Collin's first Astro game

Our Houston Astros are doing well for the first time in awhile, and Cas has become a fair-weather fan.  While a few years ago, $20 would have bought you a great seat, when we took Collin last Sunday afternoon, our $22 seats had us in the nose-bleed fourth section.

It took my sweet boy awhile to be comfortable that high. He told us when we got to our seats that he felt like he was going to fall over.  It was steep - I completely sympathized!

Twins with Daddy - 

He enjoyed clapping along and doing the wave.  We tried to teach him the basic rules and encouraged him to watch the player at bat, though I think throughout our 10-0 win, he likely only caught one hit live.  Can't blame him, baseball is a pretty slow game.  His highlight was the chocolate ice cream.  

Enjoyed our first major-league sporting event together with our son - 

 Near the end of the game, we took him to the kid zone that had a climbing area along with some photo opps -

We had a great Sunday afternoon at the ballpark -

Bike, Bathtub and Big Girl Bed

Collin has a very small training wheel bike at my parents' home, and asked us for one.  After earning it through some sticker charts, Cas bought him a way-too-high-quality-for-a-five-year-old bike online.  This bike - that cost 4x a normal Walmart first bike - didn't even come with training wheels.  So in the heat of July, we took Collin for his first ride one evening.  Gearing up at the start of our driveway.

 We guided him on the sidewalk past a house or two.  Between Cas and I, we lasted less than 5 minutes.  He came away scar-free, so we deemed it a success.  And Cas has the bike in pieces in our living room as I type, trying to add on training wheels.

We could let go for split seconds, but Collin is far from having his balance.  

My Aunt Cheryl and cousins Leah and Matt brought the kid bath time color tablets, so my kids haven't taken a clear-water bath in weeks.  

Our drama queen, pausing from singing "Let it Go" in the bathtub -

Playing with the tea set Uncle Alex and Aunt Coady gave her.  Looking mischievous since she knew she wasn't supposed to drink the pink water!

Bath time is full of singing, playing, and then roaring at different decibels in monster towels when they get out each night.

Last Friday, Maya started climbing out of her crib.  Saturday morning at 6:30am, I woke up to a pitter-patter of feet and a nose honk by our crazy two-year-old.  So our band-aid solution was to take the front slats off her crib, a modified toddler bed.  She does well at naps, but has been waking sometime from 2-3am each night - a habit that we cannot wait to break!  Dreaming away next to baby dolls Ally, Hugh and Jayla.

July 4th family celebrations

We started July 4th with a visit to my grandma's home.  The kids cuddled up for a quick picture (which I love so much) - 

And then raced into the kitchen, opened her cabinets, and helped themselves to yogurt raisins like the heathens we're raising.  She buys them just for them and they normally make a beeline for her kitchen! Which is funny because we almost always have yogurt raisins at our house, but for some reasons, those at my grandma's must taste better.

Photo opp by the flag in her front yard -

Then we waited for Cas' 'brother and his family, Grandma Libia and great grandma Lita to arrive.  Once everyone was here, we went straight for the pool.  And the youngest cousin, still a month shy of being two, bravely headed for the slide -

 Collin and Lorenzo did the slide over and over again -

Giving Uncle Tony a high five -

Happy little fish, Lorenzo -

Cannonball and slides -

Nico was dragged encouraged down the slide too -

My happy boy -

 

 Coordinated jump with Daddy (and I'm quite impressed with my camera that I luckily caught it) -

 I love how they're both flailing their arms with their tongues out - Cas and his mini-me

Even synchronized splashes!

Collin, Lorenzo and Cas -

Lita enjoyed the pool as well - pretty amazing for the 4 kids to swim with their great-grandmother!

Maya woke up from her nap and it took her awhile to join the party, but a CapriSun elicited a tiny smile!

She loves dunking the basketball with the help of her daddy -

She loves her daddy . . . and she knows at bedtime, she can delay by asking for endless hugs!

 Cheese faces!

 Swimming with baby doll "Hugh" -

Cutie pie Lorenzo saving some sandwich on his face for a snack later -

Amazing swimming Nico, barely three, swimming all over and diving to the bottom for toys!

After hours in the pool, we finally got everyone inside.  They tore up the game room but it was cute watching the cousins interact -

This boy is certainly an individual with his style . . . just like his Daddy!

 And not to be outdone, our fashionista two-year-old the next day, sporting her shades for a dip in the pool!

We had a great 4th with family, ending the night with the best fireworks Collin has ever seen.

"Jelly" the baby doll

Maya hasn't had much experience naming baby dolls.  That's because most of her dolls used to be mine, and so when I'd give them to her, I'd say, "here's Jayla."  The one doll she named, all pink, is "baby Hugh" after our friend's infant who she dances around when she sees him at church.  She alternates favorites of her dolls, but lately Jayla has come out the winner (or loser if you're Jayla and you're permanently naked and one of your eyes is jacked up from too much Maya love).  Maya pronounces her name "jelly."

I had a doll just like Jayla named Cindy who couldn't be passed on she was so well loved (lost an arm, chewed off some fingers or toes, etc), so it's interesting to me that Maya is gravitating towards essentially the same doll I loved at her age.

We love this happy face.  Over the last few weeks she has become obsessed with the Frozen soundtrack, singing along to bits and pieces of the songs.  

On Sunday, Cas put her in a new dress, and she came running into my room saying "look at me!"  Showing off her muscles -

I am such a lucky mom to have a healthy boy and girl!

My loves posing before church.  This is what happens when I tell Collin to open his eyes (his initial smile was making him squint) -

Maya might be easy this year for family pictures, now we've got to work on Collin's natural smile!