Summer in Austin

 


Here are some photos we've taken this week.

New Puppy!

 

We welcomed Strummer McFuzzybutt Leuba Jones to our family this June. He's a chocolate labradoodle, and he's very cute and funny.

Hooray for Pirates!

Guthrie has begus to do a delightful impression of a pirate. I've gone to the trouble of borrowing a flip camera and joining YouTube just so I could share the hillarity with all of you. And please note the blonde curls.

JOY to the WORLD!

We enjoyed visiting Katie and her family in Glen Ellyn, IL, during the holidays. Dear, sweet Pappy (Chuck) pulled Guthrie and Lydia in the sled in front of the rectory. Sooooooo fun. So fun. So much fun.

Oh yes, she's got his number

What a difference a year makes

This is how big and handsome Guthrie is now.

Man, do I owe you some information

I just noticed the last post was from well over a year ago. Oh dear.

Guthrie will be two in a matter of weeks. Lydia just received her first quarter 2nd grade report card, and it was all A's. Brit and I are fixing up the house and hope to sell by the end of the year, or certainly the end of winter.

Here is how we looked on Halloween:

Lydia is Cleopatra. Guthrie is Elvis.

I love our babies.

Here's the thing about our children. And I pray that God will allow me this moment to indulge in pride. They really are this big, and this happy, and this beautiful. And, despite the dire warnings of well intentioned friends, and despite Lydia's darkest fears two years ago, they really are this close. Lydia is Guthrie's hero. He idolizes her. And naturally, Lydia finds that quality to be incredibly endearing. (And really, who wouldn't, right?)

This was taken on the swing in our backyard one weekend this summer. They are amazing.

How we spent out Summer Vacation

Hello Friends! Happy Summer! Do you wonder what we've been up to?
Well, Emily has been working a whole bunch, and hasn't been as good about updating the blog as one might hope, so here's a whole big "catch up" update, all at once.
Lydia spent a whole week in June at Gan and Gumps house. And although we weren't there to take pictures, we know what she did. Swimming, shopping and eating.
While she was gone, Brit, Emily and Guthrie attended a festival in Waterloo Park. Here are Emily and Guthrie with Emily's friend Brad. Brad works as an editor with Emily, at Freescale. Brad had just finished performing at the Festival with his band, Flamin' Desire, when this photo was taken.


Here are two more of Emily's work friends. Phu and Cristi.




We've also spent some time swimming at the Y. Have you heard about the pool at our Y? It's spectacular. Guthrie and Brit enjoy the "beachy" end of the wading pool, while Lydia prefers the playing and swimming part.





Lydia has been doing fun stuff, like Vacation Bible School at Wesley, where she saw some old friends. And the following week went to art camp at Laguna Gloria, too. She loved it! Here she poses with her dad, and some of her projects.


Guthrie has been enjoying the summer harvest. Here he is with some berries.

And here he is during his post-blueberry bath. I just love a baby in the sink!

Next we're off the Orland, then Camp Grandma Pappy. We'll try and keep you posted!

Guthrie's First Swim

So, we didn't let Guthrie put more than a toe in the ocean. Mama was too afraid. (Lydia, on the other hand, swam in the ocean daily, and is an excellent body surfer.)
But, on the last day of our trip Guthrie, Lydia and Emily stopped in Katy to see Gan, Grumps and Gigi, and we all went for a swim. Guthrie was so happy! He's a natural, too.

Please S'uh, can I have some more?

 

Sand, Sand Everywhere

We're discovering that Guthrie is a very tactile little boy. When we sat him down on a towel at the beach, he was very interested in the sand and spent most of his time just digging around in the moist, warm grit.


Rachel, Lydia and Emily had a very different sand adventure. We went to the AIA Sand Castle competition on East Beach in Galveston, and checked out the entries. Although it was very hot, and somewhat crowded, the girls agreed that it was "awesome" and they had never seen such cool sand castles. http://www.aiasandcastle.com/

Because they're cousins...

One of the big attractions of an extended family vacation in Galveston is the opportunity for Lydia and her cousin Rachel to spend great chunks of time together. And they do it so well.

The Sea Air

Some people say the sea air creates an especially healthy appetite. You be the judge....















What's a boy to do after a fine, big meal of bananas and oatmeal but take a bath in the sink.....


Please note: should the opportunity arise, the little boy is ready to eat more.

The Historic Strand

We really enjoy The Strand. We like the historic buildings, the funky gift shops, and the ocean air. And this trip, we found something else to love. A store that sells propeller beanies. Here we are, with Guthrie in his new hat. 

When it Rains in Galveston

We play twister! Or rather, the girls play twister on a Twister Towel.


A sleepy Guthrie watched from his chair, and tried some of the moves.

Galveston!

Hooray! It's our annual trip to Galveston with Grandma and Pappy. Every summer, Emily's parents rent a house on the beach in Galveston and spend a week in fellowship with their daughters and their daughter's families. This year, our party included Aunt Katie (Emily's sister) and Luke and Rachel (Lydia and Guthrie's cousins) and Brit, Emily, Guthrie and Lydia. Plus, of course, Grandma and Pappy.
Here are Grandma and Pappy, on day two, with the grandkids.


We spent part of day three at Moody Gardens, visiting the aquarium there. Here, Guthrie takes his first of what will likely be many photos inside the giant snake head, at Moody Gardens.

He is joined by his sister, and his cousins.




Brit, Emily and Guthrie enjoy the scenery in front on one of the aquariums. This one is actually very fancy - it's a tunnel that you can walk through, and the fish swim around above you, too. This way, you can see the belly of sharks and other creatures.