Easter at the Zoo

Every year, my realtor group does client appreciation day at the Zoo.  The provide tickets, lunch, animal encounters, face painting, and even pictures with the Easter Bunny.  It is something we look forward to every year.  This year I invited Dianna and her kids to joining us.  Everything is always more fun with cousins (and an adult for me to talk to).

Spring Break 2018

I guess I will finally get around to writing about Spring Break.  We didn't have any plans for Spring Break this year.  Tom and I were both feeling burnt out from school and really needed some down time.  We did venture out for a few fun things over the break, though.  The boys and I went with friends to Brazos Bend State Park  They weather was great and the alligators were plentiful.

Dianna and I continued our tradition of taking our daughters to the rodeo and concert.  This year OneRepublic was playing.  We scored some amazing seats and it was a really fun night.

I thought the weather would be too cold for swimming, but the sun came out and the kids braved the cold pool waters two days in a row.

The last day of the break, we went with Dianna and her family to ride the live steamers at a nearby park.  I think I was expecting bigger trains but they were tiny!  It was so funny to see all these grown adults straddling the little trains.  The ride was longer than I expected and the kids thought it was really cool.

After the train rides, we played at the park for a bit and then went to a Mexican market for some very authentic tacos.  The kids liked them more than I expected and I wished I had bought more!

Spring Break always gives me a taste of freedom and makes me long for summer.  Two more months!

Play ball!

Last weekend was Opening Day Ceremony for baseball/softball.  My neighborhood takes this very seriously.  It starts with a parade.  Every team decorates a truck (or some other vehicle - this year there was a trolley, old school fire truck, and a few army vehicles) and then the players throw buckets of candy at the crowd.  I usually get enough candy to bribe my students with for the rest of the year.  Oh, and I also get enough to fill Easter eggs. 

 The Opening Day Ceremonies themselves are kind of boring.  There are speeches, they introduce the teams (so, so many teams), the National Anthem is sung, and then the first pitch is thrown out.  My oldest sister (Jeannine), Sabrina, and I just hung out on a park bench until it was all over and then we braved the crowds to collect our players. 

Kolby had a game at noon, so we hung around and enjoyed all the festivities until his game.  The kids loved rolling around in the hamster ball and playing at the game trucks. 

After Kolby's game, we went home for an hour to rest and then returned for Sam's first game.  It was so short, but also so adorable.  Sam was a little clueless, but he loved every minute of it.

Jack didn't have a game on Saturday, but he did have his first game Monday night.  His team didn't win, but Jack played really well.  He got on base every time he was at bat and he was even awarded the game ball at the end of the night. 

I left Sam at home with Ellie so I could watch uninterrupted.  Oh my gosh, talk about a game changer.  This baseball season is going to be so much more enjoyable now that Ellie is old enough to babysit.  She even fed Sam and put him to bed before Tom and I got home!  Life is good.