Jumping Bean gets a Trampoline

We have been wanting to buy a trampoline for some time now. We decided to finally pull the trigger when we got a killer deal at Sam’s Club.  It’s too long of a story to type, in short: the manager quoted us the wrong price over the phone and we got this mack-daddy trampoline for 150 bucks plus the price of a membership to Sam’s Club. Score!! 

The Wizard brought his ‘A’ game to conquer this project.

He didn’t get an MBA for nothin’ folks!

The child waits patiently.

The child continues to wait.

The Wizard continues to put his top-notch education to work while I document from the sidelines.

The child plays and watches very closely.

Once the frame was put together it only took us about 3 more hours of work to get to this point….

JUMPING!!!

MORE JUMPING!

HALF-NAKED JUMPING!

A little snuggling for a job well-done.

And finally a little rest for the weary.  The end.

Snopocalypse 2011

This has been one of the most wide-spread storms in a very long time.  Fortunately, we don’t live in a place where we have to shovel snow anymore! 

The Austin area schools have had several late starts this past week and the kids finally got a much anticipated snow day today!  Marin had fun kicking the snow around, but wasn’t interested in getting her hands cold OR dirty.  She had way more fun being pushed in her car and making tracks in the snow with her bike.

Snow-schmo!  Let’s ride!

Family Circus goes to the Circus

When the circus comes to town, you just gotta go!  Marin was so excited to see all of the animals, but once we got under the big tent, she was feeling a little more apprehensive. 

Elephant ride?  NOPE.

Pony ride that we spent six bucks on?  NOOOO WAY.

What’s that you say, honey?  You want to do what?

Ah yes, you want to JUMP in the bounce house at the circus…

and eat cotton candy of course!  Mmmmm. 

Our favorite part was the elephant act….seriously, how can they train these huge animals to do such tricks? 

The dog act was pretty nifty too.  Marin loved the poodles that ‘jumped very high in the air like an airplane!’ 

The first part of the circus lasted about 3 hours, so we left at intermission.  Maybe next year we’ll make it through the whole show AND build up enough courage to ride an elephant…..or a pony!

Look what me got!

Every Christmas gift Marin got this year, she yelled, “LOOK WHAT MEEEEE GOT!”  That level of enthusiasm is hard to match.

This is the Rose Petal Cottage that Santa brought.  It affords her a whole new level of privacy that she loves!

New books were a big hit too!

Feeling sassy in her Christmas dress—ready for church!

Coloring with Auntie Amanda was great fun.

Handsome brothers!

The master of cocktails!

Tons of gifts for Amanda & Baby!

The Wizard with a new Walkman??  He’s so hip. 

Despite my best efforts, she digs Dora!

Sometimes a good ol’ box makes the best toy!

Even Parker got some new loot!  (Already destroyed!)

Good-bye Dallas!  Thanks for a great 2010 Christmas….we’ll see you when Baby C arrives!