GO TEXAN DAY

Yesterday was GO TEXAN DAY in Houston, Texas. This was a new event for us when we moved to Houston. We had to learn fast because it is serious business in this part of the world. Basically, it is the start of RODEO season (which runs through March). Specifically, well... you can reference the official website.

Isabella had a parade at school and they were encouraged to dress up in western attire. Below are some pictures from the morning parade!Isabella and Fidel watch the Pre-K kids parade by...

He's pulling off bandit more than cowboy!

Isabella thought some of the cowboys and girls were pretty funny!

Here are the babies and toddlers at Bear Blvd.
They were getting ready to make a round in the parade.


And they're off...


By the end of the parade, Isabella was into her new shoes more than the parade or her mom!

She's trying to.... WALK

Please excuse the mom and focus on the adorable almost independently moving baby!

Cousin Playtime Videos

Isabella loved talking to (screaming at) Sam!


Isabella thought the cabinets in Margaret and Leo's house were the coolest. I was just thankful for child saftey locks! Our kid doesn't have an inside voice. As a teacher, I worry about this. As a new parent, I think it's pretty hysterical!


Ethan took his pajama pants off and placed them on Isabella's head. She thought it was crazy funny, until I tried to catch it on video. Oh well... still cousin playtime for posterity!

More Table Time Adventures

Cousin Time

We had the opportunity to fly to San Francisco over Super Bowl weekend. My super, wonderful, amazing class of students gave me a Christmas gift that covered the cost of our airfare! Isabella and I were off to California to visit our cousins, Margaret, Leo, Ethan and Sam. It was a wonderful weekend of FUN!

Isabella loved watching over Sam. Ethan had to teach her that you are NOT allowed to crawl up in the swing to touch Sam. Sam is such a sweet and patient baby. He just watched his loud crazy cousins as we played together.

Sam is so thought-filled!

Margaret asked us to help get baby Sam clean. Would we???!! We had a great time bathing him and then warming him up. Isabella was HANDS ON! Then, it was Isabella's turn to get clean.

Ethan thought he could offer some pointers on how to play with his bathtime toys. Isabella thinks that Ethan is an AMAZING big kid. She watches him so intensely. In not time at all....

Ethan joined in the fun!

He showed Isabella how to make the ape swim around the bathtub!

Some of Margaret and Leo's neighbors invited us over for a Super Bowl watching party. The party was GREAT! There were 5 kids and Ethan was the oldest. So, there was lots of baby friendly space, people and toys. Isabella and Ethan weren't TOO much fun when we first went to the party. Ethan watched a video and Isabella decided it was time to nap (note finger sucking).

After watching Isabella pass out, Ethan thought he would lie down to watch his video... before you knew it, Ethan was out too!

When the kids woke up from their nap it was time to... PLAY!

Batman (Ehtan) was ready to show the babies how to PARTY!

Ethan is such a GREAT cousin. He was so patient with Isabella and the other babies. He got down on their level and crawled along during playtime.

Isabella decided that some playtime with Margaret sounded like fun. The girls had some good laughs together.

It was a wonderful trip full of playtime. We didn't even get dressed on Saturday... it was a PAJAMA day! Sunday was chill and Super Bowl, and Monday morning we had to say goodbye to our favorite California Cousins!

We All Fall Down

Isabella loves her table from Honey and Papa. She especially loves the green door that she can open and close. What Robert and I can't figure out is how she keeps detaching the door from the table. Each time we put it back... the MINUTE we turn our back -- she's figured out how to get it off again! Here's a HILARIOUS video that Robert took. It's a great show of Isabella's new found motion... BUT it's also a great example of how, sometimes, WE ALL FALL DOWN! :)

A Day at the Zoo

Isabella and I took a trip to the Houston Zoo. It was a chilly day, but we bundled up and had a great time watching the animals enjoy the cool weather. I taught Isabella what I could remember from my time at Zoo Camp. She loved the aquarium and laughed out loud when we passed the ducks at the pond. I learned that in the last ten months the Houston Zoo has gone high tech! There is an APP for your I Phone for the Houston Zoo. It gives you the goods on keeper chats, animal exhibits and tells you the name of each animal. AMAZING! I'm a huge fan and urge you to visit our city zoo anytime you get the chance.

Jonathan taking a long winter's nap.

Isabella has teeth now... just like the piranha! :)

Hanging out in her polar bear fleece at the Houston Zoo.

The elephants are my favorite!

This giraffe (whose name escapes me) was born about the same time as Isabella.