Failed Experiment

Our sweet Deacon has decided he is no longer content to just sit and watch others run and jump and play. He knows that he wants to stand up and run along with them. He has started pulling up to stand and using anything he can wrap his little fingers around to help him. One of his favorite hand grips is his Daddy's leg hair. Since it is summer here in beautiful Texas, and 105* on most days, Steve wears shorts every day. This leaves all that wonderful leg hair open and available for our enterprising boy. One of our friends, Whitney K., suggested that Steve shave it to solve the problem. I don't know why Steve decided to take Whitney's advice, but here are the results. I'm not sure if this experiment will be repeated.

Potty Training: Round 1

A few weeks ago we decided that Claire seemed ready to learn how to use the potty. We used the same "trial by fire" method that we used with Gigi. We put Claire in her big-girl undies and tried our best to keep her off the carpet. We made some headway and then had many set-backs. With Deacon still so young, we decided that maybe we should not push Claire and try again in a few months. While we were still in potty training mode, we were able to capture this moment. Claire, sitting on the potty, saw her daddy's socks and shoes nearby and had to put them on. Claire is our girly-girl and loves to wear clothes and shoes, so it was no surprise that she had shoes on, but we were tickled by whose shoes she had on. She loves her daddy....

More Butterflies

The butterflies and the nature surroundings were too beautiful not to share...

Butterfly Pavilion

On our last day in Denver we decided to have fun and enjoy ourselves. So after lunch (where we got to watch Gigi perform her ballet moves for us) we went to the Butterfly Pavilion to see some "wildlife". We honestly didn't know what to expect, but we ended up having a great time! There were bugs, spiders, ocean animals and, of course, butterflies! Some of us were brave enough to hold Rosie the tarantula, and we also got to pet starfish and horseshoe crabs. The best part of the experience was the butterfly pavilion. It was an outdoor man made tropical rainforest with lush foliage and beautiful tropical flowers. Butterflies were everywhere! They would whirl around us and land on our hair. Twice a day the zookeepers would release the new butterflies that had just come out of their cocoons into the environment. What a fun experience!



pretending to be bunnies


Gigi holding Rosie


Steve holding Rosie


I'm holding Rosie!!












Deacon with his Uncle Paul and Aunt Heidi


playing with Aunt Heidi... and the crash soon after

Claire with her new butterfly wings

In Celebration of Grandmom Hipkins

Even though the occasion was a sad one, we ended up having a good time being with all the family. The services that we attended included a cemetery service and a memorial service at the church. Grandmom Hipkins was a woman of God who took Scripture seriously and literally. Every time she attended church, she covered her hair, and over the years built quite a collection of hats. The women of the family thought it a good idea to honor her by wearing hats during the services. It was beautiful- all the women looked so classy! We think she would have liked it!




Gigi playing with her Auntie Heidi



twirling in the pretty dresses



more twirling



Garcia Family



Mama and the Baby

Denver Trip: Round 2

Unfortunately, soon after we returned from Denver, we received the news we knew would be soon coming: Grandmom Hipkins passed away. Staying home and not going to her funeral was not an option, so we packed up the van, and away we went again to Colorado. God must know that by the time we hit the Colorado border we are tired of being in the car and in such close proximity to each other and in desperate need of inspiration and motivation. During the drive, we were blessed for the second time with a beautiful view of a full double rainbow! It was so close, it seemed like we could have touched it if we just put our hands out the window of the car. Right after seeing it, we were snowed on. During the afternoon. In August. Wow!