May Days

May has certainly been a busy month! Everything seems to wrap up during the month of May- for us that included dance recitals and Junior League Activities. JLCR hosted Leigh Anne Tuohy from the movie The Blind Side a couple of weeks ago. It gave us a reason to dress up and get a babysitter. We had a great time at the event. 

We went to Washington for Memorial Day. Mom wanted to recreate a picture she saw on Pinterest. Viv played along beautifully....but I haven't invested in a red, white, and blue headband yet. 

Adam gave us a shooting lessen with his handguns. 

I was surprised at how much kickback they had. I think I hit the target at least once. 

Mom giving it a try. 

And Dad...

We visited the cemetery and remembered our favorite veteran- Gpa Paul. 

Thank you for your service Great Grandpa Paul! 

Empty Nesters

In just the matter of one month, we've become empty nesters! At the beginning of May a female robin started building a nest in my wreath on the front door. I can't say she was the smartest of robins since my wreaths only kinda balance on a magnet on the front door but I was excited at the prospect of seeing baby birds up so close and thought maybe we would get lucky and it wouldn't fall down, etc. 

We had three perfectly blue eggs. 

It wasn't too long until they hatched...

And we had three baby birds! Everything seemed to be progressing smoothly. The wreath hadn't fallen down and everyone seemed happy and healthy. Mom even seemed to be getting used to us passing by the front door and didn't freak out and fly away every time she saw movement inside. 

Then one afternoon Nathan came home from work and told me my wreath had fallen down :(. Mom robin was freaking out and all three babies of course had fallen out onto my porch. I picked up the nest and put it in my window box. I wasn't sure if she would return and take care of the babies. The next morning I wasn't sure if she had fed them so I decided to move the nest again into one of the bushes in the front yard. I did see her feed them but it wasn't the most secure spot for a nest. I went out later in the afternoon again to check on the nest and it had flipped over. I had to fish the three babies out from the middle of the bush. I decided to move the nest back to the window box. Luckily, mom continued to feed them. 

Sunday morning I was doing laundry and was rounding the staircase inside when I saw a large bird land on the window box. It took me a second to realize what kind it was and what it was there for. It was a large red tailed hawk....it looked at me through the window, looked down at the nest and then grabbed one of the baby birds from the nest with it's talons. I threw down my laundry basket and yelled and rushed to open the door. It flew out into the lawn and landed....I yelled for Nathan and all the birds in the yard were freaking out. Nathan and I were amazed at how large the hawk was up close. I went outside and shooed it out of the yard. And we were left with two baby birds :( 

I was really afraid the hawk would return since it had such easy pickings. But I'm happy to report that both baby birds left the nest yesterday! 

I could see them both hopping around the yard with Mom and Dad. 

Whew! What an exhausting month of worrying about baby birds! I have since moved the nest to the tree out front. I have no idea if they will still use it or not...but at least I'm off the hook babysitting baby birds!! 

Two Peas in a Pod

These two are becoming two peas in a pod...

Such a sweet moment! 

Reading the blog together...

And there is lots of napping together!

She's discovered sleeping on her side and I think it's in our favor! She's now spent a week in the crib and has only been up in the middle of the night just a handful of times. When I check her on the video monitor she's always on her side. She's not quite rolling over yet but she is definitely getting stronger. She entertains herself well and reaches for everything these days. 

We celebrated Mother's Day Saturday night at Nick and Bridget's with Deb and then travelled to Washington Sunday to see my mom. We ate at the church and the men served. Nathan hadn't planned on going originally but decided last minute he would attend. He graciously helped to do dishes after the meal. He told everyone he was an old pro at running the dishwasher from his days in college. 

Our first Mother's Day! 

This weekend is our dance recital. Here are my rug rats from this year. I had two great groups of kids to ease me back into teaching. 

My older hip hop and lyrical kids. 

My younger group of hip hop and lyrical...with my two assistants for the year.

Break a leg! 

Melvin

We laid Gpa Melvin to rest last Friday. I think the entire town of Monticello came to the visitation. Vivian did great during both the visitation and the funeral. Aunts Pat and Nancy brought Melvin's collection of hats to the church for anyone who wanted momentos. They also handed out his wide collection of handkerchiefs. He had quite the selection of farming hats. 

He apparently always wore his hat off to the side...he was trendy and didn't even know it! Here's all the grandkids (minus Justin, Tierney, and Logan) sporting hats in true Melvin fashion. 

Nathan grabbed this hat for safe keeping....his old high school football number. 

The six grandsons served as pall bearers. The service was very nice and many people stood up to share Melvin stories. Both Nick and Nathan stood up to share their Melvin memories. 

He's probably talking God's ear off right now telling Uncle Hans stories. 

6 Months

Hodge Podge

It's been a busy spring so far....just the way I like it! Nathan went to the Rolex in Kentucky at the end of April with his Gma, Mom and Aunt. I loaded up Viv and the dogs and headed to my parents for the weekend so I could have some baby support. I even got to spend one night by myself in the house after I taught dance in the afternoon! It was heavenly! 

I'm training Viv to wear her sunglasses. She's getting much better now that I think she's figured out that she can see through them. 

Her right eye is completely cleared now. She's eating solids 4 times a day and seems to be spitting up way less. We take her 6 month old pictures next week. She's discovered that she can screech and spends most of the day emitting very high frequency sounds.....my dogs are sure lucky! She entertains herself pretty well with her toys. She spent last night in her crib for the first time all night!!

Last weekend Nathan and I went back to The Woodlands to visit friends and he participated in the The Woodlands Triathlon for the 2nd time. I met my fave technicians out for dinner at the Black Walnut Thursday night. Then we grabbed a free symphony concert and Houston Ballet performance at the pavilion. I was in cultural heaven!!

Nathan met Tina out for drinks at Cru and I joined them after the concert was over. 

We met John and Jessica for lunch and went out Saturday night with Kevin and Rebecca. We stayed at the Hyatt in Market Street....one could seriously live there! You would be within walking distance of everything The Woodlands has to offer! (I should write commercials for them!)

The weather was gorgeous the whole time we were there. Maybe next year we'll be brave enough to take Viv with us. She stayed with Mom and Dad....her behavior report was glowing! Guess that means we can travel more often! 

In home news....we are having more babies! A robin has built her nest in my wreath on the front door. I haven't seen much activity in the hanging plant this spring so I was super excited to discover these pretty little eggs when we returned home from Texas. 

My wreath isn't exactly the most stable hanging structure and we are supposed to have some severe weather this week....so I'm hoping it doesn't blow down. I also feel bad because the robin freaks out and flies away every time I pass by the front door....so I try to limit my trips upstairs. 

On a sad note....Nathan's Gpa Hein passed away this week. He was 89. He loved to tell stories and take drives to survey the farmland. He also had a reputation for being be quite cantankerous! He will be missed.

Here he was at the gender reveal party last spring....and here he was taking a siesta on our front porch in Texas in 2010. 

Telling Uncle Hans stories...

On a happier note...we received a new shipment of hair bows this week...and another picture just because she's cute!