Here's Miriam clutching one of her prized finds.
Miriam and her little buddies, Austin and Miles, playing in the Barbie car--"Who's got the keys?"
Showing posts with label Fort Worth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fort Worth. Show all posts
Monday, April 25, 2011
Easter Egg Hunt 2011
Some friends of ours, the Plummers, own a horse ranch here in Fort Worth. Incidentally, they also own a ranch in Tamworth, the little rural town in Australia where I grew up. (I was sure surprised when I found that out!) Anyway, we were lucky enough to be invited to an Easter egg hunt at their place last Saturday. It was Miriam's first egg hunt and she seemed to enjoy it. I think the part she liked best was chasing all the other kids as they ran down the hill when they started the hunt. She squealed all the way. She liked finding the surprises in the eggs too, and the ducks and geese in the pond, and exploring with her friends. Here are a few pictures:
Here's Miriam clutching one of her prized finds.
Here's Miriam clutching one of her prized finds. 
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Sweet Ride
So you've probably heard by now--since I've been shouting it from the rooftops; Joe bought me a tandem bike for an early birthday present. It's been a lot of fun this past week and now Miriam has her early birthday present too; a trailer for the back of the tandem. Yes, we're quite a sight to behold.
For this morning's ride, we took the trail into downtown Fort Worth (about 20-25 miles round trip) and discovered that they were having a car show. We got to check out some hot sets of wheels from atop our own set--even if I do say so myself.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Pictures!
Here's our little princess after a bath. Pictures taken Feb 2010.
Joe and Miriam.
The Fort Worth Water Gardens on Joe's dad's birthday weekend. See the following post for details.
The BYU versus TCU basketball game. Also, see following post for details. GO COUGARS!!
Joe and Miriam.
The Fort Worth Water Gardens on Joe's dad's birthday weekend. See the following post for details.
The BYU versus TCU basketball game. Also, see following post for details. GO COUGARS!!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Big Weekend
This weekend we celebrated Joe's dad's birthday. Also, Miriam is officially five months old.
We spent a fun Saturday pretending to be tourists in downtown Fort Worth; We visited the Omni Hotel and the Water Gardens and we took lots of pictures (which I'll have to post ASAP). I'm kicking myself that I didn't know about the Water Gardens when my family were visiting last October/November. Hopefully I'll have another opportunity to show them. We all had a good time although I think I enjoyed it more than anyone. I also found the Water Gardens to be among the most challenging navigation experiences I've had in a while with so many stairs and drop-offs with water running everywhere. Still, my record for most challenging is the Spit to Manly hike around Sydney Harbour when I last visited in 2006. That was challenging in a different way though, with so many rippled and uneven sandstone steps and rocky terrain. The Water Gardens on the other hand was just a matter of navigating over straight-edged steps, but there were gaps between each tall step with water gushing through, so although it was reasonably predictable, the stakes were higher if I made a mis-step.
On Saturday evening we donned our BYU gear and went to the BYU versus TCU basketball game. I thought the blues would be in the minority among the crowd, but boy was I surprised--we dominated. One TCU fan said we were "like cockroaches"--blue cockroaches that came up out of nowhere and took over the place! *laughs* Despite a crummy start, BYU won by thirty points.
We celebrated the birthday win with a barbecue dinner. While eating, we looked over at Miriam in her carseat to find that she had managed to pick up her little half bottle of milk left over from the car ride and was swigging away. We've never seen her do anything like this before. She changes so fast and never ceases to amaze. I suppose lingering hunger brought out her resourcefulness.
I regret to say that Miriam had her first accident on Sunday at church involving a split second, a countertop, and a hard floor. It was awful and I was sure in that moment that I was the worst mother in the world, but luckily for us all her diaper absorbed most of the impact and she has recovered a hundred times faster than me. That was the one event that marred the weekend, but thankfully no harm done and I learned a few valuable lessons, not the least of which is how precious that little firl is to me. I also think I need to learn to be more calm and constructive and less panicky and shame-filled just in case I ever have to deal with a real emergency.
I can hardly go on with this post, but the day did improve with a birthday dinner and a Sunday drive. It was in the end an enjoyable weekend and we all lived to tell the tale
We spent a fun Saturday pretending to be tourists in downtown Fort Worth; We visited the Omni Hotel and the Water Gardens and we took lots of pictures (which I'll have to post ASAP). I'm kicking myself that I didn't know about the Water Gardens when my family were visiting last October/November. Hopefully I'll have another opportunity to show them. We all had a good time although I think I enjoyed it more than anyone. I also found the Water Gardens to be among the most challenging navigation experiences I've had in a while with so many stairs and drop-offs with water running everywhere. Still, my record for most challenging is the Spit to Manly hike around Sydney Harbour when I last visited in 2006. That was challenging in a different way though, with so many rippled and uneven sandstone steps and rocky terrain. The Water Gardens on the other hand was just a matter of navigating over straight-edged steps, but there were gaps between each tall step with water gushing through, so although it was reasonably predictable, the stakes were higher if I made a mis-step.
