Thought of the Day

Lauren's Thought of the Day:

Late September/early October in Houston feels like summer in Boston.

Highs around 80, pleasant not-so-humid air, and cool mornings. Weather in which it's pleasant to have a meal outside. In which Lauren doesn't want to duck and cover and sprint back to the house after checking the mailbox. In which hot tea and a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast doesn't seem so out of place.

The only acceptable thing I can do with this realization is laugh. The alternative is to get all annoyed about it, and I think I need to be done being upset with the climate here for a while, since it's an exercise in futility at this point.

Reading the Paper

A Day at the Park

For a couple of weeks in a row, I've taken Noah and Jane to Hermann Park on our "off" day, the day of the week when we don't have another activity. Hermann Park is a nice public park in the middle of Houston, near Rice. It's also where the Houston Zoo is located.

Initially, I took Noah there by himself just to have some very rare one-on-one time with him. They have a little kiddie train (excuse me; a railroad, they call it), and I knew he'd enjoy it; we took him on it around Christmastime, and he loved it then. In fact, this train has been around for many years; there are even pictures of me on it as a toddler! So it's neat to take my kids there, now.

Of course, Noah loved the train. But when I asked him what his favorite activity of the morning was, he surprised me by naming the other thing we did, which was feeding the ducks. Now, I have to be honest: I am not sure if we are actually allowed to feed the ducks. It seems to me that if everyone there fed the ducks, those suckers would end up harassing all the visitors. But there are no signs to indicate that you shouldn't do it, so I have no plans of stopping. It's pretty fun, I must say, especially since feeding the ducks also involves feeding the fish, pigeons, grackles, blue jays, and squirrels. Last week, we even saw a turtle peeping up out of the water.

So after Noah and I had our little date, I decided it'd be fun to take both the kids the next week, since we didn't have any other plans. I think this might become a regular thing, because it's cheap, pretty, and fun. It gets us out of the house and gives Noah something to talk about for the rest of the day. And I think that once it gets cooler, I might buy a zoo membership. It pays for itself after two or three visits, and that'd be a great regular outing for us, too.

Here we are on the train. I have to say, it was really hard to get a good picture of all of us. Poor Janey looks so hot.

Some views from the train ride:

At one of the stops on the train, you can see the main entrance to Rice University. I always say to Noah, "Noah, there's Rice! Who went to school at Rice?" "Mommy and Daddy." "That's right. Do you want to go to Rice, too?" "Yes." "Okay. Maybe someday you will." Heh heh. I try to walk the line between brainwashing him and, well, not. But I figure a little encouragement is not a bad thing.

The train ride is quite a bargain, especially since one ride lasts for about 20 minutes. If you have a kid who loves trains, it's a pretty great outing, and I'd definitely recommend it. Plus, the parking is free, which is a perk that I am surprised I feel such a pleasant surprise towards, but I guess after living in Boston for so long, free parking at a place like that still feels like an anomaly. I actually still hoard quarters, as if I still need to save them up for parking meters or something. It's just ingrained in me, now. Anyway, free parking, a nice park, a great train, and feeding the ducks: so far, the list of pleasant things in Houston/Hermann Park is adding up.

I made a big deal to Noah about how we were going to eat lunch outside, and that doing so is called having a picnic. Boy, did he think having a picnic was special! How awesome to enjoy simple things like learning a new word and eating outside.

Here's Noah on our picnic bench. It was hard to snap quick enough to catch his smile. Instead, I got a bunch of pictures of the sandwich inside his mouth. Here's the one with the lowest gross factor:

And here's the view from our bench:

We had a very pleasant time until the thunderstorm rolled in. Yes, I said thunderstorm. We--and the entire seventh and eighth grade classes from a local school--were caught in a rapid downpour that soaked us pretty well. We ran for shelter (of which there was very little--imagine a two year old, a stroller, and a wet mommy squished under an overhang with a whole bunch of teenagers) and tried to wait out the storm, but it just kept pouring and pouring. Noah started playing in a puddle, and eventually I quit trying to discourage him from it and just let him do so, since he was wet anyway. But when he slung mud on my skirt, I was kind of done with the whole thing. Since the rain wasn't letting up, Noah and I were wet, and I was now muddy, we just covered Jane really well in the stroller and made a break for the car. Of course--wouldn't you know it?--by the time we got there, it was clearing up. Oh well; it was kind of fun.

