Sea World!

We decided to take Gloria to Sea World for her special Kindergarten trip, just like we did Lydia.  A lot was the same but a few difference (some good, some bad).  After going in, we discovered that you no longer get to feed dolphins, therefore touching them was hard, all three of us expressed our disappointment in different ways, but then we agreed to restart the day on a better foot and went to the big aquarium.

From there we went to the Rio Loco and rode it two times in a row!  We got super wet in the waterfall and really enjoyed it.

The park had several different large displays of art that were made from trash collected from the ocean.

While Caleb rode a roller coaster, Gloria and I enjoyed the penguins during their day time.

While this hasn't been a terribly hot summer, it still was so nice to get to cool off often in the splash pad, we walked by and played in it many times.

Rides!  Gloria enjoyed them all, the big and small.  She did the Shamu coaster, Ferris Wheel, spinning boat.

And the big Journey to Atlantis.

We loved the shows too.  We saw two Story Of... shows, Shumu two times, Seal area two times and Azul.

For her treat she got dipping dots.  We ate a picnic lunch from our cooler in the car again.

A bird ballet acrobat performer from the Azul show.

Merry Go Round.  We fed sea lions, saw alligator and flamingos, watched the Rocking Shamu show where Gloria and I got on the big screen for dancing and the only time we got wet in the splash zone was after the sun had gone down!  Gloria learned the importance of waiting in lines and rushing to meet a schedule-all important things before going to school.  

The had a dance & music show at the exit and we stayed for a bit, but it had been a long day for all of us and we drove home.

Some from August

 On August the first we had a fabulous day.  After lunch we went to Barton Spring Pool.  You know, the cold one.  There were people there but it wasn't super crowded.  It was a warm day but not super hot.

 After some lovely pictures, we decided to get it.

 The girls were cold!  We swam a little, waded in the shallows, watched divers including a back flip by Daddy, went to the splash exhibit and then Mom, Dad & Kathy joined us for a dinner picnic and then Oklahoma the Musical!  Jamine & her friend Jasim met us too.  The show was fun, lots of songs and the girls did great.  We got home super late but enjoyed our Austiny day.

 A fellow neighbor suggested a trash pick up weekend so the Quirin block friends decided to do our part and support.  We gathered up some friends and went out with bags.  When we got back Irasema had popsicles for us and the kids played in the back of trucks.  Fun times.

 Lydia and Gloria requested that they sleep together, normally they fight but this time Lydia just calmly kicked Gloria out of the bed and we found her on the floor.  Caleb put her back in her bed but at 3am she woke up and went back to Lydia's.  They are crazy and we only let them do this occasionally.   Jasim (who is from Afghanistan came over for dinner with Janine and he was shocked this whole room and stuff was all for Lydia, I know we are spoiled that they get their own but since we have the opportunity I am taking it!)

 Earlier this summer I signed the girls up for a Frozen Dance camp at Dance Discovery where they went two years ago.  Kylie came too.  I was planning on using the days to frantically search for a job but wow, I already had one and used the time to work!  The girls had a wonderful time and enjoyed the outside play, crafts, making new friends and dancing.  They had a show off time at the end.

 Gloria wearing her Elsa glove.

 The sweet sisters after with all their crafts.

And we needed some sweets to celebrate to off to Amy's ice cream with Kylie and friend who came to watch-Rasmia, Sherri and Abbey!

rest of July

When we returned from Russia, we still had half the summer to go and the fun hasn't stopped!

 Bill, Lucy & Jonathan stopped by for a visit.  We took a walk around the park and then the little girls played mermaids!  The next morning we went to the Thinkery.

 The kids had a fabulous time-a big light bright, water rooms and market.  We got to see the Austin Symphony quintet play Peter & the Wolf.  It was sure nice of them to continue Russian culture for us!

 Bill and family went home and we stayed at the museum for the rest of the day.

 We got to enjoy another Nature Night at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.  This one was on birds of prey and we got to see lots of cool birds, play at the family garden and eat a snow cone!

 Purple Martins were roosting so we went with some friends to see the cool show.

 I started working the week we got back from Russia so Caleb has been taking some days off to keep the girls including the last Art Day in the Park.  They got to see Cowgirl Sue and had a fabulous day.

 Friends from DVE playdate at the pool.  This is really how we spend the most of our time the end of the summer.  Staying cool at the pool!  Including four Saturday birthday parties in the row with water since we've been back.

I Like Giving

I Like Giving by Brad Formsma

I got this book for free by agreeing to review it on my blog from Blogging for Books.

This book caught my eye because I do like giving and wanted some new and creative ideas.  The subtitle is:  The Transforming Power of a Generous Life, Practical Ideas, Inspiring Stories.

The book is full of inspiring stories; some made me laugh and some made me cry. 

Different aspects of giving are covered with lots of examples.  I really liked that he talked about the fact that giving isn’t always happily received, the importance of attitude, how we should be good receivers and the blessings we can receive from living a life of giving.  He does point out that you don’t have to have a lot of money to be generous in many ways. 

This book is perfect for someone who wants to start doing generous things.  Or for anyone who enjoys a good inspiring stories.  I don’t really feel like I discovered anything new concerning practical ideas, but at the same time, its always a good idea to have things in front of you and to be reminded that each day we need to intentionally look for ways to be generous.    

Day 11 - St Pete

 Our last day!  We slept late, had breakfast and got into the van, we found parking near the movie night location and walked across a bridge to the Peter & Paul Fortress which is on its own island. It was one of our warmest days.

 The island had a beach and there were tons of people sunning in the grass an sand.

 I like this because it looks like they are on the ocean...

 but then when you pull back, you can see its in the middle of a fancy historical city!

 There was a sand castle competition going on.

 Family pic with the Hermitage and St. Isaacs in the background.

 Inside the walls there was lots of random art, like a bunny, sundials,

 and strange chairs.  A bunch of Chinese tourists taught Abby how to say Nihao and took her picture.

 The church, whose golden steeple can be seen around the town.  After the guys looked at a money store and we stopped in a boat house and then into a Children's Museum.  Catherine & Justin went first with the four kids so the lady working said they could get in free because they really encourage Russians to have more children.  Caleb and I came in next and had to pay.  There was some old stuff.

 And a space section that had the actual chair the monkey went up into space in (see pictured below in the coloring picture).

 There was also a coloring table which the kids really enjoyed.  It made me think of our time at the Pueblo museum in New Mexico.  The hostess came in and told us to take pictures.  We motioned that we had already had.  She told us to take more.  And who can refuse a Russian Babushka?

 So here we are taking more photos.

 We left the fortress and walked back to our car a long way (so we could stop at a Starbucks) and discovered this super cool little model of the best sites of the city.  Including where we had just been (above)!

 The Admirality

 Kazan Cathedral

 Church on Spilled Blood, here the guys were looking through interesting coins left behind.  The river was smoother tile and we enjoyed pretending we were ice skating!

Back to our car, we drove to the Hoboe (which means new in Russian) Georgian Restaurant.  We had a super late lunch and got to sit and eat and wait and chat for about 3 hours.  The food was yummy-cheese bread, salad, soups, meat dishes, pear & licorice soda and hot tea.  Good thing there was a gold fish fountain and technology to keep the kids entertained.  

 Back at their apartment, we got packed up and cleaned up and then it began to rain!  We tried to all go to bed early.