a date

We like to take the girls out on little individual "dates" every now and then. So my last date with Bella, I thought I would be so creative and fun and take her kayaking. She hated it. Score one for me. I took some pictures though, so when she is older and forgets that she hated it, it will seem like we had a good time.

Lake Woodlands, TX

The water was a little chilly. And dirty.

She had to pee, so I told her the choices were to hang her bottom over the edge of the boat or go in the woods. She didn't like either option, which is weird because normally she is all over peeing in the woods, like it is just the funnest thing she can imagine.

We try really hard to raise classy girls around here.

She cracked a smile finally because there was a regatta going on and a bunch of boats passed right at this moment.

Of course, she got stage fright and couldn't pee, but honestly, who could?

Finally, one smile, so she can look back and see the illusion of fun.

as promised...

A post about South Padre Island:

We went to South Padre Island over Christmas, oddly enough, it was warm (70's) before we got there and warmed up after we left (it was 80 by Saturday) but, while we were there it was cold. And by cold, I mean, my parents, from Utah, were cold. (That was a lot of comma's, I am not sure they are all warranted. I think I was absent on grammar day in elementary school.) Anyway, we proved that we don't need warm weather to have fun, we swam in the (heated) pool, browsed the surf shops and had Christmas dinner at Denny's.

It wasn't all about Denny's though, we went to the beach:

Dissected jellyfish (this is before - I will spare you the after):

Found a rope that had washed ashore:

Took pictures with cousins:

And went to some animal place, I can't remember what it was called. I think it is some sort of dolphin rescue, but since dolphins live in the ocean, not in plastic kiddy pools, we didn't get to see them. At least, no one was taking boats out in the hurricane force winds that were happening that day. Don't worry though, Bella told me her favorite part of the trip was holding this parakeet:

Next time we will just vacation at Petsmart.

I don't think she would mind that at all:

I think we have a crazy cat lady in the making.

this holiday season...

We bought the Griswold Family Christmas Tree:

The girls had a dance recital:

(Aliz had a nasty case of the stomach flu that day, but she performed anyway and didn't puke on stage, so bonus)

We read The Nativity:

Santa came:

We opened gifts:

I finally figured out how to take a flattering picture of myself:

(Did you catch that? So here is the trick: hide behind as many things as possible, then, viola: flattering. And genius.)

And, I purchased super romantic gifts for Taylor, like this digital tire pressure gage.

I know, get a room right?

We also went to South Padre Island, but I will save that for later.

Gwen is the only nice person in our family,

. . . at least according to Bella, who wrote Gwen this note the other night while feeling particularly picked on.

For those of you not accustomed to reading first grade scrawl calligraphy, here's a translation, slightly altered to improve readability:

"I love you Gwen. You are the only one who is nice to me every day. Love, Bella"

Halloween (a little late)