Tate Face- 8 Weeks

Does it get any cuter? He LOVES to play Pat-a-Cake- especially rolling it and patting it :)

Ada's New Tee-Ball Season + Naturefest

We loved Ada's early Spring tee-ball team, but I had Tate right around the sign up window, so we missed the opportunity to request a coach.  BUT- the silver lining is her new team is just as awesome, with some GIRLS ON IT!  :)  The girls are all super adorable.  This Saturday was picture day- so I snapped a few pictures myself. :)

Waiting in line for pics-

Goofing off waiting on Daddy to pick us up and drive us to the YMCA for her game :)

My girl in action!

Crouching in the outfield- occasionally ready to catch a ball, more often than not resting.  Ha!

Dax was a little bored...

 Afterwards he scurried back to Bridgeland for Naturefest.  It was awesome!!  So many cool exhibits and shows and programs.  

Some Avian Aerialists, apparently-

Waiting for the "Crocodile Encounter" to begin- so excited!

This was my favorite character walking around that day. :)

The only character Ada was brave enough to ask for a picture with- the Hedgehog.

"So are you a mole or opossum?" -Ada

Brian Staples Primate Show

Since we skipped the camel and pony rides, we let Dax drive the fire truck :)

Tate Tummy Time- 6.5 weeks

Tate turned 8 weeks today!!!  This video is a little old of him at 6.5 weeks- but I'm rarely at the computer to post videos so I'm doing it now. :)  I love this little man so much!!!

We discovered Tate has been suffering from some reflux- so he's on medication that seems to be working- and he is acting so much happier.  The very next day after beginning his Zantac I got an almost-giggle out of him!!!  He's smiling and cooing and goofing off SO MUCH more.  It makes me so sad he was in so much pain- and I do not miss the hoarse screams in my ear for 2/3 of the day!  I'll post some newer pictures of this cute in action ASAP!

Ada's "Spring Sing"

Ada's preschool put on a little Spring musical for the kids to perform in for their family- they were to dress up as Princesses and Kings and Queens. And Ada rrrreally wanted me to make her a royal horse costume for the event- a request which I declined.

We had not heard a peep about the event (other than the horse costume request) from Ada.  So imagine our surprise when we sit in the audience and watch the kids sing about 5 songs, know the words, and choreography!  Ada had a BLAST, and LOVED the stage.  I could have just eaten her up! 

In case you can't find her, she's the little purple Rapuzel princess on the second row- in the middle of the picture. :)

A close up of her moves- 

And thankfully I was able to catch a bit on film!! :)

Ada's Butterfly Project

We ordered a kit to grow and observe the Butterfly Life Cycle off of Amazon (my favorite place in the world wide web!)- and Ada had a BLAST!  She learned so much, and had such a great time watching the caterpillars become cacoons become butterflies.  Here are a few pictures of the project-

This was after the caterpillars formed their chrysalises.  

We ordered caterpillar "specimens" from a scientific company (which explains the container and bizarre food source)- but I've since learned if you just purchase some milkweed from a garden shop, there are usually caterpillars or larvae already on it, so we plan on doing this again the "natural" way!  :)

After about 8 days, the butterflies begin to emerge!

Things are obviously a little crazy around here lately, so I'm sad to report I didn't get any pictures or videos of Ada releasing her mature butterflies into the wild.  

But it was so sweet and special and adorable and everything cute about her.  One butterfly was born with a gimp wing (but survived and thrived in the cage)- and she was SO worried about it surviving in the wild.  We released him into the mulch in the garden so if he were going to die, he'd at least be comfortable. 

But here are some pictures of her holding butterflies at Moody Gardens this weekend. :)  She was in HEAVEN.  

(We are going to plant a real butterfly garden in our yard as soon as mommy gets a chance and gets herself to the garden store.)

And here are 2 videos I did manage to take of the caterpillars forming their cocoons and Ada's hilarious commentary during the process. :)

Dax on the Harmonica

This is Dax during Ada's dance class today- he'd gotten his hands on some random harmonica we had in the diaper bag and went to town.  This kid can play!!  He actually got better and better over the next 5 minutes, but I only videoed him the first few seconds playing with it.  I love his little finale in the first video!  The second video is pretty unimpressive- we'd switched the camera so he could see himself so he was just joking around.  Plus he has a mouthful of graham crackers, as you'll see... :)

Member's Only Day- Moody Gardens Palm Beach!

Grams and Papa have gifted us a family membership to Moody Gardens several years in a row now- and every year about this time they hold the grand opening of the little beach/water park Palm Beach, open to members only!

We LOVE going on this day because it is so calm, relaxed, and NOT crowded. And of COURSE we visit the Aquarium and Rainforest pyramids while we're there too. We didn't do any 4D or IMAX experiences this time, but lots of animals were out and active which the kids wouldn't trade for sitting in a dark theatre for the world! Ada even held a butterfly. Probably the most significant event in her life to date. :)

Daddy was a trooper and swam and kept up with the two older kids at Palm Beach while Tate and I lounged in the shade. Everyone slept until 7:30 this morning we had such a packed weekend! (Bridgeland held the annual Naturefest on Saturday which was awesome- as well as a tee ball game!)