We were playing with balloons one day and the kids get scared of the one that makes noise. They decided to hide from Brandon in the kitchen, which was not the best place they soon realized.
I did it on youtube because I was able to do a better quality.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Hamilton Pool
What a beautiful place! We took a trip out to the West Hills to visit Hamilton Pool on Friday. Its a natural spring fed swimming hole. It was an hour drive each way. And well worth it. It was such a pretty scenery (especially compared to living in Illinois for the past 5 years).
It was a 1/4 mile hike in the woods to get to it. We thought it was going to be more of an even surface walk. We were WAY off. It was literally hiking threw the woods on rocky, slippery and very uneven grounds. The kids did well though.
So pretty.
The kids and I before venturing in.
The preserve's pool and grotto were formed when the dome of an underground river collapsed due to massive erosion thousands of years ago. It also has a 45 foot waterfall and nature trails along the creek.
There were fish in it that Rowen is looking for here to catch.
In the back along the trail.
Beginning of walk on the trial in the back.
We were expecting it to more beach like so we ended up hauling a bit of unnecessary things (like buckets, shovels, umbrellas and so on. But now we know. And sturdy foot wear is indeed needed. I'm glad the kids had their water shoes. We need to visit again when the kids are a little older and hike a bit better.
The boys also had their first movie theater experience on Thursday. We saw Toy Story 3. Brandon took Corbin and then I took Rowen when they got back. They both did great and loved the movie.
It was a 1/4 mile hike in the woods to get to it. We thought it was going to be more of an even surface walk. We were WAY off. It was literally hiking threw the woods on rocky, slippery and very uneven grounds. The kids did well though.
So pretty.
The kids and I before venturing in.
The preserve's pool and grotto were formed when the dome of an underground river collapsed due to massive erosion thousands of years ago. It also has a 45 foot waterfall and nature trails along the creek.
There were fish in it that Rowen is looking for here to catch.
In the back along the trail.
Beginning of walk on the trial in the back.
We were expecting it to more beach like so we ended up hauling a bit of unnecessary things (like buckets, shovels, umbrellas and so on. But now we know. And sturdy foot wear is indeed needed. I'm glad the kids had their water shoes. We need to visit again when the kids are a little older and hike a bit better.The boys also had their first movie theater experience on Thursday. We saw Toy Story 3. Brandon took Corbin and then I took Rowen when they got back. They both did great and loved the movie.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
New park
We like to check out new parks in the area, so a few days a go we went to Champion Park about 15 minutes away in Cedar Park. It was great, beautiful and bigger than I though it was going to be. We discovered that there was also a dinosaur pit to dig in here like Zilker has. The nice thing about the one here was it's shaded. We were told that if walked along the 8 mile path for 15 minutes from where we were we'd come to a dam but we decided it was too long of a walk in the heat. We'd like to go back one day and maybe bring our bikes and do it that way. We were also told that at the other park it was connected to had a nice playground and sprinkler pad to play in.
There was also dinosaur structures you could play on as well dig for.
On our way to the dam in front of very big rocks.
Another view of rocks
Looking at fish, dragonflies and throwing rocks in the creek.
Lily decided she wanted to look at things while in the creek.
Though there was a bit of a hole in one the of shades. But still, it was nicely shaded.
Lily wearing a pretty dress she got from Grandma & Grandpa for x-mas and the back pack that came with her baby.
Rowen playing the letter game we do on the computer.
Corbin's turn. They always watch the other one and follow along.
Playdough girl.
Rowen riding his bike.
Our neighborhood pool.
All 3 jumping in.
Lily chillin' in her tube.
We got a giant watermelon (this is less than half of it) at Costco and Rowen wanted to see if he could hold it.
The kids love to have slices of watermelon at the pool. It's pretty much a regular thing we do when we go.
With all that watermelon, I made some fresh watermelon popsicles with pieces of fresh blackberries (as well as a batch with fresh cut pineapple chunks) in them. They are very refreshing, and hydrating in the Texas heat.
I am pleased so far with the quality of pictures the new camera takes. Click on the grasshopper pic (or any other pic of your choice) and zoom in.
We saw this yellow grasshopper on what I think is a type of bamboo that was in a little creek on our way to dig up some dinos.
There was also dinosaur structures you could play on as well dig for.
On our way to the dam in front of very big rocks.
Another view of rocks
Looking at fish, dragonflies and throwing rocks in the creek.
Lily decided she wanted to look at things while in the creek.
Though there was a bit of a hole in one the of shades. But still, it was nicely shaded.
Lily wearing a pretty dress she got from Grandma & Grandpa for x-mas and the back pack that came with her baby.
Rowen playing the letter game we do on the computer.
Corbin's turn. They always watch the other one and follow along.
Playdough girl.
Rowen riding his bike.
Our neighborhood pool.
All 3 jumping in.
Lily chillin' in her tube.
We got a giant watermelon (this is less than half of it) at Costco and Rowen wanted to see if he could hold it.
The kids love to have slices of watermelon at the pool. It's pretty much a regular thing we do when we go.
With all that watermelon, I made some fresh watermelon popsicles with pieces of fresh blackberries (as well as a batch with fresh cut pineapple chunks) in them. They are very refreshing, and hydrating in the Texas heat.
I am pleased so far with the quality of pictures the new camera takes. Click on the grasshopper pic (or any other pic of your choice) and zoom in.
Friday, July 9, 2010
What's been happening?
Soon after my last post, my camera died and then also my computer. Not good! Not just because I couldn't use them anymore but I lost the last years worth of pictures along with a whole bunch of recipes and everything else I had on it. I still need to take it to apple and see if I can recover some stuff from the hard drive but I'm pretty sure that that is the problem with it.
