Movie Night

Saturday night at the Lucas house......Movie Night. We started doing movie night with Tyson a few years ago. We would get pizza, popcorn and sit on blankets and watch a family friendly movie. The favorite part for Tyson was always the bottomless giant bowl of popcorn and the strawberry milk I would let him drink. Well, we thought we would give movie night a whirl with Emerson too. She seemed to really like being part of the action. She even sat still and watched the movie for while, although after about 15 minutes into the movie she asked, "Emmy turn watch Wiggles?!?!" Great.

"hey.....you two, down in front!"

Mommy's angels! I should mention these two angles took out that bowl of popcorn.

she too enjoyed the movie night refreshments

"ahhhhh....pink milk, my favorite!"

What?!? Doesn't everyone watch a movie with a kitten in a drop waist dress and an owl in a track suit.

........ bars on the windows

Growing up in San Antonio I had the pleasure of being introduced to "pan dulce" at an early age, also known as Mexican Sweetbread. On Sundays my Dad would go to this bakery on the rough side of town (it wasn't rough then, but it sure is rough now) and bring back yummy delicious pan ducle. I was little so I don't remember the name of the bakery but I do remember the building was pink and it had bars on the windows. My favorite were always the empanadas with the fruit in the middle and the pink cookie. I haven't been able to duplicate the pink cookie yet but I have found a pretty close second to the sweet empanadas.


These wonderful little puffs of heaven are filled with pineapple preserves. I've also made them with peach and cherry fillings. Something about the pineapple just makes them so tasty.

Is your mouth watering yet???

Emerson's 1st Day of MDO

Emmy survived her first day of school, or should I say Park Hills survived Emmy's first day. I am going to start trying to call her Emerson, after all that's the name we chose for her and there is an Emmy in her class as well as aa Emma and an Emily. Isn't that crazy, I guess "Em" names were popular in 2007. Anyway, Emmy......I mean Emerson did pretty good today. She was very excited this morning and even excited once we got to the school. She marched right in with Max. Even once we got near the classroom she was still pretty pumped. Then I handed her over the baby gate to her teacher and she looked a little concerned. I gave her a hug and a kiss, told her I loved her. I quickly walked out the door and didn't look back. Wendy and I headed straight to Starbucks. It's right across the street just in case things got bad. I gave it thirty minutes and called to check on her. The director's exact words to me were, "well.....she was having a moment earlier but she seems ok right now." Moment was code for a screaming fit. Patti (the assistant director) called me back about twenty minutes later to tell me she was actually doing really well and was playing, having a good time and not to worry.

Turns out her day was pretty good all in all. This was her first time ever to be in any sort of group daycare setting. I think crying off and on for the first 45 minutes wasn't too bad. After that she had a good day, she even enjoyed going to music class. I won't think about Thursday just yet. I suspect that drop off may be a little more involved. Involved is code for a heck of a lot harder.

She looked so big with her backpack and lunch box

Where is Emerson? Oh, there she is..... under that backpack.

A little hug from her buddy Max

just checking out the school

Max and Emerson sitting on the little bench

Happy Labor Day 2009

Today is Labor Day, which translates to an extra day off from school for Tyson and a day off for Paul. Now that Tyson is in school these extra holidays just seem special. Paul's parents came in town for the long weekend. They hadn't seen the kids since May. We made a trip to the Botanical Gardens to see the BIG BUGS exhibit. The exhibit was pretty interesting, it was just so stinkin HOT. Anne and Jim got us a family membership so I plan to take the kids back before the exhibit leaves, hopefully next month it will be a little cooler.

Tyson got a bumble bee painted on his hand. He wasn't so sure about getting his face painted, but the hand was ok.

"don't pull on the rope Em!"

trying to get a group shot........seems that Em would rather not

the kids standing in front of the GIANT ant sculpture

You can't quite tell from this picture but Em was hauling buns down this hill. "Where are the brakes?"

Hey buddy watch out for the GIANT dragon fly behind you!

We took some bread to feed the ducks. Something tells me these ducks were not new to this game. They were extremely aggressive. They just came waddling at you pecking for food.

Tyson with Grandma and Grandpa

Grandma Anne and Tyson

Rain, Rain please Stay a While

It actually RAINED today in South Texas. Not only did it rain, it rained HARD. We got home from dinner and the sky opened up. I should first clarify it hasn't really rained in something like 45 days (it seems like it's been years). Long enough that we are in Stage 3 water restriction, which translates to you can only water by hand every other week on your assigned day. In other words most plants are dead, bushes are struggling and trees are loosing there leaves and not because the seasons are changing. Tyson asked if he could play in it....... we said, "sure Buddy......this is rain, it comes from the sky. Have at it." He couldn't wait to get his raincoat out, it is almost is too small. Go figure.

He was ecstatic to play in the rain.

Look at that smile.

more smiles

big wet feet

I took all of these shots of Tyson from the garage.....I wasn't getting my camera wet. I love my Zoom lens.

Emmy....it says it right there

Although I miss my Tyson during the day and the house seems abnormally quiet while he is at school. I am enjoying my one on one time with Emerson. She starts her Mother's Day Out next week and I am anxious to see how she will adjust to me leaving her.

We enjoyed playing outside today by ourselves, especially since it was only 90 degrees instead of the usual 103 degrees. Thirteen degrees can really make a difference. It's nice to take pictures of her without Tyson jumping in front of the lens. My sister constantly reminds me that there are few pictures of her by herself as a child, seems that her pushy, camera hungry sister always made her way in front of the lens. "Allegedly."


There is something that's just too, or should I say tutu stinkin' cute about your name across your rear in hot pink letters, especially when it's got matching bows along side it.



I just couldn't get enough of this shot. She insisted on wearing her tutu all day today, she couldn't wait for Tyson to see it after school. He was mildly impressed. "You can see your diaper through your skirt, Em." "No Tysese, Emmy wear bloomer!"

Sometimes she can look so sweet and innocent.

Eye on the Ball

Time to blow the dust off the baseball bat and glove. I was kind of hoping his baseball cleats and last years pants would fit. Fat chance! Those size 11 cleats are not going to fit those size 13 and a half feet, nor are those size 4 pants. T ball season starts in two weeks and Tyson is ready. I was so excited he wanted to play again, I absolutely LOVE watching him play! This year they introduce "coach pitch." From my understanding they get two or three tries to hit it pitched to them then they bring out the tee if they don't hit it. Paul took Tyson outside today to practice. I should mention he hurt his back yesterday and can barely walk, so I was pretty impressed he still wanted to practice.

Fielding some ground balls

"Keep your eye on the ball!" How many times is he going to hear that in the next few months?

"Nice throw Buddy!"

They couldn't even get one hit in, before I came running out to give my "Good hit Buddy!" I was making dinner but watching every swing through the windows. He did surprisingly well when Paul pitched to him.

With my zoom lens I can take pictures from the patio and they don't even know I 'm out there. Sneaky.