Fun times with a toddler and a baby! Anyone in Houston have any other suggestions for a local outing? I'm sure there are tons of things for us to discover. The Children's Museum, the Museum of Natural Science (Nathan and I actually got engaged in the butterfly center), and the Interactive Theater are some places I'd like to hit sometime, too.

Jane's BFF

Jane and her BFF, Elizabeth:

My 31st Birthday

Last weekend, we celebrated my birthday at my parents' house. Granny made me one of my favorites, peanut butter cake. Yum.

Here's Noah, bringing me my cake. The stinker blew the candle out, himself, so we had to do a repeat. I guess he can be forgiven, since he's only two. As we all know, he cannot resist blowing out a candle.


You know you're getting old when you are enjoying the cake and the fun so much that you almost forget about the gifts.
I got some books, a really nice chip and dip platter from my parents, and this license plate frame from my alma mater:

Noah and Spencer regaled us with The Itsy Bitsy Spider. They are so cute. I feel like this is one of the videos we'll cherish in years to come, when we can reminisce about when they were small.


We got a cute family picture, too.
The boys match and the girls match.

On my actual birthday, which was on Tuesday, Nathan took the day off. He arranged for a very nice day out for me--without the kids. (!) I can't remember the last time I had several hours without a child attached to me, so it was a special treat. It's not like I don't love having my kiddos around, but it's nice to have a break sometimes, too.

Anyway, he took me to breakfast, then he sent me on my way to get a pedicure, followed by lunch with friends. And he even gave me a gift card so I could follow all of that up with some shopping. Wasn't that nice? He really put a lot of thought into what I might like to do, even looking up the best places for breakfast and pedicures. I have to say that the thing that meant the most to me wasn't the fancy shmancy stuff; it was the fact that he put so much thought into what I would like.

It was a very nice birthday! My family and friends really made it special; even all the birthday wishes on Facebook brightened my day. It's always nice to be thought of by so many people. Thanks, everyone!

Best Yet

The best picture yet of my Jane and me!

Hooray! We finally got a good one!

Houston Seasons: Hot, Hotter, Less Hot, and Christmas

Why, oh why, did I have to randomly turn on the Weather Channel today? Why did I have to tune in during their "local weather" segment? Why did I have to glance up from the computer just as they showed the high for Boston today?

65 degrees. (PANG.) Meanwhile, in Houston, the high is 92 degrees, and it is so stinkin' humid.

About this time last year, I was talking about making soup, planning my annual Fall Breakfast, and figuring out when to go apple picking. I was looking forward to apple cider donuts, and I had probably already bought some fresh cider, made my first batch of pumpkin dip, pulled out some sweaters, and even worn my coat here and there. I would have already been motivated to make a scarf and probably would have gone yarn shopping. I would have been on the hunt for a coat, hat, and mittens for Noah.

For some reason, Boston has been on my mind a lot lately. I wonder how our landlady, an elderly lady who lived below us, is doing. I want to talk to my friends. I miss Harvard. I miss getting outside of the city and visiting the more rural areas. I miss our church. I even miss the quality of the sunlight, which is, of course, less brash and garish since Boston is so much further north. I miss the types of flowers and plants that grow there. I miss the architecture. I even miss riding the T now and then. And I miss the seasons.

Growing up, I remember some adults--the ones who did not grow up in Texas--saying that they liked living here, but that they missed seasons. (Or in my dad's case, he just missed a cooler climate.) I thought I understood people missing seasons. I thought it was kind of silly for them to feel that way (since my hometown, of course, was in all ways wonderful), but everyone knows that Houston is hot for most of the year, so I figured that it made sense that they miss snow and stuff like that. I still thought they made a bit too much of it, though.

