Monday, August 19, 2013

Last days of summer

Summer in Texas can typically be described with one word: HOT. But this year, it is still in the middle of August, and it is actually pleasant outside. We have been regularly going for walks as a family after dinner and the temperature is only in the low 90s.

That doesn't mean we cannot take advantage of the fun summer time activities, like ice cream cones. We have a box of them in the freezer that Sara Beth uses for her dessert almost every day. If Hudson sees his sister getting one, he will demand that he receive one too. Fortunately, since he is not as efficient as Sara Beth, once he is done licking it, I put his cone in a plastic bag and throw it back in the freezer. That way, his one cone will last about three desserts and it is less mess for Heather and I to clean up.
Every morning, when Hudson gets up, he will ask for his chewable vitamin and his tooth brush. He continue to say "Brush" until we comply with his request. He will then stick it in his mouth or carry it around in his hand for the next half hour regardless of whatever else is happening. For example, we are getting ready to go the the pool on Saturday, and even though Hudson has been changed into his swim trunks and slathered in sunscreen, the tooth brush is still firmly in the grip of his teeth.
Heather's cousin Allison asked if Sara Beth wanted to come up sometime to see her horse. The answer was obvious, so one evening, Sara Beth and Heather took the van up to Melissa to visit the horse "Ready." Sara Beth was initially apprehensive, but quickly warmed up to the idea of riding the horse.
Up there, she also got to combine her two of her favorite things: horses and cleaning!
Occasionally, Sara Beth will ask if she can play my guitar. I will always let her, as long as she asks first. This time, she asked as I was heading out the door to go to help out with the youth group at church, so I wasn't there to correct the fact that she is holding the guitar upside down.
Sara Beth and Hudson love to help with cooking in the kitchen. I think Hudson is mostly just happy that he gets the step stool all to himself and doesn't have to share it with his sister.
Next week, Sara Beth begins her first day of Kindergarten. She got a call from her teacher last week welcoming her to the class. This Thursday is meet the teacher night at the school. Sara Beth is becoming excited about it.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Birthday adventures

In the past couple weeks, a lot has happened. Sara Beth and I both celebrated our birthdays. Heather went on a trip by her self to Florida for a wedding. Heather's mom and step dad took a brief vacation to see us, and Heather's car has been in the shop for most of the past two weeks.

We went to a Japanese hibachi grill for my birthday. Sara Beth and Hudson were both fascinated watching the chef cook the food right in front of us. Hudson was leaning so far forward in his high-chair, to get a good look at the action, that I was concerned he would tip it over. When we got home, both Hudson and Sara Beth helped me unwrap my presents.
That Thursday, Heather flew down to Florida. It was the first time she had taken a vacation without the kids since Hudson was born. The kids and I survived. I tried to get the house all cleaned up before Heather returned. Sara Beth helped by vacuuming the car all by herself.
Shortly after Heather got back, her van died on the side of the road with a bad alternator and a dead battery. It took two tries before we got an alternator in the car that worked reliably, and in the process, the shop broke the radiator and something else in the car. And then the driver's side window stopped working. Hopefully, everything is now working as it ought to.
Heather's mom and step dad came in town. We all enjoyed them coming to visit, but I think Sara Beth liked it most of all. Sara Beth played with Memaw from the moment they arrived till the moment they left. They played with toys, played pretend, cleaned up the kitchen together after dinner, and read books before bed.
When Hudson saw that Memaw reading to Sara Beth, he knew he was missing out on something great. So at the next opportunity, he picked up one of his books and brought it over to her and very clearly asked to be in on the reading too.
On Saturday, we went to play at a splash park at the local mall. Hudson kept wanting to investigate every water fountain as they turned off and on. Papaw and I were convinced that he would end up getting splashed with a face full of water, but it never happened.
We gave Sara Beth an option for her birthday: we could throw a party for her with kids her age, or we could have a family birthday party and spend the party money on presents instead. Fortunately for us, she chose the family party, so on her birthday, she woke up to a table full of presents. She has been talking about "Littlest Pet Shop" ever since she discovered the "Littlest Pet Shop" game for the iPad, so almost all the presents were pet shop related.
Sara Beth also got to pick her birthday dinner. She chose to go to China Town for shrimp lo-mein then got a chocolate cake with a horse printed on it for dessert.
It is crazy to think that is has already been five years since she was born.