Unexpected...

This is a picture of escargot. Why am I posting about escargot? Because Walker tried it at dinner last night (we were at a German restaurant)! Seriously. This is definitely something that falls under the category titled "Things I Never Thought Would Happen." We asked him, jokingly, if he wanted some "snail" and he nodded and said yes.  Even after we showed him the two little garlic-and-butter-and-parsley-covered pieces of snail. He ate them both. Ew. Even I won't do that. !!! Walker, you are a bit more adventurous than I thought. (Meanwhile, we're still trying to get Lainey to eat the jelly on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.)

Zoo Day

We had such a fun day at the zoo! We love our preschool friends. Pictured below...Gracie, Walker, Brayden, (Camryn, Brayden's sister), Beckett, and Grace.

By chance, Walker read his first word today - zoo! He actually read it on a sign. I'm not saying he will read it again...let's say in a book...but he read it on a sign while at the zoo. :) Ha! 

Walker has a lovely underbite smile going on these days. He makes this face to be silly. I hope he grows out of it! :)

Walker kept referring to the giraffes as "giraffe-es." And he didn't want to feed them because his "hand would get all slimy." He did end up "helping" me feed a cracker to a giraffe.

Walker's giving Brayden "punchy-punchy" hug. 

Notice the fists.

Awww.

While on our way to the zoo, I told Walker we were near his (second) cousin Tom's house. Just the night before, Walker had thanked God for "makin' Tom." :) It melted my heart. He also thanked God for makin' himself, and for makin' love. :) I thanked God for the rain. Walker said, "No. Not dat (that). Das (that's) yuck." ;) Even though he might have been the one who licked rain off of our car just a couple of hours before... ;)

On the monorail! Our first time ever.

This blog post is pretty much about Walker and Brayden at the zoo. And the things they did together! :) 

taking in all the animals

And here's a view of Reunion Tower. Which Walker happily calls the "bubble tower." :)

Galveston Beach, 2014

My cousins Nate (wife Sara, kids Andi {8} and Charli {4}), Kate (husband Stefo and kids Lucie {2.5} and Eva {3 months}), and Anne (husband Brian and son Tom {3}) rented a house in "Galveston Beach" (as Walker kept calling it) for Memorial Day weekend. My goodness...what a wonderful time we had. Six kids who get along amazingly well (minus Eva...she doesn't count because she's just a baby!) and 8 adults who get along amazingly well and also enjoy the same "style" of vacationing. 

our awesome house

the girls...Charli, Lainey, Andi, Lucie

Walker was so excited about going to "the beach." He started looking for "the beach" when we hit Mockingbird Lane on the tollway in Dallas. We still had approximately 6 or so hours left in the car at that point. 

Toes in the sand.

Precious Tom. Walker and Tom became best friends on this trip. So much so that Walker wanted Tom at his house whenever we got home.

so happy

Pretty Lucie...looking a LOT like her mama, Kate. Their coloring is striking; blue, blue, BLUE eyes with fair skin and hair. Beautiful!

These two boys. I still can't decide what is cuter. Walker saying "some-pin'" (meaning "something") the whole weekend or Tom saying "some-ting." They have such cute little voices. 

I think it was right after this picture that I got a shovel full of sand tossed at my rear end.

Clearly, the girls are discussing something important. Walker and Tom...not so much.

This is blurry, but I just wanted to include it because Lainey's pose is so uncalled for. ;) Ha!

The following day, at the beach, Charli had a very specific task in mind. I think she was making a mud cake.

Flying mud. Or whatever that is.

Cute, sweet, sassy Charli.

Lainey and her daddy. 

Walker, digging AGAIN.

Andi and her daddy.

Because why wouldn't one pose with a shovel?

Making seaweed mud stew. Ew.

Walker on the GIANT pile of seaweed.

A few candids...

Walker drew a picture of me. I have a head, two arms, a belly, a belly button (belly buttons ALWAYS make it into pictures) and one leg but two feet with ten toes. :) 

Eva!

Lainey took this one! :)

Happy, silly boys. They had a great time shooting the "guh-lls" (girls) with (small) wooden logs and chasing them everywhere...they really played well together. And the guh-lls screamed and reacted appropriately!

*****

Group picture shots...

 What a fantastic weekend with fantastic people. Can't wait till next year! Walker cried because he didn't want to go home. What does THAT tell you!? :)

Love you, Cousins!