But now I understand. I think that unless you've lived in a place where there's a distinct spring, summer, autumn, and winter, you probably can't completely wrap your mind around how profoundly the yearly cycle can affect a person. It is not just about liking the cold and disliking the heat. It's about a certain rhythm to the year; it's about experiencing change every few months instead of the monotony of a nearly single-season climate. And it's about taking the opportunities to really enjoy each season as it comes. And, okay, for me, it's also about the heat vs. the cold. Boston's winters are a solid six months, and Houston's summer is at least as long. And while each season is really too long to really enjoy for the entire duration, I would personally prefer a long winter over a long summer. So, yes, part of my love of seasons has to do with the fact that Houston's one main season is hot, but I still think my point stands.

However, I know not everyone would agree with me. Nathan, for example, loves the hot Texas heat. He loves the wide, open sky. He loves the scrubby brush. He loves that you can still find places that are fairly wild here. What can I say? Some like it hot! But, for me, I think it might take a while before I am not pining for a true autumn and even a good dose of winter. Or maybe I always will, a little bit.

I do love my new/old home. I love the fact that we're near grandparents and family, that I get to see all the old friends I left behind six years ago, the great food, dishwashers and central A/C, and so on. It's just that there are some things, like fall, that I knew I'd miss about New England. But it's an adventure to move back and forth, and that, in and of itself, is fun, too.

:)

Thank you, Nathan, for such a great birthday!

Just had to say that. More details later, but I had a very nice day today. So far, 31 is treating me well. :)

Sidetracked

Every so often, I'll start on a new sewing or crocheting project, which is great. However, there are a few things about crafting that can be problematic for me:

1. I have a bad habit of starting a project and not finishing it.
2. This is often because of my lack of experience in a particular medium (especially sewing), or because I choose projects that are too large for me to finish in a reasonable amount of time. It is also often because I get bogged down in and frustrated at the detail work (measuring, cutting, etc.).
3. Whenever I start looking at yarns or fabrics, I have the tendency to get completely carried away. I want to buy so much stuff! Y'all, I think I could spend hours looking at fabric online at Etsy alone.

Right now, I'm making Very Soft Pillows (more on that later) and some throw pillows for our new sofa. So I'm browsing on Etsy, and I'm having issues, because I keep getting sidetracked on stuff like this:

Look at these! They look like lithographs! Cool!



I've never seen such interesting/homey flannel. Looks like it could be in the inside cover of Peter Rabbit or something.

And oh my goodness at the feedsack fabrics. Anybody have any ideas for what to do with them? I'd love to make something out of it but don't have any ideas other than dishtowels. They're just so sweet and vintage and pretty.




Oooh! Consider me sidetracked. I'm digging the owl trivets:


And oh my gosh, I'm totally loving these:





Are you kidding me? Are you freaking kidding me? I'm just about slain by the cuteness. I'm so glad I had a daughter.

And on that note, before I get sidetracked again, I bid you adieu.

Fajitas and Diligence

Today, Jane and I met my parents at my Dad's office for lunch. This was no ordinary lunch; no sir. When they have Pappasito's come out to the office and grill you some fajitas right then and there, you are in for a pretty darn good feast.

The reason for this deliciousness was to celebrate a few people's anniversaries with the company. Dad had been there the longest, at 25 years, so Mom and I wanted to be there since they'd be honoring him. They talked about what the company looked like 25 years ago and the fact that Dad was pretty much the only one who knew what was going on at the time! (If anything, he is organized!) The guy doing the talking also said something that could not be more true: that Dad is extraordinarily diligent and hard working. If my dad is nothing else, he is that. I honestly do not know another person who is as diligent and hard working as Dale Williams. Although I did inherit a bit of this from him, I didn't inherit it in as concentrated a form or something, because really, no one can compete with his work ethic.

