Landscapes

Grace and Madeline's morning routine has lately been to draw on the back patio, so we decided to take our crayons and watercolors to the park this week for some inspiration.

11 months

Austin

We went to Austin this weekend to meet up with my sister Erin and her boyfriend Joe. Time with Tia is always too short.
After sunset, we went to the Congress Street bridge to watch the bats come out. Madeline argued for hours that the bats don't sleep during the day. Grace was given a light saber by another bat-watcher.

We stayed at the Intercontinental Stephen F. Austin hotel, where Sam and I had our wedding reception 10 years ago next month. This was taken before our coffees, milks, and with an upset Madeline because it wasn't her turn to push the elevator button.

They all loved the freezing temperatures at Barton Springs.

A successful dessert request

Just as we finished eating dinner last night, Grace put her hand on Sam's arm and said, "Daddy, my sweet love...may I please have some cake?"

Happy 4th

Madeline and Grace weren't feeling well enough to stay up until dark, so they did sparklers and fire crackers just after sunset.

First movie

Sam came home from work yesterday morning to take Grace to lunch and to see Toy Story. It was her first movie in a theater, so she was very happy about it. Poor Madeline was upset that she couldn't go also. While I was trying to take a picture of Grace and Sam before they left, Madeline saw us from her bedroom window and came busting out. You might notice the red mark on Grace's forehead...Grace was in Madeline's face, telling her she was too little to go with them, so Madeline whacked her. Grace didn't retaliate; I think she knew she had that coming.

Sam asked Grace on the way what she wanted for lunch, and since she's a cheap date, she told him the Cheesecake Factory. They settled on Taco Bell since they were pressed for time. I did my best to cheer Madeline up, and took her and Charlotte to pick out a couple new books, two new fish, and then to Chick-fil-A to eat and play. Grace had a wonderful time at the movie, with her popcorn, M&Ms, and Icee. Madeline was happy when they brought her back some popcorn.

Recent art

Each of Madeline's drawings are one of two styles, depending on her mood. This style is done with a lot of concentration and her head down close to the paper.
She draws this style quicker, and usually doesn't finish with her saying, "TA-DA!" like the other.

Grace is stuck on hearts and rainbows. Almost all of her pictures have her in them, and most include Madeline. This one has mountains and turtles.

Our family.

The bounce castle.

Buzz Lightyear, the sun with a tree.

At the duck pond.

With planets and the sun.

Another Buzz Lightyear with a potted flower and the garden.

I woke up this morning and Grace was fully dressed, sitting at her table, and drawing this. Her hand-print, and she thought each color would like to have its OWN rainbow.