Winona Trip: Going to the Zoo and Meeting Parker

To kick off our Spring Break, we decided to take a trip to east Texas - to visit Jeremy's parents and to meet baby Parker! We headed down Saturday morning and back home Sunday morning, so we had to pack a lot into our trip! 


We spent most of our time there heading to the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler. I have not been to a zoo since a field trip when I was in elementary school. I will further confess that I didn't expect much of this zoo, thinking it couldn't be as good as a "big city" zoo.

Can You Tell Me How to Get...

We made our second annual trip to the Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie to see Sesame Street Live, and Luke enjoyed it once again! They really seemed to raise the bar this time around with more appearances by the characters - it was very cool! 



First, we posed with the still characters. We got to see Bert and Ernie (who are total favorites of his), Grover, and Oscar (whose personality he seems to have adopted of late :\ ). 

Then, Ernie and Murray came out - in the FLESH! Luke is right there by Ernie's pant leg. He was fascinated. 

Then, it was time to sit in our seat like a big boy! He did a much better job of this than last year. 

Then: SHOWTIME! A year ago*, we were cracking up at the Count in a track suit. This year, Jeremy and I couldn't stop laughing and Bert in a leisure suit.  Awesome. : ) 


*So I found last year's post to create that hyperlink, and I totally had a moment about how much younger he looks. He is just getting farther and farther away from being a baby and growing into such a big boy. *Sniffle*

Here they are all in the finale. I think they found the instruments or something...? I don't really remember the plot. Shoot me. : )

All that really mattered was that Luke dug it and watched it all. 

We had so much fun! 

Fabulous February - Trips to Aggieland and an Aquarium

The first weekend of February marked a special treat: Mom and Dad kept Luke so that Jeremy and I could go to a basketball game in College Station. Dad has gotten season tickets to men's and women's basketball games and football games for years, and it is such a great treat to go when we can. So in December, Dad emailed the kids a schedule, asking us to pick a game to attend. I took a rather cursory glance and picked: oooh, we should DEFINITELY go when A&M plays Kansas. They're a powerhouse! Jeremy will be so excited!

Christmas, 2011 - Part 3

One more Christmas post! Here's a better glance at a small portion of Luke's Christmas stash. I think he's still half asleep as he checks it out!

Christmas, 2011 - Part 2

Santa was very good to Luke and his family once again this year. We had a great holiday!

First of all - my sister Megan taught me how to do a very pretty bow this year. I think it really revolutionized my gift wrapping. What do you think? (Can you tell I'm proud?)

On Christmas Eve, we celebrated, as always, at my parents' house. We ate great food and got great gifts. Luke scored with two favorites: his Dinosaur Train

...and his LETTERS. (We know the boy loves his letters!)

(Let me tell you: these letters have come in quite handy this weekend while Daddy has been sick and Mommy has had six weeks' grades to finalize.)

Then Santa visited - look at what he left our little monkey!

He also left Luke a very sweet note. Here are some highlights:

"No other three year-old on the Nice List has worked as hard as you have in 2011... Your Mommy, Daddy, Honey, Grand, Grandma, Grandpa, whole family and I are so proud of you, and we love you very much!"

I think Saint Nick was pretty right, don't you?

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas, too!

Merry Christmas - Part 1

For whatever reason, the 2011-2012 school year has really flown by. Actually, there are many possible reasons: a new schedule at the high school, a new program I run, a new school for Luke... The to do list runneth over in our world more often than not, but Christmas was still as busy and wonderful as usual!

I have to start with this darling picture of Luke on his last day of "work" of 2011. He was ready to PARTY!

Thanksgiving, 2011

Thanksgiving was absolutely wonderful. I am so thankful to work in a school district that gives us the entire week off. It always falls just at the point when we teachers and students really need it. We had a wonderful holiday this year, too!