Zilker date with Kelli

Well for starters, it was SXSW week and parking was insane but we managed to find a secret spot. Secondly let me note that Kelli still doesn't 'do' well in strollers. Not sure why. She never really has, not even as a baby. She has to SEE you and doesn't like to sit in one for long. In fact, she's the same way in her high chair. (up...down. in...out. you get the idea) So we have to manage outings that may require strollers (like the mall or the hospital etc) with her pink bike (which has a handle that I can push). So I lugged this thing to Town Lake with us to feed the ducks and sure enough, Kelli saw all the runners and walkers and had to get out and run, too.

Hellooooo.... you coming Mom??
Man I felt like a big idiot pushing this bright flourescent pink bike (fully equipped with a visor shade... looked like a miniature golf cart) around the gravel paved trail with NO kid in it.

We had parked further from the "duck lagoon" than I had thought. It took us a long time to get there. Either that or it felt that way because Kelli made me pick her up and carry her several times. Then she'd want down so she could run. Then she'd want UP. Then she'd want back in her bike. Then out...

For some reason it is extremely hilarious when the ducks eat the cheerios. And I mean REALLY funny. Wish I had thought to get that on video. I think people downtown could hear her giggling.

She made the cutest "quack" noises too. Sounds more like "KAK! KAK!"

She threw so many cheerios in, they actually got full and swam away. At that point Kelli actually tried to jump IN the water and go after them. She doesn't understand that jumping in the water means drowning.

Nuggets

While I am in California, this is what I'm missing back home.

Kelli has found a new love of the computer. Specifically Elmo games.

Sydney got a new sleeping bag for the lake house and it's her new favorite possession.

Also... a new trend in the 5-8 year old age bracket: matching outfits with your dolls. I succumbed to this fad when I saw a 'hip' sale online.

Day Out with Sydney

Sydney had a croup-like cough (most likely allergy-induced... welcome March!) so I kept her home from school and on her nebulizer and Adavair inhaler. She wasn't sick-sick, but definitely would have been a major distraction at school. Literally coughing non-stop. So we made a mom-Syd day of it at least. Which I was excited about because we haven't had one of those in a while! We set out on our day... and as I was backing out of the driveway I turned back to see this. She even turned on the seat headrest video for her baby as well as hers. They each got to watch their own movie. The important thing is that everyone was safely buckled. Checked that off and drove away.

We arrived at Austin's landmark mini-golf; Peter Pan Golf! Sydney has been here on a date with Daddy, so she happily showed me around.

Great form.
But she still cheats.

We had some time before I had to meet my trainer at the studio so we walked down to the water and fed the ducks. Then she picked out some seashells for Mr. Marshall's wife (she assumed he had a wife; and he does). (1) Not sure why Town Lake has sea shells?? (2) No idea why she wanted to give my trainer's wife sea shells (both of whom she's never met).
Anyway.

Ducks enjoyed the last crumbs of my favorite rice cakes.

Syd decided to take some pictures while I worked out with Marshall.

If she were on facebook, she'd be a self portrait pro. Not even a duck face or above the head shot. Good one!

Saw that we got Kelli's water table (which is technically for the lake house) when we got home and I decided to put it together and see how she liked it... off course Sydney was stoked about this. Ever since Kelli came along, she suddenly has a favor for baby toys. As you can see, Kelli LOVED it. Which you could hear the squealing and laughing in this photo.

As evening approached, the wind turned up and Kelli started to shake and say "coooolll-" so we put a pause to the water play until next time. I think blue lips are an indicator.

Tuesdays are crazy!!!!

This just marks the END of our Tuesday. Starts off getting the girls ready for school. One goes at 9:30, the other at 11:30. Then doing my training run and meeting my instructor downtown, then picking the girls up at 4:00pm, then hurrying home to get Sydney ready for dance, getting her to dance, then home to feed Kelli, then pick Sydney up at 6:00 and hurrying home to get her ready for soccer practice... get her a snack and head to the park for practice at 6:30.
Usually by this time Sydney is whining. And I don't blame her.
But Tuesdays were the only time the rest of the team could meet.

My poor, tired kid. She was pretty done with it by the end of practice.
Coach Daddy and Coach Aaron were super good with the kiddos though. They had fun. Little Lily came to watch her daddy coach. So did little Kelli when she was done eating.

Did someone say Lily?
Is that food in your hand?
I smell food.
nom nom.

This one is pouting because I wouldn't let her run around on the field with the "big" kids. She was furiously trying to go out on the field and do what they were doing. Don't let her size fool you. She is incredibly and mysteriously strong.

And she is off again. Ugh.

Lily pants!!!
Soon after this she proved to have VERY good eye sight and spotted her Daddy... and followed in Kelli's foot steps wanting to get knocked over by the kids. But for other reasons. She wanted her DADDDDDYYYY!!!! That was cute.

Painting

This past Friday I decided to get a little ambitious and take out the paints. Kelli is almost 2... I can trust her with a paint brush right? And we had about an hour before I had to take Sydney to school. Let's get crafty. (but outside)

Sydney quickly made her favorite; a rainbow. In order of warm to cool colors.
Yes I'm aware my child has on her Little Bo Peep leggings. (it was pretend day at her school)
Kelli was interested in whatever Sister was doing, which caused a lot of paint brushes to get flung here and there... and I quickly learned this may not have been a good idea.
Not as a team project anyhow.

I took the brushes away and they made peace.

Wrestlemania

Pre Wedding Fixins

the flower girl got some big h'ar treatment at the salon (thanks to the photographer!). She wasn't a very patient client though. Too interested in her seek & find book.

In our private room at the club, Doug's daughter & grandson came to take a peek and he was fast asleep. It was so adorable. I couldn't help but (stalk) take a picture of him!

Sydney had to make TWO big entrances once she got her dress on.
She made sure everyone noticed her and said their "oooohs" and "aaaah"s!!

Incase you could not guess already: here we have the mother of the bride and the Godmother of the bride.
Incase you didn't know already, they have just seen the bride in her dress for the first time.
#kleenex

showtime!

I wish I could tell you what's going on here but I have no idea. My camera was losing battery so I frantically began taking pictures of everything at one point.

Erik & Carrie!

The cake.
Since I couldn't actually eat the cake, I tasted the frosting.
Maybe I've been out of commission from sweets for too long. But MAN that frosting was high on the sugar. Whheeeewy!

Jenny & Doug's first dance. Forgot the name of the song but it was a country song he picked out (so cute!) and something to do with wearing slippers to bed and not being able to cook or ... I don't know. Loving her the way she is... I think that was the jist (of every country song).

Sydney saw them dancing and I couldn't hold the child back.

My last photo before my camera died. This is Aunty Carolyn & Uncle Tom from Chicago. They've been together since they were like 12 or something.
So... about 12 years.
#winkwink

Wedding Brunch

I was supposed to wear orange. Ewps.

Our Chicago clan! Alan, Tom, Carolyn & Tanya
It was a treat to see them, gotta find someone else to get married so they'll visit again!
We had brunch up at my sister's house in Leander and I got to visit with my cousin Brian who I haven't seen since I was a moody teenager. Now I'm just a moody grownup.

Kelli being cute.

Chasing after Scraggles