First days of school

This was by far the hottest day at the beach we've ever had. Each wave was a very warm bath. Of course, kids don't mind the heat so they had a glorious time.

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Holly taking her first wobbly steps, then getting better

Mallory's first day of 2nd grade.








Max's first day of preschool. Woo hoo! A win-win situation for us both. It's 3 days a week, from 9 'till 2 PM. He likes it so far, but I have to be creative to get him to wear a new clean shirt every day. He insists that his old ratty superman shirt is the only hero shirt that gives him "real" powers.




Here is his classroom. It is at the local Baptist Church just 2 minutes down the road. They have been doing an excellent job so far.




I made this for Jason to take to his football party. I would have liked to make cupcakes, but it was a manly party, so I gave in to an unexciting pan cake. He had a ton of fun with a mix of good-hearted fans on each side.

Easter through July

 Holly's second Easter.  She couldn't eat her first Easter basket, but she enjoyed her second!

 Easter egg nose rolling race.  It was just as frustrating and painful on the nose as I remember.

 Our temporary pet baby turtle, found in our backyard, then escaped back into the wild two months later.

 Max loves Holly


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Mallory at her dance recital

Holly with her namesake, Grandma Holly, at our Utah trip in June


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Holly's official first birthday cupcake (eaten on her "due date" birthday)

After

At the Paris Idaho tabernacle during Dad's family history tour

It was even more beautiful on the inside!

Dad next to his ancestor namesake

At the kids' first circus, back in Houston after our Utah trip.

Elephants were cool, tigers were lame

Holly 1 year!

 For Holly's birthday we held a picnic lunch at the park, inviting our neighbors and friends that helped us so much last year.  I didn't bring a camera, so no pictures.  I made bbq sandwiches, cupcakes, home made root beer, and we let the older kids do a pinata.  I had Holly's little preemie hats, her first tiny diapers and binkies, and some professional photos of her on display which were a big hit.

 Holly mostly got clothes for her birthday, but I didn't take pictures of them. 

Since we couldn't take a video of Holly eating her first cake (Her adjusted age was only 9 months at this point) I bought some baby puffs and let her go at them.  She hadn't been very interested in solid foods, but she's taken to the puffs very well since this video.  She has also started eating traditional mashed up food, with some help from Grandma Brenda. 

 I had some leftover batter from Mallory's cake, so I let Max and Mallory decorate it for Holly.  I told them to put flowers on the grass.

Grandma Clark made this beautiful hat for Holly's birthday present. 

Austin and Mallory's birthday

 Blue Bell ice cream factory. (on the way to Austin) We went to Austin with Jason's parents over Mallory's birthday.  It was one of the best vacations ever.  Jason and I went there for our anniversary last year, and Austin delivered a great time then as well.  It's our new favorite spot.  Great weather, great live bands, great food, and refreshingly "weird." I'm only disappointed that we didn't catch a video of Eric Tessmer ripping his guitar strings off at the end of his show. 

 Mallory flying her new birthday kite at Zilker Park in Austin

 Max and his Buzz Lightyear kite.


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Turn down your volume for this one! I forgot to quiet the wind while I was editing it.

 Mallory's birthday at our hotel room.  We came home Sunday evening and had her cake which I had prepared a few days before and stuck in the freezer. 

 Happy 7th birthday, Mallory!  I tried to do a lot of rainbow stuff because she is obsessed with them.  We also had a friend over for cake because birthdays on a Sunday can be a little boring. 

It actually tasted very good, which surprised me.  I thought all that dye would effect the taste, but I couldn't tell any difference.  The rainbow inside was a surprise, but Mallory insisted that she suspected it all along.  Grandma Brenda had the great idea to put gold at the end of the rainbow.  Cute, huh?

Holly 9 months

 First cereal feeding

 Grandpa Clark

 Hospital with RSV

 

 All better!