Dallas World Aquarium

Steve and I took the cubs to the Dallas World Aquarium on September 3rd. It was the first time for all of us. Who knew it wasn't just a big aquarium?!?! Three levels of tropical fun. We all had a really good time and we took tons of pictures while we were there.

It's not just an aquarium, people!!

Steve feeding a bird.:

Steve took some pretty amazing photos, if I say so myself.

Emily with ME (just one photo to prove that I was there too!):

"Look, sissy!" We heard that A LOT while we were there.





Shark (and bait).:

HELLLLLOOOO KITTY!:

The cubs loved the big kitty.:

Penguin feeding time.:

Zach's favorite, the "man-t" (manatee). He couldn't keep his eyes off it.


Emily's favorite, the touch-screen monitors. She couldn't keep her hands off them.


Proof that Daddy was there too, loading up the cubs in the trusty, much needed wagon. What a tour!

Social calendar

The cubs' social calendar has exploded this fall. The cubs started swimming lessons at the end of August. The first week went great and then the crying began. Emily would cry and then Zach would cry. It eventually got so bad that Zach was crying just to cry. No real reason for it. He would do everything the teacher told him to do. He wouldn't fight her or pull away, he would just do it while crying. Annoying. In hopes of stopping the tears we decided to split the cubs up. This was a pretty drastic measure, since it now meant that we had to go two nights per week instead of just one. So now Emily is flourishing in her Tuesday night classes and Zach just recently started making headway in his Thursday night classes. No tears at his latest class...WOO HOO!!

Preschool started on September 7th. The cubs are going to a new school this year and I think it is going great. They really like going and I love seeing how much they are learning. They are making such great progress. One day we heard Zach counting on his own...in SPANISH! Even more impressive to me, Steve knew it was spanish. Wow! They are learning colors (except in Emily's world everything is pink) and they are learning to write their names. They are singing songs all the time...of course, I have no idea what they are but it is still cute to hear.

Preschool and swimming lessons now dominate our Tuesdays and Thursdays. So does that mean that Mondays and Wednesdays are open?? HA - hardly. The cubs have speech therapy at the elementary school bright and early at 8:00am. UGH. I pick them up at 9:30, which gives us a little playtime before we head up to speech therapy at TWU. By the time 2pm rolls around, we have had our fill of speech therapy. It is definitely helping though. Sometimes what I hear the cubs say now really surprises me, especially since this time last year, Zach could barely talk at all. I sneeze, and Zach says "bless you". I ask Zach if he can bring me his cup, he says "of course". OF COURSE?!?! I LOVE IT!!!! Progress is being made.

That leaves Friday. The only "free" day. We fill those up with playdates with friends, little shopping trips, or excursions to the gym. Our gym has a rocking kid's play area and the cubs love it. They ask to go all the time, and cry if we pass by and don't stop. I love that it tires them out and gets them nap-ready! :)

I'm not sure when our schedule will lighten up. I'm ready for a little down time, but with two busy cubs in the house I probably won't get that for many years to come.

August visitors

There was a flurry of activity at Cub Central in August.

Steve's Uncle Tommy was in Texas on business, so we were fortunate that he could visit with us while he was here. The Cubs LOVED him. There was a lot of running, chasing, swimming, and tons of squealing cub laughter.

Fun times with Uncle Tommy!!:





Steve's parents were also able to come down at the end of August for a visit. The cubs' honorary Aunt Tracey and cousin Jaxon also came. Steve and his Dad got in a few rounds of golf and the adult girls got in an afternoon at the spa. The cubs and Jaxon spent a lot of time playing together outside and even went to the cubs' favorite play-place, Going Bonkers. Tracey and I got to enjoy a fun girl's night out. Steve and I were even able to get away to the Hilton for a night, just the two of us.

Friends eating:

A lot of time was spent together eating. They did great eating at the "kid's table".

Eating at the "big kid's table".

Steve and Jaxon:

Cleaning crew!:

Yes, they can be hired out.:

Tracey and the kiddos. Talk about having your hands full.

Getting ready for bed time.:

Zach and Jaxon, best buds.:

Playtime at Bonkers:

"Where are yooooouuuuu??"

I wonder how many times a day I hear this phrase from the cubs. Quite often. For the silliest things. "Socks, where are yoooouuuuu??" "Mommy's car, where are yoooouuuuu??"

I'm sure if my blog could talk, it would say "Heather, where are yoooouuuuu??". Good question. I'm coming and going, here and there...just about everywhere. I have so many fun things to share....pictures from when our family was visiting, the Dallas World Aquarium, our annual Pumpkin Patch photos, Halloween, etc, etc, etc. So, why aren't they on here??? Let's see...the cubs broke my camera in August, and although we quickly replaced it, I have not downloaded a single picture off of it...so that means, no pictures. I really need to get on that. Not quite sure where all the time goes. Oh wait, maybe it's because I spend hours chauffeuring our sweet cubs...to preschool, to the elementary school for speech therapy, to the University for more speech therapy, to swim lessons, to playdates/parties/events...I really am busier now with their social schedules than I ever was working full time. I have not forgotten about my blog, and if there are any faithful blog readers remaining out there, I promise to post some pictures very soon!!