March Madness

March was a pretty crazy month and the madness wasn't just about NCAA, especially since Kansas killed my bracket!

Jake has been talking up a storm. I still "speak Jake" better than anyone else but more and more it is clear what he's saying. There is just something so much more grown up about him lately and oh so sweet. His greetings are enthusiastic and adorable....we're having so much fun.

Jake and Dada have been having lots of QT in the morning since I've been doing a boot camp. At first Jake wasn't particularly happy about my morning exercises with cries of "No Mama Boot Camp" but now when I get home I get a "Hi Momma! How was Boot Camp?"

Alex spent a full week in DC for a conference and work. Jake and I had a great time but I was super ready for Mimi to come and rescue me! Poor Mimi and her travel woes! She was supposed to arrive in Austin at 11pm but didn't get to our house until 4:30 am! We had a great time with lots of bubbles, books and bikes!



We spent Saturday at the Zilker Botanical Gardens Flower Show. It was an amazing place and they had a nice little kids area where Jake got a balloon and decorated a "rain stick" with stickers.


After we had enough of the crowds and the pollen we headed to one of my favorite new places, Opal Divine, for burgers and Bloody Mary's (just for Mom and Mimi, not Jake).

Late Saturday night, Alex FINALLY got home! We we're happy to have him back and despite being totally exhausted he was game to go check out the Austin Zoo with Mimi, Jake and I. Jake is super into animals right now so I was excited for him to see the animals until we actually got there. I had heard that it was a small zoo and that it was an animal rescue but I wasn't quite prepared for the 3-legged wolf and the pig with a nasty eye infection or something gross! Nonetheless, Jake seemed to like it although the only thing he seemed to really want to see were cows. Mimi, Jake and I went on the little train that went throughout the property. Jake was excited but it was pretty pathetic and again Jake was really just looking for the cows!



Seeing that Jake's class at school is the Turtle's - we had to capture this huge guy! He and his friends we're amazing.
Monday was Passover and we were excited to be hosting our first Seder. We had seven adults, one seven year old and three two-year old. I was super happy to have my mom in town and thankful for Alex's parents who were nice enough to send us their extra hagadahs and an extra Seder plate. Extra special was a book of Passover recipes that Dorothy made for me. I know that I'll use it year after year and we made two awesome desserts from it! Watching the kids play was of course wonderful.

Let's eat! Mmmm....brisket!

So much fun playing with Jonny and Ava!

The under-25 set!

It was sad to see my mom head home the next morning. I love watching her hang out and play with Jake and to have her help while Alex was out of town.

Heading into April we have lots of visitors on their way, another work trip for Dada and lots of fun adventures still to come. See you soon (especially since I didn't get this blog out until mid-April)!