Mimi and Marshall Have a "Special Day"

Marshall's school doesn't start until after Labor Day, so the two of us headed to New Braunfels for what Marshall called, "Our Special Day." We were planning to go to Landa Park and ride the train, but got there only to find out the train is only operating on weekends and holidays now that school has started. Landa Park sure looked different than it did a few weeks ago when tubers filled the river. He wanted to take a water jug, then saw his visor, so he put that on, then as we were walking out the door, he said, "Wait, I need my sunglasses," and he ran to the kitchen drawer where he keeps them and put them on! We were off!

When we got in the car, he buckled up and began chanting, "OK, let's move it, move it, move it, Babeeee!" I laughed, and he repeated it many times until we got to New Braunfels, both of us laughing each time.Bear goes on all outings, but lately, Marshall has decided that he MUST be buckled in for safety. I takes him a while to do this process in the backseat between the two carseats, so I've started just taking Bear and putting him in the seat next to me. I am always instructed specifically to put his back feet BELOW the belt, and his front feet ABOVE the belt. Oh, and nothing else can be on the seat with him. My purse must be on the console between us! He always checks to make sure I do it correctly. This buckling passed inspection.

Since the train was not running, we went to the Children's Museum, which he loves. We had eaten an early lunch, so by 12:00, the place cleared out of all the other children and we had it virtually to ourselves! We will remember this on trips in the future. One of his favorite places there is the tool area, where he tinkered with lots of things. This is a working door bell that he is trying to fix.

He always loves the grocery store, but couldn't quite reach all the items he wanted! Here is looking for---what else---macaroni and cheese!He had the water area all to himself! He played here for about thirty minutes!

He even enjoyed the hospital nursery, because there wasn't a herd of girls playing there. Here, he is weighing a newborn baby. He had me dress one of the babies who was "naked."Here he is pretending to be sick. He got in the ambulance and told me to get in the driver's seat, turn on the lights, and drive him to the hospital, which I did. He actually looked and talked like he was pretty sick. Beware, Mom and Dad, he knows how to FAKE it, pretty well!!! After about two hours of museum time, running to the different areas, nonstop, we decided to head for home. He got very quiet when we got on IH 35, and I looked in the backseat and he was OUT! After we got home, he asked if he could take a bath. Little did I know the funniest part of the day was yet to come!! See below!

This is a little hard to see in this photo. He said, "Look Mimi, I can make DOUBLE BUBBLES!" He took his arm and rubbed it up and down his side and then slowly put his hands on his hips and the open area in between his body and his arms formed a huge bubble!! I said, "Marshall how did you learn how to do that?" He said, "Mommy taught me." When I asked her about this, she said, no, that he and Macy figured out how to do it accidentally one day! He was very proud of himself! This was the perfect ending to our "special day!" Thank you, Marshall, for another great memory! You make me laugh every time we're together!

Two Funny Little Boys

Today was Sam's last day of summer vacation before his school starts tomorrow, and Marshall's school doesn't start until next week. It was a fun day for the two boys to play together without an older sibling interfering. I've never seen two more perfectly-matched little boys. They laughed and played all day long. Both of them remembered to say, "please," "thank-you," and "you're welcome" over and over again, without ever being prompted. Yes, Mom and Dad, your hard work is beginning to pay off!! There were no arguments or tears. When Sam wanted to play with Marshall's transformer, he said, "Sure," and Sam replied, "Thank you, Marshall." Here, they are reading the book, "Eight Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed," which they both know well, and "read" together in unison, laughing the whole time, especially when they made their voices really deep to say the doctor's words, "AND NO MORE MONKEYS JUMPING ON THE BED!!"

Papa decided to take the boys for a walk to see the swimming pool, while Mimi was fixing mac and cheese for lunch. Marshall, a year older than Sam, is showing Sam his "curbing skills." They came back tired and hot with pink cheeks and smelling like teenagers! After gulping lots of cold water....

...we had macaroni and cheese, pineapple, and cookies. Sam wasn't too sure about the shell macaroni, "Mommy gets the other kind," but he ate it anyway. We played on the deck, raced cars, played with the doll house (even though Macy wasn't here to make them!), and read lots more books. They loved the "pigeon" books. Then, they watched "Lady and the Tramp," or as Sam put it, "The Tramp and Lady"...They had to have the pillows on the floor, their favorite white blanket, and the shade down to make the room as dark as possible, while watching the movie. And for some reason, they wanted to be extremely close to the screen!

After "napping," and snacking on popcorn, they topped off the day with a walk to the park to feed crackers to the fish. Both boys---and Mimi and Papa---should sleep well tonight!

Macy and Marshall have their own Olympics!

It was an "active day" on Monday. Mom has gone back to work, so I was keeping M&M. They had been watching the Olympics and decided to perform for an audience (me). Marshall said they were "gymnasticers." The coffee table became their "stage." Activities included dancing and jumping.

Mimi-Macy Trip to Houston

This picture was taken Sunday morning before we left Houston. Macy and Ainsley had fun playing together this weekend. Macy can't wait for her to get a little bigger so she can teach her how to make tiaras with "foamy stickers."

To see what Ainsely is looking at in the backyard, scroll down! "Oh, I wish I were a little bigger."

Macy and her friend, Samantha, who lives across the street from John and Colleen came over to swim. They swam with Uncle John for about two hours, laughing and diving for rings on the bottom of the pool. Hurry up, Ainsley, and grow up so you can join us!

Happiness is being in the pool in Daddy's arms and Mommy taking our picture...

...and being spoiled by Uncle John with a red-iced donut for breakfast!!! It matched her cute outfit! She also had a pink donut! What happens at Uncle John's house stays at Uncle John's house!

Ainsley loved playing "Peek-A-Boo" with Macy!

Ainsley has learned so many tricks since a few weeks ago when I last saw her. She crawls everywhere, pulls up on furniture, has begun to really "talk," claps her hands, and loves to stick her tongue up and out of her mouth to the side like this!

Ainsley, I will see you again in three weeks. I love you and wish you lived closer! Macy, thanks for going with me to Houston. You were a great companion. I especially loved our bedtime stories and talks! I'm a lucky Mimi!

Macy, the Interior Decorator

Macy and Marshall wanted to play with the doll house. Marshall grabbed the "dad" and began planning a birthday party for him with a "fudge cake." Macy began arranging the furniture in the baby's room. She took the cradle and said, "Look, Mimi, I put the cradle at a DIAGONAL!"

Marshall lost interest, and decided to check out his feet!

Fun with Grandkids

This picture says it all!! Hayden, age 6, Macy, 5, Marshall, 4, and Sam, 3.