First day of Preschool 2011

We were in the middle of Austin Fashion Week for the first day of school, so we got to take pictures at Bebe and Papa's house that morning. Cashion LOVES his backpack and lunchbox. Sadie is a pro at this point, but was still excited to get back to school. She is so bored at home most of the time. Cashion walked out onto the playground and didn't look back. His "Bumble Bee" class is led my Ms. Kendall and Ms. Ellen and they are downstairs next to the baby class. Cashion made fast friends with the only other little boy in the class, Parker (there are only 5 kids in the class on MWF). He eats all of his snack and lunch everyday and loves the tractor book, asking his teachers to read it over and over again. Being out on the playground is the best part, as far as Cash is concerned. They go out first thing in the morning so they can avoid the heat of the day.

Sadie is in Ms. Erin and Ms. Heyden's class, the Sunflower Class. They have so many great activities to do that Sadie doesn't have a chance to get bored. Art is always open and they have these great journals to write and decorate with pretty tape and things. This year they are given the option of having their snack or waiting until lunch, which I think is pretty cool that they are encouraged to keep track of things like "Am I hungry?" One of the main goals of this year is to make sure that they are emotionally ready for Kindergarten next year.

Cashions together

Cashion got to meet another Cashion! Jacob Hale Cashion, that is. My cousin, Hart, and his wife Jennifer live in Houston with their little baby boy, but we have gotten to visit with them a couple of times over the past couple of months. Jennifer has done quite a bit of family tree research on my mother's family, which has spawned some new interest in tracing our ancestry. Bebe even met a family member in Fredericksburg for the first time this summer due to these new discoveries.

Cashion at 18 months

I'm walking now!

My favorite book


I love my Sissy


Even if I pull her hair sometimes

I eat all by myself

Cashion has made some big changes from age 17 months to 19 months. He took his first timid step by 15 months, but didn't really walk until 17 months old. Now he walks everywhere and it looks strange when he drops down to crawling on the rare occasion. He can hold onto the wall and step down a step, but still falls down sometimes. He drags all his matchbox cars and other toys out and scatters them all over the floor and then proceeds to cry out as he steps on them while walking across the room. He has weeny little feet. He gets his feelings hurt and cries more than Sadie did at this age, but his tantrums have decreased now that he is getting more words. (He still pulls his sister's hair on occasion, even when he is not defending his possessions). He loves bubbles baths, balls, trucks, tractors, trains, matchbox cars, and his 100 first machines book. He likes to point to each one and have you name it. He repeats most of what we say now. At 19 months, these are some but not all of his words:

Mama, Dada, Sissy/Sadie, Papa, Bebe, Nana, Ball, Basketball, Football, Baseball, Bubble, Bath, Star, Bright, Tractor, Truck, Car-Car, Wee-ooh-wee-ooh (Siren of the Firetruck), More, Wawa (Water), Walk, Doggie, Animal Sounds: Moo, Quack, a snorting sound for a pig, Mow (Meow), Baa, Bock-Bock, Roar, Outside, Playground, Shoe, On/Off (both sound the same), Nino (Dino), Bock-bock (Backpack), Hat, Elbow, Banana, Cracker, Hot Dog, and Thank You.

One of the problems with being the 2nd child is that you have to watch whatever TV your older sibling likes. Therefore, Cashion has seen more Spongebob Squarepants than any one-year-old should. A few months ago, he said "Aye-aye" when he saw the pirate come on and now he says "Spongebob" and sings "Oooooooooohhhhhhhhh" at he beginning of the song. It is hilarious and mortifying all at the same time.

Cashion is a great eater. He ate an entire chicken soft taco with rice and beans at Maudie's last night. He even held the spoon correctly and got the beans to his mouth on his own!

Most of all, I enjoy that he is still a snuggler. He loves to sit and read books before bedtime. Then, he snuggles in for our lullaby and gives really good hugs and kisses. He even asks to kiss his Sissy goodnight. He really is a sweet little boy and I love that I can still cuddle with him even though he is getting so big.

Bath time

Bath time may be Cashion's favorite thing in the world. He asked for it by name now, saying "bath" and "bubble" with glee! Sadie likes to take a bubble bath in the "big bath" too. Thankfully, she has gotten over getting splashed because it happens a lot.

July 4, 2011

Cashion and his Papa have a special connection

Sadie and her Bebe

We spent July 4th at the Lake House and actually made it over to the festivities at Quail Point this year. The kids had a great time watching the parade, getting their faces painted, getting patriotric tattoos, stalking the balloon animal guy (who also juggled), eating popcorn and watermelon. It was a real small town celebration. Sadie also got to stay up late enough to watch the fireworks at Horseshoe Bay. She sang along to Katy Perry's "Firework" as she watched her first pyrotechnic display.

Swim lessons

waiting for your turn is hard

We had a great experience at Nora Martin Swim School this year. Sadie made so much progress and Cashion was a fish right from the get-go. They use T-shirts over swimsuits to be able to safely hold onto the kids but allowing them to feel what it is like to be swimming independently. Sadie was initially timid about going under water, but by the end she was gliding under the water on her own. She was so proud. We got to practice her "flying fish" and "rainbows" at the Horseshoe Bay pool over July 4th. She didn't want to leave the water. We will definitely go back next year and I won't be surprised if both Sadie and Cashion are swimming independently next summer. And the kids get a personalized medal and a lollipop on the last day. What could be better than that?

Gramps in Austin

Gramps had an extended stay in Austin over the summer due to some visa and passport issues. We were overjoyed to have him here so long, even if the reason was frustrating for him and the weather was consistently in the 100s. We got to check out his hotel room at the W, including the view of the skyline. He got to spend time with the kids at swim lessons, too.

It was really great for the kids (and us) to spend so much time with Gramps this summer. We miss Gramps and Mimi when they are way across the pond!