The Perot Museum

Just when I thought I was finally all caught up on photos and posts, I found a gaggle of photos I missed...and one such group is from an outing we took to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science back in April!

We were supposed to go with our good friends Faleena and Mark and their girls, but they had a little stomach bug making it's way through the family. So, we forged ahead without them.

On the way in, some instruments to play.

 

Once inside, we headed to the lower level to the toddler area. 

Then, we went to the fourth floor and worked our way down to the entrance again. When we go again, with a little one, I would probably go to the lower level first, and then to the second floor and then just maybe peek at the dinosaurs on four on the way out. 

Running against the cheetah.

This was cool...

...you can throw a ball, kick a ball, etc, in this little room, and they video it. Then, they run your video against someone who is an expert at whatever it is you tried to do. That photo is of LM watching his video kicking a soccer ball against a video of a world famous soccer player doing the same. 

A dinosaur created by LM

S pretending to be a weatherman

In a natural gas fracking simulator

I have to say - I think this exhibit is supposed to inform you of the fracking process and help you understand that it is safe. After going through the simulation, I am actually more convinced it is not safe and we shouldn't be doing it. So, didn't work for me.

Then, this is what we found on the 2nd floor:

These boys played with these toys for a LONG time.

And they made a car...

...and drove it.

We even ran with our own shadow.


It was great fun.

We'll go back to visit again soon.

See you soon.

Mother's Day

Before we're celebrating Father's Day, let me tell you about Mother's Day. I received two nice cards and a beautiful ring (that I had been eying for a while) from my boys. I also received a very thoughtful card from my friend Karen, and one from my cleaning lady, Maria de la Luz. It was nice to be remembered! For lunch on that day, we went to Brooke and Michael's house for barbecue and to let the kids play.

And play they did!

And eat we did too!

But, back to the playing...

...and then back to the eating!




Then, on to the presents.




Then, of course, more playing.


Love this.


The start of an attempt to get a photo of the boy with his Mama on Mother's Day


A futile attempt, really.


So I tickled him until he couldn't handle any more tickles.


Kim's girls were equally cooperative...






A fun day.

See you soon.

Brian's Birthday

Our good friend Brian lives in Houston now, with Kevin, and even his parents moved down there, so we rarely see him up in these parts. And, well, we hardly ever get to Houston, so we never see them. We were thrilled to learn Brian and Kevin were going to come up to Dallas for Brian's birthday weekend this year! We got the gang together at Snuffers and reminisced about old times, as well as caught up on new times!

He received a number of lovely presents.

And he opened them as we continued to visit. Ha!

The group photo.
Fun times.

See you soon!

Sophia Turns 3

Earlier in May, we gathered again at Build-A-Bear, this time for Sophia's birthday party. She enjoyed her big sister's building a bear party that she wanted one of her own. While the kids had a blast at both, this one was better in two ways for the parents - first, the store was way less crowded, and second, the person from the store who played host was more pleasant and into what she was doing. Like I said, I'm not sure the kids noticed either way, because they were just having fun!

LM decided to make a "football player" bear before we arrived.

 

Warming up the bear hearts.

Being the big sister.

The boy cousins.

This part was to happen much later - and did, again. Ahem.

Waiting for all the bears to be stuffed.

And...LM doing more cleaning of his pre-stuffed bear.

Stuffing.

So happy!

More cleaning...

The outfit.

The best group shot I got...

Which doesn't include the whole group, because I had my amplified lens on. And, then I gave the camera to S, who started shooting over his head, resulting in even worse photos...oh well.

Then, on to lunch, presents and cake.

LM wanted to get down close to the action a few times...

And that's a wrap!

A fun time had by all.

See you soon.