Roller coaster

This hand-me-down roller coaster from the Kovacs has provided HOURS of entertainment for the kids.     They take turns announcing each other in dramatic fashion and then cheering wildly and chanting "go! go! go!" while they race down the track and across the yard.  Max even started riding it backwards this week, which adds a whole new opportunity to break something twist.  I have to move it around the yard on an almost daily basis because they're wearing tracks in the grass from riding it so much.

Grandma joins the cheering section!

Even Winnie joins in on the howling cheering!

Frontiers of Flight Museum

Over Spring Break the kids, BB, and I hit up the Frontiers of Flight Museum near Love Field.  There are planes everywhere -- inside, outside, and hanging from the ceiling.  They span from Wright brothers-era airplanes to space capsules.  Here's Scarlett, Max, and BB posing with the world's one and only "Flying Flapjack," an experimental test aircraft that was part of the Navy's fighter aircraft program in World War II.

The kids loved playing with the aptly-named "stomp rockets."

If you squint, you can see Max at the top of the air traffic control tower in the kids play area.

Peeking out of the Southwest Airlines plane.

The kids were probably the most impressed by the fake plane in the kids area.  

Scarlett and her co-pilot Max.

Go fly a kite!

Max and Scarlett got new kites and we headed over to Lake Cliff Park in our neighborhood to test them out.  (Quick history lesson:  In the early 1900s, Lake Cliff was the site of Texas's largest amusement complex, featuring carnival rides and attractions, dance pavilions, three theaters (opera, live performance, and motion pictures), a huge pool, and a bathhouse).

Chris tests out the Barbie kite.

Next up:  the Spiderman kite.

Max takes a quick break to climb to the top of the rocket ship.

Scarlett was a kite-flying pro in no time.

Max takes another break to pick dandelions.

Note the Dallas skyline in the background (including Reunion tower with the "ball" on top and the tall Bank of America building where I used to work on the 54th floor).

Chris or Daddy?

This is a video from back in December.  Max and Scarlett got into an argument about whether Chris's real name is "Chris" (according to Max) or "Daddy" (accodring to Scarlett).  Max won't back down that his name is Chris, but then when I asked what my name is, he says it's Mommy.  Inconsistent AND adorable.

My Little Bluebonnets

I have somehow managed to never get bluebonnet pictures of my two little Texans until this year.  Rather than have to hunt down a spot on the side of the highway somewhere, we were lucky enough to get some beautiful shots at Grandma and Paw's land as well as at Mike and Lisa's house over Easter weekend.

The first set is at Grandma and Paw's.  Max was NOT having it, but I managed to get some really sweet pictures of Scarlett despite the fact that I was carrying a very clingy 30+ pound two-year-old and taking photos with just one hand.  And lucky for Scarlett, Grandma and Paw decided not to press charges for state-flower-picking.  (Turns out the whole "it's illegal to pick bluebonnets" thing is a myth.)

The next set is from Mike and Lisa's Easter Party at their house in Spring Branch.  This time, Max was ready to get his bluebonnet on (now that he was fueled by jellybeans and chocolate).

New Scooters!

Scarlett and Max got scooters about a month ago, and they've been a big hit since the minute they laid eyes on them.  (Max was in tears leaving the store because he thought he was taking the floor model home, not a lame box with an unassembled scooter inside)

Max literally jumping for joy as Chris opened up his scooter!

The test drive.

A rare photo request from Scarlett:  "Mommy, take my picture while I stand here like this."

And now for a few videos ...

Max and Scarlett's inaugural rides:

Scarlett announces Max:

Scarlett the speed demon one month later: