Swim Team Rain

So we have been getting rained on almost every day here in Houston and it is really feeling sub-tropical. It makes things interesting with swim team. I was not going to do it yet because Rachel was not yet proficient enough. Sarah my sister wanted to get her son Collin, who is more proficient to do it. He was to scared to go in alone for the practices. She got Rachel extra lessons so they could do it together this year. Really I should be in Bear Branch but they let me sign up. She is not exactly a huge asset considering she is always near the end and probably DQ's in most matches.
She has improved. Her first time for freestyle was 3 minutes. Now she is down to just over a minute. Anyway, at the last meet Josh held Hazel while I took these cool photos of Rachel at the meet.

I am ready!

Listen for the beep.

Go! Go! Go!

Is this right?

Splat! 

Remember when belly flops were fun.

Kitty next door

So the people who moved in under us have cats. They were only allowed to have two in the house so they have the third living on their porch. Rachel loves cats and goes out to play with it all the time. The couple is obviously trying to keep the cat on the porch, they have put up lots of different things so block escape but trying to keep a cat fenced in is pretty futile and the porch is pretty small. Anyway I have to tell Rachel again and again if we see it out you can play with it but we can't entice it out. It's kind of unneighborly.

Has anyone else noticed that the black cats are the sweetest and most tolerant cats. Why does everyone pick on them?

Rain puddles

What kid doesn't like playing in the puddles?

Despite attempts to roll up her pants, they still get wet. Hazel takes matters into her own hands.

And strips down to play some more!

Bluebonnets

They are in bloom. There is a bayou that is filled. Lots of people like to go there to take pictures. Sarah told me and I wanted to check it out. We went together and even though it is like two minutes away Hazel fell asleep. Amazingly when we prodded her awake we still got cuter pictures than Rachel who clams up nowadays. We may try again later. I was starting to sprinkle when we left.

spark easter party

They had a spark Easter party. After making a hat with a bunny they went to play on the nearby playground until the egg hunt was ready. It was really nice outside and they played well.

After they played then it was the hunt. The party was for Rachel, Hazel is not old enough for spark so I just gave her a few eggs I prepared so she would not be left out. Rachel was really quick out of the gate when they said go. She got and egg or two and kept moving. While other stopped to pick up the nearest eggs she just grabbed the big ones and kept moving to the back. It went quick.

Swim lessons

We have been getting Rachel some swim lessons with Collin at the Y. She has improved quite a lot and has become pretty comfortable in the water. She just needs to look at the bottom of the pool when swimming and take a breath with her mouth. Using your nose takes to long to take a big inhale. He Suggested getting her a nose plug so she gets used to doing it.

This is my grilled chicken caprese. I came up with it because I always love the classic caprese flavor combination. It was very good and has become a huge hit with whoever I share it with.

Grilled Chicken Caprese

chicken cutlets (breasts, halved)
Pesto
olive oil
kosher salt
tomatoes, diced
fresh mozarella

Marinate the chicken in pesto thinned with a little olive oil and kosher salt for anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours.
Toss the diced tomatoes in a little olive oil and kosher salt. let sit while you start to grill the chicken.
Heat the grill. leave one side high and turn the other low. lay the chicken on the cooler side of the grill. When you flip the chicken to cook the second side, smear the cooked the side with some extra pesto (not from the marinade. We don't want to make people ill) and top with the diced tomatoes and cheese.
Close the lid and continue to cook until the cheese is melted and the chicken is cooked through.