Herman Park Take Two

Madelyn, Rachel and I met up with Rachel's friend Cindy and her precious little one Adeline. Madelyn is one year older than Adeline but they loved playing together!

I dressed Madelyn in her swimwear since she played in the fountains some the day before and she insisted on wearing her "helmet". She is such a mess!

The girls had fun running through the park, chasing birds and climbing on everything!

Then it was time for a little splashing.

They both loved the water but were just as excited to move on to feeding the ducks.

While we were there I took a few pictures of Adeline. She has the most beautiful dark brown eyes and the sweetest facial expressions! I can't wait to get together with her precious mom again so the girls can have some more fun!

Aunt Rachel's School

While we were in Houston visiting my sister, she showed us around the school where she teaches. She is teaching in inner city Houston at a charter school and I am so proud of what she is doing there!

We've heard all about her school but now we have finally SEEN it!

My brother is a junior high school principal and my sister teaches and is working on her Masters. I hope that Madelyn has awesome teachers and administrators like her aunt and uncle some day!

Herman Park with friends!

Madelyn and I met up with my friend Elise and her two handsome boys. It was my first time to meet sweet Jude and somehow I didn't take one single picture of him! He's precious though and has lots of hair like his big brother!

We had a little spontaneous play time in the fountains.

Then we stumbled upon a peaceful Japanese garden within Herman Park. It was beautiful and  the perfect place for a stroll so Elise and I could talk while the little ones explored.

It was a perfect morning with sweet friends! Can't wait to get together again some time soon!

Houston Waterwall

This evening while Rachel was taking a test for one of her graduate courses I took Madelyn to the Williams Waterwall by the Houston Galleria. The last time I was there was when I was in high school and Luke and I were on a mission trip. I actually have a picture of us with our friends standing by the water!

As we walked up to the waterwall I couldn't help but notice the beautiful trees. I tried to get a picture of MK standing under them, but she was a little distracted. At first she was busy watching a group of kids play.

Then a bug landed on her elbow.

And then she spotted the water. She stood mesmerized just like this for at least five minutes.

 It was so fun to watch her as she watched the water fall.

A nice man at the park offered to take a picture for us.

We found a bench to have a little pre dinner snack since we would be eating so late.

Even more than the water wall, Madelyn was totally fascinated by a group of teenagers that were playing a game on the lawn. She kept running up to them and trying to jump right in. The kid is fearless and sees no difference between her size and teenagers.

Watching her run and play freely was a welcomed site after a few weeks of non stop on the go and chaos. She soaked it in and ran wild!

If you're ever in Houston, this is definitely a fun place to stop and stretch your legs.

Puddle Jumpin'

It's (not) summer, y'all!

It may not officially be summer yet, but y'all, summer is here. These pictures are from one day last week. The end of April. Just over one month in to spring. It was 90 degrees at 7pm! Summer is here.

Luke was mowing the yard. Again. The grass just insists on growing.

I was trying to get MK to cooperate for a few pictures in front of the setting sun, but I traded her cooperation for a few sweet moments on a warm (not) summer evening in the front yard.

She danced and sang and cheered Daddy on.

My favorite was "This little light of mine".

Then a spider crawled on the blanket.

"OH MY GOODNESS MOMMY!! It's a SPIDER! Eww!!!" Followed by this face. She's a little dramatic. (I'm not pointing any fingers but her daddy was in theater in high school).

Once I convinced her the spider was gone she insisted on a game of hide and seek.

I thought I lost her for a minute.

The look of complete surprise on her face leads me to believe that she may have actually thought I couldn't find her.

It was a perfectly peaceful hour in the front yard with my favorite girl. Perfect.