Web

The grand kids, especially Sarah's like to use curling ribbon to make webs of the house or backyard. Mom (grandma) and dad are leaving on their mission soon and are having a last hurrah with the grand kids. This adventure they got a ton of curling ribbon gave each kid their own and let them do the entire house inside and out. Then we cut it all off and used it to decorate things to have a backwards parade where they went around the house and we threw candy at them rather then them throwing candy at us.

4th in Nebraska

We had a great time in Nebraska the weather was cool and beautiful. They really like their fireworks there. We had a big party on the 3rd with friends from church and Josh's dad Bob made the most amazing brisket. There was also a strawberry dessert that I kept coming back to.

There was a kitten that showed up a week before we did and Rachel and Hazel gave it no reat playing with it, carrying it, and following it. It was probably relieved when we left. I scavenged wood from their burn pile for my food photography. Along with a bunch of items from the local goodwill. It was much nicer and had more stuff than ours. On the trip we got Rachel some new cloths and a few for Hazel too.

Mostly peppers growing on the farm. No tomatoes, cucumbers, or watermelons yet. Sad. Bad year for Nebraska watermelon, to wet.

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.