I finally got a new computer and camera!!! This time, no Apple. They are just too expensive. I got a PC laptop and so far I love it! Especially the SD card reader. It makes getting pictures on it so easy and fast. The Mac would take FOREVER! The camera works great too, though none of the below pics were taken from it. These are pictures from the middle of April before my camera broke and some are from Grandma's camera.
In the last few months we got Rowen a big boy bike (which we told him we would do after we moved to Texas). He does really well and picked up on it really fast. He still has the training wheels on and will for a while I'm sure. Lily has been potty trained for a couple months now! She was by far the easiest one to train. I decided one day I didn't want to deal with diapers anymore and asked her if she wanted to wear underwear. She said yes and starting using the potty right then. No more diapers! She had maybe a hand full of accidents during the first week and that was it. That travel potty has come in handy once again now. We've been out a few times where she needs to go and we simply stop and she does her thing and were back on our way.
I've been using the same Kumon workbooks for Corbin that I got (and still use) for Rowen. He is doing very well at writing his letters as well and recognition reading and sounding out words. Him and Rowen love to play rhyming games with Brandon and I. The boys also play a reading game on the computer (pics will be in another post). They have both been doing it for some time now. Rowen has been working on reading and spelling. He can spell a good amount of words. I'll have to count one day.
Now, its time to bombard you with pictures...
When Grandma and Grandpa were here we went into the city a couple times. We went to the Austin Childrens Museum and Zilker Park. We discovered after going again a few times since they have a great "Dino Pit'. It's a huge sand pit filled with fake dinosaur fossils to dig up (they even supply the shovels and little brooms to sweep the dirt off). There is a Botanical Gardens there we still need to visit.
Rowen, Grandpa and Lily
Lily mooing with cows at museum.
Play kitchen at childrens museum
Grandpa and Lily laughing.
Looking at pill bugs (we have many)
Lily having ice cream at Amy's Ice cream in the city. The employees were very nice here. We told them that we had food allergies so I asked if they could not smooch it on the cold top. They went further by using new clean scoops and opening a new box of sprinkles and pouring some in a clean bowl to roll it in.
In Texas lizards are most everywhere. They are harmless. Our neighbor caught one and brought it over. The boys even held it.
It decided to jump...
and climb up Rowen.
As well as Corbin.
Checking out the horses down the road
Corbin and Lily playing in our backyard
Feeding the pigeons at Zilker park.
We go swimming often at our neighborhood pool. It has a great zero depth pool/splash pad for the kids with dumping buckets, a mushroom fountain, sprayers and ground fountains.
I've since bought rash guard shirts for the boys. Saves a lot on sunscreen.
I know that I have/had more great pictures but I have to see if I'm able to recover them. Hopefully this week sometime. If I'm able to find them I'll have an oddly placed blog down the road.
Brandon has some time off for sabbatical so we are going to venture out and see the awesomeness that Austin has to offer!
I finally got a new computer and camera!!! This time, no Apple. They are just too expensive. I got a PC laptop and so far I love it! Especially the SD card reader. It makes getting pictures on it so easy and fast. The Mac would take FOREVER! The camera works great too, though none of the below pics were taken from it. These are pictures from the middle of April before my camera broke and some are from Grandma's camera.
In the last few months we got Rowen a big boy bike (which we told him we would do after we moved to Texas). He does really well and picked up on it really fast. He still has the training wheels on and will for a while I'm sure. Lily has been potty trained for a couple months now! She was by far the easiest one to train. I decided one day I didn't want to deal with diapers anymore and asked her if she wanted to wear underwear. She said yes and starting using the potty right then. No more diapers! She had maybe a hand full of accidents during the first week and that was it. That travel potty has come in handy once again now. We've been out a few times where she needs to go and we simply stop and she does her thing and were back on our way.
I've been using the same Kumon workbooks for Corbin that I got (and still use) for Rowen. He is doing very well at writing his letters as well and recognition reading and sounding out words. Him and Rowen love to play rhyming games with Brandon and I. The boys also play a reading game on the computer (pics will be in another post). They have both been doing it for some time now. Rowen has been working on reading and spelling. He can spell a good amount of words. I'll have to count one day.
Now, its time to bombard you with pictures...
When Grandma and Grandpa were here we went into the city a couple times. We went to the Austin Childrens Museum and Zilker Park. We discovered after going again a few times since they have a great "Dino Pit'. It's a huge sand pit filled with fake dinosaur fossils to dig up (they even supply the shovels and little brooms to sweep the dirt off). There is a Botanical Gardens there we still need to visit.
Rowen, Grandpa and Lily
Lily mooing with cows at museum.
Play kitchen at childrens museum
Grandpa and Lily laughing.
Looking at pill bugs (we have many)
Lily having ice cream at Amy's Ice cream in the city. The employees were very nice here. We told them that we had food allergies so I asked if they could not smooch it on the cold top. They went further by using new clean scoops and opening a new box of sprinkles and pouring some in a clean bowl to roll it in.
In Texas lizards are most everywhere. They are harmless. Our neighbor caught one and brought it over. The boys even held it.
It decided to jump...
and climb up Rowen.
As well as Corbin.
Checking out the horses down the road
Corbin and Lily playing in our backyard
Feeding the pigeons at Zilker park.
We go swimming often at our neighborhood pool. It has a great zero depth pool/splash pad for the kids with dumping buckets, a mushroom fountain, sprayers and ground fountains.
I've since bought rash guard shirts for the boys. Saves a lot on sunscreen.
I know that I have/had more great pictures but I have to see if I'm able to recover them. Hopefully this week sometime. If I'm able to find them I'll have an oddly placed blog down the road.Brandon has some time off for sabbatical so we are going to venture out and see the awesomeness that Austin has to offer!
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