In fact, it is a running joke that Dad works so hard and so constantly that whenever he sits down, this happens:

Y'all, that is not far from the truth! Just watch a movie with him after dark, and wait about 20 minutes; about that time, you'll start hearing funny noises from the floor, where he has settled down with a pillow to watch the movie. But he's not watching; he's falling asleep. And when you poke him and say, "Dad, you're falling asleep," he'll jerk his eyes open and say, "No, I'm not." But give him about another two minutes, and you'll start hearing the funny going-to-sleep noises again. :) He works so hard that it's only rarely that he will stay awake for a movie. (Put the History Channel on, though, and he's hooked.) I'd have to say, though, that the fruits of Dad's diligence and work ethic are definitely worth a few funny noises coming from the floor whenever we watch a movie together.

And, obviously, we are not the only ones who recognize it and benefit from it.

Congratulations on a job well done, Dad!

There's Only One Thing to Do

When you're wearing both a ball cap and a sombrero, there's really only one thing to do:
DANCE!

Photographic Progress

On occasion, we let Noah use our camera to take a few pictures. What two year old can resist seeing themselves on the little screen, after all? However, until now, he's suffered from a fatal photographic flaw: he points the camera backwards, at himself rather than at his subject. Poor kid couldn't figure it out. So we ended up with a whole lot of photos like these:

Consternation.
You have to remember that he thought he was taking the picture of something else in each of those photos.

But just the other day, he finally got it!

Hooray!

Here we go:

Progress!

Toes!

I took this picture of Noah when he was about four and a half months old:

For a while, now, I've been trying to get a similar picture of Jane, and I finally got it the other day!

Caught in the act!
Cutie pies.

And here are some other recent pictures of Jane in all her cuteness.

Noah's First Haircut!

About two weeks ago, Noah got his very first haircut. Yes, he was two years, seven months, and a couple of weeks old before he had enough hair to have a haircut. But let's just remember where he was only a year ago:

See? We have come a long way!
(Isn't it amazing how much they grow in a year?!)

Anyway, we decided to take him in for this momentous occasion because he had some super long locks in the back.


The curls were sweet and babyish, but let's face it: he's a big boy now. And that long strand was just getting to be a little much. So off for a haircut we went!

He was a little anxious about the whole thing. I think he didn't quite know what to make of the shop.


But look how long and unmanageable that hair is! It was definitely time.

After they wet his hair down:
He pretty much maintained that expression the whole time.

But you know you've got it good when you get to sit in a fire engine and watch Toy Story.


"Lady, seriously! What are you doing?!"

His haircut turned out great. He looks like such a big boy now, and I love it. As it turned out, it was Nathan that felt the most sentimental about losing those curls, even though I was the one who made the lady save some for me. She put them in a little baggie made for just that purpose. And that was that! Quite a momentous day.

Six Months Old!

Miss Jane is six months old today!

We celebrated Jane's half birthday in Waco this weekend. It was fun to make her a cake, just as I did for Noah on his six month birthday. And Jane wasn't complaining; although she didn't get to taste the cake, she did enjoy it when everyone sang to her (her brother did a particularly wonderful version of "Happy Birthday").

About my girl:
~She's reaching for everything and putting it in her mouth.
~Everyone comments on how sweet and happy she is and about what a wonderful smile she has. I also often hear that she looks just like a doll.
~She loves to eat. Solid foods have been a success. (Although she's not that crazy about avocado.) Bananas and good old rice cereal are her favorites.
~She has some serious baby thighs. When I try to lift her out of the Bumbo, the Bumbo comes with her because her legs don't just slip out. I always have to tug it off! Ha! To be fair, though, the same thing was true of Noah for a while.
~I love to hear her crow and coo. She loves to "talk" to you or "sing" with you.
~She is reaching for things more regularly. Most notably her mama when she wakes up and is hungry, and her sippy cup, with which she is enthralled.
~She is just always so happy!

Love that Janey Beth!