April (lack of) Showers... (and other goings-on)...

Here's what we were up to in April, apart from going to the dentist and celebrating Easter...

Okay, and apart from screaming a lot...

Here in Tejas, as I like to call it (because I'm cool), April means summer is just around the corner. Naturally, we spent a lot of time outside, thinking mostly that if we don't spend time outside now, we won't get to. And if you're not from Tejas, I should explain that the reason one doesn't spend much time outside after May is because it's too dern hot. I mean blistering, sweltering, sizzling, can't-go-outside-to-get-the-mail-without-breaking-a-sweat HOT.Seriously, you open the front door, step outside, and WHAM - it feels like you've hit a wall. But it's not a wall. It's just heat. Really hot heat. Okay, I think you probably get it, now...
April, this year, seemed almost uncharacteristically warm. We had a mild winter, too, and expected Spring to be brief, but sheesh! Here are the children playing outside and trying to keep cool... yes, in APRIL...

Bubble machine - too much fun!

The tiniest pool ever. No, really.

A Mama and Papa duck starting hanging out in Pap's yard and pool...

Mama Duck left a number of eggs at different times. Pap and Gia read up on incubation and adopted Leonard, the duckling that never was. *sigh*

We found jillions of buddies in Pap's yard. This one in particular kept us busy one afternoon...

Family walks make us all smile.

When kiddie pools failed...

... we got creative.

   

Hooray! A new kiddie pool!

We even made it into Grandma's pool. In. April.

We helped Daddy celebrate his 30th birthday. We had our own private celebration at home, but little did he know, we had planned an elaborate surprise party....

SURPRISE!

The surprise was pulled off mainly due to our attending a Love and Logic conference that same day. We went to "pick up the kids" at Grandma's house afterward. Such a trickster I am! On a related note, Love and Logic has its definite perks...

We went to the zoo with Kristin, Gideon, Michelle, Aidan, and Violet. While we were there, we decided to go ahead and get season passes so we can go as often as we want all year. Woohoo! After this trip, though, I was so worn out I was positive I wouldn't necessarily want to utilize our passes again for at least a few months. And definitely not in the summertime. 

On the zoo choo-choo. Flint loved it SO much...

Flint and Gideon looking at the "ella" (elephant)...

Lyla and Aidan scoping out the elephants.

Lyla approves of this turtle.

Lyla, Flint, and Gideon spend time with Captain Komodo Awesome.

Worn out little girl finds space behind brother in stroller. Mother pushes ~70lbs of children.

Tuckered out Mr. Flint (yes, he's in his sister's old car seat...)

One would think Lyla would pass out, too, but no. Instead, she invented "crayon feet!"

Special living room dinner, post zoo...

After dropping Lyla off at school one morning, Flint and I made an impromptu stop at the park to play solo. I think this may have been a first, and it was very enjoyable for both of us. We walked some laps around the track and playing and played... and played. The red swing was the favorite.

Lyla has been asking Luke to play the "game in the red box" or "the red box game" with her for months. It's been on his shelf in the office for as long as she can remember, and since she has started playing games, she's been ever-so-curious about this one. Luke busted out the red-boxed D&D Starter Kit one night and I listened in with stifled giggles to the game he DMed for her. Her character, "Indian," (they had been studying India at school that week) had to make some tough choices about what type of candy to buy at Ye Olde Candy Shoppe and whether or not to feed pancakes to the hungry dragon. I can't wait for her next adventure with Daddy.

Due to babysitting conflicts, Lyla got to attend a wedding with Daddy, as his date, instead of Mommy. I took her shopping and let her select a dress and shoes for the special night. It turns out, Flint was more excited by the new dress than Lyla was, and basically asked to put it on. This was a first. And we (by "we" I mean, Lyla and myself) found it very amusing. Daddy had different thoughts on the subject.

The dressy boy got to sample another outfit or two before the day was over....

Ready to go!

And with no Daddy or Lyla at home, Flint and Mommy ate pizza in the living room and played... and played...

I think that wraps up the month of April (and it's only June 3, now)! The rest of the photos are up on Picasa, as usual, which I guess is now just Google+.
And so, I shall leave you with this parting gem: