Lions and Tigers and... Goats?

Man, life with 2 1/2 year-olds couldn't be more fun (or exhausting)... Just ask Mama. On-top of the day-to-day duties of loving on these two adorable kiddos Jules recently organized a wonderful trip to Grandma and Granda Z including a ton of outings and perfectly choreographed meals... Oh, she did a little contract work for Troux on the side - just to make sure she still had it (HINT: She DOES).

Anyhow, Cooper & Lucy were spoiled in mid-May by the 8-day visit of Grandma and Grandpa Z. For the better part of 8 days 4 sets of adoring eyes were fixed on two munchkins who couldn't have been cuter...

We did all the best that Austin has to offer - We picked strawberries (and fed goats & ate homemade ice-cream) at Sweetberry Farms, rode the Choo-choo train at Zilker Park and enjoyed lunch at Shady Grove, ate a LOT of Chick-fil-A, went down the monster slide at 'Hoppy House' (which may have cost Grandma one of her favorite earings), went to the Austin "zoo" (quite the different experience but, hey, the kids didn't know the difference), experienced every manner of toy at the Children's Museum, fed geese, saw the "waterboats", enjoyed lounging around the house, and even managed some date nights for the adults. Heck the week was so dreamy that Papa Z even applied some of his newly acquired cooking skills as we made, among other things, thai chicken pasta... Needless to say I think Cooper & Lucy's love tanks were completely FULL after the week and we all thoroughly enjoyed the time...

Alas - the dream had to end... Jules found herself wondering what happened to all of her helpers, Mom & dad had to fly back home, Cooper & Lucy wondered where there minions were, and D had to face a variety of employment affairs at Chick-fil-A... Hmmm... If only we could find a way to not have to worry about money. or work. and to keep a good 2:1 ratio (or better) of supervising adults:children... I think we've uncovered a great truth of celebrity parenting... Man, no wonder celeb kids turn-out so well! I'm kidding, I'm kidding... It was terrific to take a break though. But I digress...

Let's see... What's else is new in the world of Cooper & Lucy? WOW - in a word, everything. They are continuing to increase their vocabularies exponentially & have even begun to grasp emotions ("Coopie is sad"). In a fashion sense they have discovered the world of Croc shoes (which Lucy wears on the wrong feet) and have really gotten into their sunglasses and "cool hats". They've enjoyed several playdates and seem to be grasping the concept of sharing (albeit slowly... and reluctantly). They have gotten increasingly social outside of our house and have begun to get more and more "risky" - jumping off of steps, etc... As a dad, I'm excited about our kids not being "tentative" but want to watch that one (as stakes and consequences get bigger)...

Duh, mother's day... well, it was great. We gave Jules a FULL DAY OFF and the kids and I partied all day in Waco. It was a terrific day where she did only what she wanted... without time-outs... without catering to others... without preparing meals for others... She also got some fun "nesting" rings from James Avery and Gerber Daisies to brighten her day... I think it worked.

Next month we're off to have Jules' b-day, mine, father's day, and, likely, the beginning of our "kids' vision planning". It's going to be wonderful - more to come... Thanks for checking-in!