Harborwalk Trim a Tree 2012



The Harborwalk Trim a Tree is an event we look forward to every year.  It is a time of friends and family and best of all, a visit from Santa!  The girls got all dressed up to see Santa and were a little shy when we arrived with everyone looking at them.  "Who are these people, and why are they looking at me?"  I am sure that is what is going through Carys' mind.

 Santa is coming!  Carys and Ava looking for him with Daddy TJ.

 Ava is excited.

 Carys is really excited.

 Here he comes with Mrs Claus.  Papa James is driving the boat.

 Me and my girls.

 Dancing for Santa.

 The girls sat quietly, listening to Mrs Claus.  She took her time going around to each kid asking what they wanted for Christmas.  Ava did not answer at first but later said a Minnie Mouse toy.  Carys was shy at first and Mrs Claus was supposed to come back to her, but she forgot.  So we sent a letter to Santa that night to make sure he knew that Carys wanted a butterfly toy and an elephant toy.

 A picture with Mr and Mrs Claus.

 All the children of Harborwalk.  It is really neat to see them grow.

Happy Yelloween 2012

Every year, I contemplate the best "theme" for Halloween.  For Carys' first Halloween we did a Strawberry Shortcake theme, the next year we did the Beatles Theme, last year we a Bug's Life Theme and this year I was hoping to reuse some of the costumes.  My recycling of previous costumes is what brought about the yellow theme.  Carys would still fit in her bumblebee outfit from last year and Maya had her yellow submarine from the Beatles year, all I needed to do was coordinate Macy and Ava.  

 Carys in her bumblebee outfit, still fits, still cute!

 I did have to create Macy's costume.  My friend at work gave me the idea for a yellow m&m.  I sewed two tshirts together and stuffed her with packaging bubbles.  Maya does not move much when she is in costume.

 Ava being a lioness was a given!  One day she came up to us with "spirit" fingers and roared.  Pretending to be a lion is one of her favorite things to do.  We got her the tshirt at the Lion King Musical, it was too perfect.  "I'm working on my ROAR!"  I made the mask and tutu to try and make her more female.  The yellow shoes were Carys', a great suggestion by my mom I had forgotten about and the cheetah pants were a last minute add on.  I know they are not lion but they added to her kitty persona.

 We also added a bumblebee wand to Carys' outfit, it was a hit!

 Ready to go!  The girls are heading out with Daddy and their flashlights.

 TJ sported a yellow tshirt.

 Our neighbors across the street go all out every year.  I braided Carys' hair last night so we could frizz it out for her bumblebee persona.

 Ava was a little unsure, but she sure loves the gigantic kitty in the neighbor's yard.  The neighbor also gave the girls a ridiculous amount of candy!

 Next house!  The girls did great going up to doors, knocking, and being polite.

 Another neighbor that spoiled the girls.There is Ava's tail and Carys' wings.

 Look at my stash!  Pixie Sticks!  I have never had those.

 Carys was really sleepy at the end but wanted a taste of her sucker.

Another successful year.  I am unsure if I will do a theme next year, with the girls getting older, I may have to wait and let them chose what they want to be.  Macy and Maya really do not appreciate being dressed up either.  One thing is for sure, it is a fun creative outlet for me!

Summer Schoolabaloo for Two!

Last summer, I signed Carys up for Summer Schoolabaloo, a Mother's Day out program at St Bernadette's Church.  It was good for Carys to keep a little structure and to socialize with other kids.  She has always been shy and I thought summer schoolabaloo would help her.  It also gave me time with Ava.  We liked it so much, we signed both Carys and Ava up this year.  The most important part of the day for Carys was lunch, we got a monkey lunchbox for Ava and an elephant for Carys, just perfect.  

 The girls were all ready to go with their backpacks Auntie Kim had bought them.  The side pocket is just perfect for the ever important milk cups.

