First trip to the Ice Cream Truck

It was 95 degrees for Memorial day yesterday, so when we heard the siren song of Turkey in the Straw heading toward us, we made a mad dash for the ice cream truck.   Declan was pretty excited by this innovation - a truck full of "special treats" roaming randomly around our neighborhood.  He clearly thought it was an idea whose time had come.  He picked out a Spongebob Squarepants ice cream bar.  Whenever given the option, he will pick Spongebob something-or-other, despite having never seen the Spongebob cartoon.  What goes on in that little mind, I do not know.

Ground Control to Major Tom

I have not been as diligent as I should be in capturing Declan on film. I had really wanted to get a video of Declan saying his full name, because he used to pronounce it as "Declan Litlock" and it was very cute, but before I managed to shoot the video, he outgrew it and started saying Whitlock. So when he started referring to his home planet as "Erf" I knew I had to be quick not to miss out.

I want to mummify this moment and preserve it forever, King Tut style.   I think it's adorable.  YMMV.

Greek Food Festival and Other International Dealings

We went to the Greek Food Festival, which I always enjoy. It is my annual affirmation that people with kids are desperate for things to do, because the number of people who show up for a gyros and a flea market is truly astounding. They get me every year. This year was another metric of Declan's big boy self being able to attack everything now- including the giant slide and big kid bouncy house.

 
He also got his very first face painting- something he wouldn't have sat for last year for love or money. 
 

Declan selected his own design- two pink hearts.

Note return of the freckles!  I heart summertime!

That night after Declan went to bed, Shane and I ended our three year puzzle battle hiatus. As many of you will remember when I was pregnant with Declan, Shane and I used to buy 2 copies of the same puzzle and race to see who could put it together the quickest. I never won! Never! Not even close. But last night was my night, as we dusted off two copies of a never before completed spherical globe puzzle, and battled for world supremacy. And I won.

Look at my completed globe against the backdrop of all the unassembled pieces on my worthy opponent's side of the table.  A victory four years in the making!

My Son, the Comedian.

Declan's really into making people laugh these days.  I have heard reports of his playing the role of class cut-up at school, and we see a lot of the same at home.   He will do something funny, and then observe with great self-satisfaction that "I make you laugh."  It is very interesting to watch him try and be funny with intention.  He has an innate comedic sense, but unfortunately seems to have inherited my propensity to run a bit into the ground.  Laugh at one of Declan's jokes, and you can expect to hear it 50 more times.

Here he is at Papa and Yaya's house. He was having his picture taken with Shane's granny who was visiting from San Antonio, and Shane's Uncle Terry told Declan to say "Whisky" instead of "Cheese", which garnered a little chuckle from the viewing audience. That was enough to get him rolling, and keep him rolling long after his photo session was over.  Watch him try and amp up interest with a little "Preschoolers Gone Wild" moment after the 20th rehashing.  I couldn't be more proud.

 

Easter - Better late than never.

We had a fabulous Easter this year.  I am blogging about it now, because if I let the time-space continuum dictate when I blog, all these pictures would never see the light of day.  So they're a month late.  So be it.  We started Easter morning off with a visit to church to see Shane's mom play handbells.  Then off to Shane's parents' house for brunch and an Easter basket for Declan.

This Easter explosion proves how much Jerry loves his grandson. 

Then Declan and I went over to the Hardins for dinner and an Easter Egg Hunt.

 Kathleen led the kids in a bunch of games- Duck Duck Goose, Ring around the Rosie and Red Rover. 

 Red Rover Fail!

Royal Wedding

I was supposed to be in Denver this weekend, but my ovaries, hereafter and ever more to be referred to "Empty Bags of Fail", did not cooperate.  Instead, with about 12 hours notice, I threw together a little impromptu champagne brunch to watch footage of Kate and William getting married.  I myself got up in the middle of the night to watch it in real time, but I could not expect the same commitment from my All-American guest list.  It really took me back to my childhood, getting up in the middle of the night to watch Diana and Charles get married.  I had the clearest intuition at that time that no good could come of a union that began in that dress, that hot taffeta mess:

But Kate got things all kinds of right, including her reception dress.  Love. 

Perhaps her only mistep was letting her sister Pippa look so good.  Regardless, we all enjoyed watching the festivities on this side of the pond, and I hope that the girls in attendance at our little brunch will remember watching a real princess get married.   Here's Kate and Abbey nailing the royal wave.  You can't teach that kind of elegance.

Everyone got to make their own take-home tiaras.   Declan unfortunately was at school while we were celebrating so his crown-wearing came later in the day, but he got two different ones. The first made of grass by our friend Ariel and the second he made himself. 

My boy likes a crown. 

Pinata!

Our housekeeper Sylvia bought Declan a giant Lightning McQueen pinata for his birthday party.  She often buys him gifts, so much so that when Declan woke up on Easter morning to find a filled Easter basket and presents outside his bedroom door, he exclaimed "look what Sylvia brought me!" 

I took a bunch of pictures of the kids taking whacks.  I love the way that, regardless of age, gender or temperment, they all seem to get this crazy gleam in their eyes as they try and bring down that industrial strength pinata. 

Callun here is telling me that he really really wants to take another turn and make the candy come out.  He was so determined.



 

I like cheeky William here, poised and ready for Sylvia's daughter Karen to rip that bad boy open.