Texas Arrival

So we arrived in Texas on August 1st, which was pretty much the hottest part of the summer. I'm not sure if it was the heat, the apartment, or our general surroundings but we altogether underestimated how hard it would be to complete the relocation process. After 6 months here I think we are finally starting to settle in.



Our first weekend here we headed off to Houston to visit the Menil Collection which is in the lovely and charming Montrose area of Houston.

















Rilke turned 1 just weeks after arriving in Texas!


On August 16th we celebrated Rilke's first birthday. Rilke was totally uninterested in the cake or opening presents but Harper totally embraced the idea of making her a cake and helping her eat it.



Here we are making a little trip to the bookstore so Rilke could play with the trains and pick out a book. I think she ended up picking That's Not My Dinosaur and That's Not My Truck. Oma had recently given us a book called That's Not My Tracter which was a big hit.

Summer 2008

One of my favorite summer-time activities is berry picking. There is no better sight than a 3 year old finding the perfect strawberry or a 9 month old covered in squashed strawberries. Washington Farms is the perfect u-pick farm. We went early in the morning before it got too hot and Harper and Rilke could eat berries, help us pick, and giggle at the goats on the way out.

This summer Harper took swim lessons at the Y. Here he is patiently waiting for his coach. The lessons went really well. Thanks to an awesome coach Harper became much more independent and adventurous in the pool which basically meant more fun for him.

Legion Pool was wonderful as always. While Harper was busy adoring lifeguards and schmoozing with all of the familiar faces in the pool Rilke was usually passed out on one of us. This year the pool was really Harper's home away from home. Just so I don't forget I have to mention how much I loved seeing Harper's face when he heard a long whistle. He'd wait for the lifeguard to shout "Adult swim!" and then Harper would scream the same thing from the top of his lungs, adorably oblivious to the attention he attracted. About half way through the summer Harper took a nasty spill on the concrete while getting a running start for a jump into the pool. He was totally fine but the bump on his head scared us into making a pit stop at the ER before heading home. Months later when we go to the pool he still finds it his civic duty to emphatically tell all children to "stop running!!!"

Getting in some playground time.


Rilke giving me the ol' sniffy face.

A beautiful day at the beautiful Botanical Gardens.




Another day...another playground. Here is Harper with his friend William shortly before we left for Texas.

That wraps up our summer in GA. It was a wonderful season and all together a wonderful three years. I couldn't have wished for a better town or better people, all of which will be missed dearly.

Spring 2008

Lots of long overdue pictures from this past spring and promises of more frequent posts to come.

Uncle Jona came to Athens and his visit couldn't have been more perfectly timed. We had so much fun at the MFA show together.


Rilke makes the funniest faces. She always has. She growls, wrinkles her noes, sniffs and squints like crazy, she's just plain silly and we can't help but plant kisses on those pouting little lips all day long.






As you can imagine Harper has been big brother extraordinaire. Right now my favorite big brother mission Harper has embarked on is making sure Rilke always dismounts the coffee table feet first. She'd love to dive off head first but with Harper tugging at her feet and anchoring them to the floor she doesn't have a chance.


Here we are at a UGA Iron Pour. We will miss those.


Playing at the UGA track...




This April Harper turned 3. He loved his cake and I was a very happy mama.


Harper visits dad at work and sits in on a critique.


A climb through the sinks and call it a day.


An awesome visit from Jen, Joe, Dana, & Curtis where Rilke and Harper got to spend some time with their adorable baby cousin Isabella.


Playing in the lovely yard at my good friend Amy's house. We miss her!



A good bye to the old LDSOA.



After this display I knew we had to go strawberry picking.


A trip up north to see the family. Here in VA with Poppy and Nanny.




Then up to Ithaca where Harper met Willow and and the hug fest began!

visiting Priscilla at her Little Leaf School.

Then to Orange County, NY where Jackson and Harper hung out at Taylor's Volleyball practice. Such a cute little fan club.


A ride with Ariana, definitely a highlight.


Very first tractor ride at my Mom's house.


A lovely spring.