Go Marathoners! Go Ly!

Finley and I walked 2.62 miles this morning to support our friend Ly, who was running 26.2 miles in the Chevron Houston Marathon this morning. She was looking great and we cheered her on. We are so proud of Ly, what a huge accomplishment.

Children's Museum and Meeting Mia

It was rainy and cool yesterday, so our playgroup met at the Children's Museum for an afternoon of playtime fun. Miss Finley was quite the challenge, she pushed a couple kids trying to get toys and even tried to shut the play doors on other babies. These are some things we are going to have to work on. She had a great time sliding on the slide and climbing all around. She also really enjoyed the playhouse with the play dishes, it must remind her of her play table and kitchen.
After the Museum, we went to Auntie Kristina's to meet her new kitten, Mia. Finley was very gentle with the kitten and loved to pet her. They both had fun playing with the kitten toys. I think Finley wants a kitten to play with!

I Scream, You Scream, Finley Screams

For ice cream!

Baking a Cake

Good to know Finley is just as much of a help when I am baking a cake as when I am roasting a turkey. At one point, she had climbed completely in the cabinet and just her little feet were sticking out. Of course as soon as I grabbed my camera, she was back out of the cabinet. Such a silly bug!

MFAH and Happy Birthday Joe!

Yesterday, we took Finley to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston to catch The Moon exhibit since it was the last weekend for it. Finley seemed to enjoy looking at all the artwork and displays. We also got to check out the Contemporary Artists from Korea exhibit. This exhibit was fascinating. There were so many interesting pieces, I was especially taken with Fallen Star by Do Ho Suh and The Needle Girl. That picture of Fallen Star does not do it justice. On the reverse side it was split open to reveal a large scale dollhouse, the detail was amazing. Even the turkey in the oven was stuffed! I am going to check it out again before it was over. Finley loved walking around the museum, she spent most of the time on her feet!
After a failed attempt at an afternoon nap, Finley and I headed to WonderWild for Joe's 2nd birthday party. Finley's favorite toy was the play kitchen, she spent the majority of the time there with it. Just like home! Finley enjoyed pizza, birthday cake and her first juice box. She was one happy camper and was asleep as soon as we pulled away to head home. Playing in the ball pit with Max What did she do?
Playing in the kitchen...her favorite thing to do.

When I try to cook...

This is what happens:And it isn't like I was making a meal that didn't have leftovers that would need clean tupperware to store it in. No, just a 12 pound turkey with stuffing. Clifton and I should be able to polish that off in one sitting.

Who me?
At least she's cute!

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Houston has been in a giant tizzy over the freezing temperatures here. Let's put it this way, I went to the grocery store today without a coat. It really isn't that cold, but everyone here is acting like we are feeling some sort of arctic blast!

I did bundle up Finley for our grocery store adventure...which made her sweating hot. She is a little furnace as it is normally.

Me and My Mama

I'm cooking in the kitchen...

One of my favorite elementary school songs was the "I'm Hungry" song. It was sung by three groups: the father bear, mother bear and baby bear.

It went like this:

Father Bear: I'm hungry. Very hungry. I'm empty, inside.
Baby Bear would then join in.
Father Bear: I'm hungry. Very hungry. I'm empty, inside.
Baby Bear (repeating father bear right after): I'm hungry. Very hungry. I'm empty, inside.
Mother bear then joins in
Mother bear: I'm cooking in the kitchen, I'm cooking in the kitchen, I'm cooking in the kitchen for father bear. I'm cooking in the kitchen, I'm cooking in the kitchen, I'm cooking in the kitchen for baby bear.

Anyone else remember this song? It all got sung at once and it was really fun. I would sing it whenever I was hungry!

Needless to say, Finley is LOVING cooking in her kitchen. Her new pot set arrived yesterday and she couldn't be having more fun with it if she tried. She loves to stir with the spoon, add food to the pans and move them all around. It is such a treat to get to play with her. I am not ready to send her kitchen to her room just yet.

Playing with my new lens

I used my X-Mas money from my Aunt Sharon to purchase a new lens for my SLR camera. I have really loved it so far, I am still trying to get used to the perspective from it. The main challenge is getting Finley to stay still and not try to grab at the camera. You will see in the pictures that this can be acheived by giving her the tv remote, which she now tries to talk on like a phone. Allo?

She is intently gazing at her daddy playing the Super Mario Brothers Wii game that he got from her for Christmas.

Please bear with me as I learn the ropes of this lens!