town today(Dan, Grandad and Queenie). SO we had dinner and then cake...some had more cake than others.

I want THIS piece...

First bites...

Yum!

Watching Lauren makes me want ice cream instead please...

Where's Lauren?

Licking the last morsel off her plate!

Kate feeds Lauren

Kate decided it was high time she pitched in and helped care for Lauren. Starting yesterday morning, she wanted to feed Lauren her yogurt. She did a great job!

Open wide!

More, more!

"Here you go Lauren"

Dorsey's Kitchen

Kate had a big day last Friday. It started on Sesame Street then moved on to Manor Road and Eastside Cafe. Dorsey took Kate on a special adventure into the restaurant's kitchen. Kate's first time inside a professional kitchen, likely not her last....

The doors to the kitchen...

As we peak in the door, they are observing the making of sauces....

If only these pictures could describe how much she has talked about this "adventure" since it happened. We have heard about the big refrigerator(walk-in) and the mixing over and over again! Such a special treat and we so thank Dorsey for letting her do it!

Kate goes to Sesame Street

Sesame Street Live hit Austin on Friday and Kate was escorted by her grandad and dad to the show. She had a ball! I think she found her escorts when the Disney's Princess Wish comes to town!!

Loving the show

Dancing in the isles...

Great seats! Thanks Grandad!

Sharing a snow cone(a treat during intermission)

Time to go home...

Happy Valentines Day!!!

Love the girls...

PS It is a really special Valentines for my cousin Brian, his wife, daughter, mom, stepdad and all the rest of our family. As of Monday, he is home from Iraq! Yea! Answered prayer for sure!

Almost 7 days since...

We are quickly approaching the 7 day post-surgery mark. Kate continues to do better and better each day. She is likely to get to go to school on Wednesday(yea!). Thank you for all the continued good wishes and help during the last week!

Here are a couple of random pics of Lauren's new skill:

Pulling herself to standing!

Kate is not so impressed....

Failed to mention a great gift Kate got while still in the hospital. Tuesday night, as our roommate continued to have more and more family members visiting, we heard "This is for Kate-is this her room?". From around the curtain came these balloons...could not have come at a better moment and Kate squealed when she saw them. Thank you thank you Aunt Funny and Uncle B.

Still flying almost a week later!

Sisters

Kate is doing better than we could ever expect! She continues to act as if she did not have surgery and maybe just has a slight cold. Also this morning she decided it was time to start potty training and went successfully on the potty twice(TMI??)! So proud of her (and she was pretty proud of herself!). SO I guess we are going to do all these "big girls" things in one week...get out the tonsils, stay in the hospital overnight, and potty training....wow.

Here are some great pics Queenie took of the girls today when we ventured to their house to help a little of the cabin fever...

Kate and her sous chef(aka the taster)

Kate and her trainee

Sisters

Home from the Hospital!

We are home from Children's Hospital-yea! Kate's surgery lasted all of 45 minutes and the dr said she had really BIG tonsils and adenoids-definitely had been blocking a lot of her breathing. Also her ears were FULL of fluid so the tubes should end that mess! SO glad we did this especially because of how well Kate tolerated it! She was asking for "Ina"(her word for the Barefoot Contessa DVD) the minute we got to the room and never looked back! We stayed one night ( a VERY VERY long night due to our "roomates") but were home by 11 this morning.

Post Surgery "Recovery"

Her sister Lauren also enjoyed all the one-on-one attention from her Queenie and Grandad(and a few trips in her sister's car...)

When the cat's away....

Speaking of cats...

Great-another girl who likes sports cars...

Super Bowl Sunday

Super Bowl Sunday we spent at Queenie and Grandad's. In what is becoming a "tradition unlike any other", Dan made his chili again this year(he got rave reviews from us all!). For the girls, this was the first time we had been anywhere since bronchitis knocked us out.

Pulled herself up a chair to watch football(no question that she is my daughter...)

What double ear infection?

Loves her Grandad

Lovin' tortillas(no matter whose plate they were on)

"What is he Prince of?"

Germ Warfare

We are in day 4 of our war on germs. Had to regroup and take Lauren to the doctor again today. Her cough had gotten worse and she has lost her appetite(the REAL sign that something was wrong). She now has a double ear infection and a slight case of bronchitis. We got drugs for the ear infection and now both girls are double drugged up and ready to battle this bug! Crossing our fingers that we are all on the road to recovery...

"Here mine mom" as she reaches for the camera (still a "go" for next Tues-yea!)

Smiley despite being sick

Sick or not, the car war continues...

We did get a chance to use our new cookie cutters from Aunt Nancy-Kate LOVES to "sprinkle"

Someone IS benefiting from all our time indoors: our neighbors, the girl scouts. We are now finishing our fourth box of peanut butter sandwiches...