 Carys went twice a week and Ava went on Tuesdays.  We felt it was more important for Carys to get the feel of preschool as she is starting Bay Area Charter School in the fall.  At first Carys was shy, but you could see a change in her every week.  She grew more and more excited to go back and she started interacting with the other kids more.  She also started participating in gym, she was not a fan of the chaos of all the kids at first, but by the end loved it.  Summer Schoolabaloo was just what she needed. 

Ava cried at first being separated from her sister but was easily left after a couple weeks.  We enjoyed "Ava day", the days Carys went to school and she got our sole attention.  We plan to sign up again next year.

Destin Trip 2012

I had been wanting to do a family trip over the summer and knew with TJ's work schedule that early June would be the best time.  I thought Destin would be great as it was a halfway point to Jupiter Florida and TJ's mom could come meet us.  Little did we know we would have such a treat as the Great Grandparents joined her along with her husband Steve.  With all the things that have to go with the girls, driving would be the easiest way to get there.

 Carys was very excited about our road trip.  The girls were very well behaved watching lots of movies on our portable DVD player.  Thank goodness for car adapters!  We did stop along the way so the girls could play on a playground.  We had a fun scavenger hunt, finding that indoor playgrounds are common in Texas, but not along I-10.  We finally found one at a Chick fil a.

 We finally made it to Destin.  So many people had told me how beautiful it was and how awesome the sand is.  Confirmed.  I have been to many of the world's best beaches and it definitely is a contender.

 The best part of the trip was staying within walking distance to the beach.  We went every morning for the girls to play in the sand.

 Carys and TJ in the water.  By the last day, the girls were very comfortable with the water and had their "sea" legs.

 Carys loved all the new sand toys.

 Her pinwheel that Memere bought her is her new favorite toy.

 Sweet Ava loving the sand.

 A priceless day, digging in the sand with the Charest girls.

 Great Grandpa was there too.  I learned a lot about them on this day.  I have also never heard him talk so much.  A day to cherish.

 Carys still talks about making "soup".  Great Grandma, Memere, dug into the sand too.

 We were in Destin over Father's Day.  Here is my official father's day photo of TJ sharing his ice cream with his girls.

 Ava loving her time with Memere...and Memere loving her time with Ava.

 A carousel ride!

 Ava too!  I still do not know how Grams got Ava on the deer. 

 The girls with their Great Grandparents, Pepere and Memere.

 On the last day, the girls were working on their tans.

 Since we were going home the next day, we spent as much time on the beach as possible.  I also got some neat pics of the girls.

Destin was great.  We loved where we stayed and the drive was not that bad.  We plan to do more trips in the future.

Living in Space City

Growing up in Clear Lake, NASA is just part of our culture.  I used to babysit for an astronaut, his wife was my swim coach and I have taught many children of astronauts.  Not to mention how many people I know who work for NASA. 

 

When the shuttles were retired and Houston was passed over to house one, we were disappointed.  Houston is the heart of the Space program.  Instead we got the shuttle replica from Florida.  It was a very exciting event when it came via barge just down the street from us.  When they finally got it in place at the Space Center, I took the girls to check it out.  This is as close as we could get.  

 It makes me sad that they will never get to witness a shuttle launch.  I have such fond memories of my trip to Florida with my mom. 

 An Orion capsule.  It was hot and they were ready to go.  Someday they will understand how cool this was.

Mother's Day 2012

It was a little chilly at first, but a trip to Palm Beach, Moody Gardens was the perfect way to spend Mother's Day this year.  My little sandcrabs love digging in the white sand.

 My sweet Ava.

 Cutie Carys

 Our official Mother's Day photo.

 Carys loves the jet skis in the wave pool.

 Ava is finally big enough to enjoy them too.

 Something new, Daddy introduced burying them in the sand and Carys took him up on it!

 Me too!

 What a work of art.  Best merman I have ever seen.  TJ was disappointed we did not do more work on the scales.  Not sure if he knows I am posting this on the Internet...