School Days

Abby started Pre-K, which is everyday from 11:30am to 2:30pm. With some persistance, I moved her into that class from the 7:30am to 10:30 am (bus picking up before 7am)! I guess I wasn't ready for that kind of commitment yet! But she loves it, and has some friends in her class that she knows from church.

What's really nice is having that gap in the day (where Olivia sleeps as well) to actually get some cleaning done, or whatever else I feel like doing. It's kind of obvious, but I was surprised at how much I could do with nobody needing me! It's kind of sad, but on the phone I was excited to tell Ben how clean the kitchen was today. So looks like Abby and I both get some life changes!!

Me, Myself, & I

I have thoroughly enjoyed wearing wigs and portraying different people the last few months in "Thoroughly Modern Millie". I think having such lame hair to begin with added to that excitement... So here's my consensus on how hair affected my mind:

So blond hair made me more sassy, flirty, flighty, and goofy. (Lucille- trying to breakout as an actress, innocent and looking for a worldy good time.)

With black hair, my character was more smug, confident, controlling and proper. Hmmm. (A tap-dancing stenographer bossing people around in the Sincere Trust Co.)

And if you can't tell, this is auburn... wow, do I wish my hair was auburn! I felt down-to-earth, like the center of attention, happy, full of optimism... (Wife to Ira Gershwin at Muzzy's party.)
OK, so these are also somewhat scripted characters, but I had free range of interpretation!
CONCLUSION: I guess blonds do have more fun, but I wish my hair was darker. :) AND, I love to wear wigs!

Summer Fun!

Camping in the Hill Country

With Mary having abandoned me for the summer to pursue her Broadway dreams onstage, I decided to take the girls out for a taste of the great outdoors at Lake Medina, located about a half hour outside San Antonio. I brought along my good buddy Ian and his wife Katie for some assistance with my crazy little redheads and to provide some fishing expertise. We had a great time swimming in the 102 degree heat, although everytime a ski boat or waverunner passed by I started doing the calculations in head as to how soon I could afford to buy one.

After I got the girls to sleep, Ian and I stayed up until sunrise trying to catch the large and elusive catfish that call the lake home. We did end up with one keeper, but the highlight of the night was swimming out to a houseboat in the marina (decked out like a pirate ship with a skull and crossbones flag) sometime after midnight and jumping off of it's second-story diving board several times. All in all it was a great time and Abby told me the next day - " Daddy I want to stay at the lake forever", so I guess we'll be going back soon.

Texas Ain't Texas...

...without a saddled Texas Longhorn walking down the road! Of course this was in Bandera, the "cowboy capital of the world" and its rider was mighty nice. He let Abby get on her and take a picture, wearing his cowboy hat. If you're out and about in Texas, you really should check this place out! It's right in the prettiest part of Texas Hill Country and has awesome old-town looking shops and restaurants/bars with live bands and country dancin'. We were just driving through and saw some things, on our way back from some apple orchards... but we'll be back! And I'm fixin' to get me a cowboy hat!

Abigail Louisa, the 4 year old

Abby, on her birthday...

was woken up by her family singing "Happy Birthday" and opened presents in bed (thanks, Marbles, for that tradition)

test rode her new bike before breakfast

played all day with her new Polly Pocket ballerina set

had a pizza party with friends at Chuck E. Cheese's AND had a "pizza" b-day cake