This Reminds Me

Archive for July, 2006

Jenny – one of our two goddaughters in Pearland – is visiting this week which, of course, necessitated a trip to Fiesta Texas.   We love Fiesta Texas, especially the water park.  Julia has her own sign language (roller coaster motions) to ask if we’re going to Fiesta Texas on any given day, or even the next day (She says “sleep,” followed by the roller coaster motions.)  She’d go every day, if we were willing to take her.

I’m almost as bad as the kids. Offer me a water slide on a hot day – I’m there!

So I’ve been thinking about what I’ve learned at Fiesta Texas in the six and a half years we’ve been in San Antonio.  Here’s my personal Top 10:

10.  “Secure all items” does mean the cell phone in your pocket.

9.   There are no atheists on Boomerang.

8.  The three most important words in the English language:  Wait.  Your.  Turn.

Jenny and Lois managed to streak their (formerly lovely) heads of hair red last night.  Forgive me, Sandi, it should fade by the time school starts?!

7.  It’s fun to pose for pictures you know you’re not buying.

6.  Potty every time you can, and make it a family affair.

5.  Close your mouth on water rides.

4.   When you’re on “Twister,” a barbecue sandwich only looks good before it’s eaten.

Jenny and Lois – 1997 – Pre-Henna Hair

3.  If you think you can’t dance – try walking barefoot in the water park.

2.  Spandex.  It’s not for everyone.

And the #1 thing I’ve learned at Fiesta Texas:  Tattoos are forever.

See you on Bugs’ White Water Rapids – That’s My Fave!

Keith’s parents -Jim and Rosalie – are here this week while our (sainted) babysitter, Catherine, sweats in New Orleans with a missionary home repair team.
Rosalie and Julia were playing with a plastic alphabet today – look at what greeted me when I came in the door.

Greetings!  See Romans 16:15 for more information on this wonderful name!

And yes – now – she is answering the all-important question, “What is your name?

She can arrange the five letters of her name in the correct order.  We’ll start working on selecting them from the group of 26.

Cheers!  Everybody here knows her name.Julia

Lois and Julia made chocolate chip cookies this afternoon – certainly a “first” for Julia.  Lois is our kitchen pro – creative, yet methodical, and capable of turning out some mighty Good Eats on her own.  But she took the time to allow Julia to “help,” plus offer instruction including:

-  “Always use more chocolate chips than they say.”

-  “The sheet is hot – don’t touch.”  (Had to anyway – ouch!)

And perhaps the most important:

-  ”You can’t put the spoon back in the bowl after you lick it.”

I tried to stay out of the way.  Keith – ever the supportive parent – wandered into the kitchen repeatedly to sample to batter ensuring “quality control.”

“Hurry and get them in the oven before Daddy comes in for more quality control!”

Julia pronounced both the baked and unbaked samples “foosna” – “tasty.”

Is there anything really more fun than making cookies?  The kids have always loved making the sprinkle kind, too.  When we lived in Houston, Judy kept us supplied with sprinkly sugar in every color of the rainbow.  Shortly after I took this picture, I discovered 2-year-old Hannah and 4-year-old Lois were licking their raw cookies so the sprinkles would stay on well.  (sigh)  I decided the baking heat would kill any germs.

Lickin’ – er – Lookin’ Good

Julia will be starting kindergarten this fall.  She’ll learn something that we could all remember: “Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.”

Be good.