On Saturday evening we donned our BYU gear and went to the BYU versus TCU basketball game. I thought the blues would be in the minority among the crowd, but boy was I surprised--we dominated. One TCU fan said we were "like cockroaches"--blue cockroaches that came up out of nowhere and took over the place! *laughs* Despite a crummy start, BYU won by thirty points.
We celebrated the birthday win with a barbecue dinner. While eating, we looked over at Miriam in her carseat to find that she had managed to pick up her little half bottle of milk left over from the car ride and was swigging away. We've never seen her do anything like this before. She changes so fast and never ceases to amaze. I suppose lingering hunger brought out her resourcefulness.
I regret to say that Miriam had her first accident on Sunday at church involving a split second, a countertop, and a hard floor. It was awful and I was sure in that moment that I was the worst mother in the world, but luckily for us all her diaper absorbed most of the impact and she has recovered a hundred times faster than me. That was the one event that marred the weekend, but thankfully no harm done and I learned a few valuable lessons, not the least of which is how precious that little firl is to me. I also think I need to learn to be more calm and constructive and less panicky and shame-filled just in case I ever have to deal with a real emergency.
I can hardly go on with this post, but the day did improve with a birthday dinner and a Sunday drive. It was in the end an enjoyable weekend and we all lived to tell the tale
Monday, March 1, 2010
Cowtown Half Marithon 2010
Here we all are: Joe, Louise, Miriam, and Michelle after the Cowtown Half Marithon in Fort Worth last Saturday. Joe ran the half while Michelle ran the 5k and Miriam and I were the cheer squad along with our friend Tiffany Anderson, whose husband, Adam, was also running. It was a beautiful sunny but brisk morning. Congratulations to our runners! Joe's time was 1hr 49mins; He's quite satisfied. Also, his medal is pretty nifty--it is designed so that if you earn five medals over successive years, the wedges will fit together to make a texas star.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Slushed In
If we were snowed in yesterday, then today we are definitely slushed in! Fort Worth received a record twelve inches of snow yesterday—it snowed and it snowed all day long end we wound up with more snow than this area has ever seen. I know it’s not quite like the six feet or so that’s been piling up in the DC area, but for DFW it’s pretty wild and white! Now it’s raining and all that fluffy stuff is turning to slush, but I’m surprised it lasted as long as it did.
Monday, September 21, 2009
September 2009 Update
The procrastination ends here--I'm finally writing.
The first news is that our baby is due in just two weeks! All seems to be going well. I’m not hating the third trimester as much as I could be… I’m still in pretty good health and the baby seems to be doing well too. She’s pretty active and those lungs seem to be developing—as evidenced by her daily hiccoughs. I wonder if she’ll be as hiccoughy when she reaches the outside...
I’m down to weekly doc appointments now. Got my first ever flu shot. Last appointment the doc did an impromptu sonogram to check the baby’s position; her head is down but her body is a bit oblique. Her butt is sticking out towards my left hip and her feet are pointing over to my right hip. Doc says it’s nothing to worry about, but we’ll keep an eye on it. Also, I’ve been pretty steadily gaining weight at about three pounds per week for the past month. That’s probably more than expected (by me), but I’m still within normal ranges. Last of all, I’ve been having some pre-labor contractions for the past four days or so. So far it doesn’t hurt, but it seems to wake me up in the morning and happens several times a day for maybe thirty seconds at a time. My belly just tightens up and gets uncomfortable for a bit, makes me a little out of breath, and then it slips away again. I’m pretty sure this is the “dropping” phase since the baby seems to be sinking down a bit lower.
Oh, here comes another little contraction…
In other less exciting news, our renters in our San Antonio house have been having trouble paying their rent. This hasn’t been a very fun situation for any of us, least of all for them I’m sure. We’ve prayed for them every day this month I think. We’re feeling bad for them but learning that we need to be a bit tougher so we can avoid falling into their situation. Paying rent here and mortgage there isn’t sustainable for too long. Still, I consider this month’s mortgage payment like tuition in a real estate class. It’s just like Grandpa Walch says “Well then, that’s your thousand dollar education!” Shucks. Also, I think I’ve gained a better understanding of the gospel concepts of justice and mercy. I sure wish some savior would come to give our renters mercy, and to satisfy the justice our bank account demands. Still, the more time goes on and the more we hear about their financial woes, the more it becomes apparent that mercy for them might be to have them move into a cheaper place. As for us, we’re grateful to be feeling the peace and protective power of paying tithing.
Lastly, just to mention a little something of our life in Fort Worth this month, we finally tried out Uncle Julio’s, a Mexican restaurant close by that always has a full parking lot. After a beautiful walk in the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, we went to Uncle Julio’s and pulled out all the stops with a lobster and fajita platter and they gave us a complimentary plate of sopa pillas. So delish. I think that’s about the most we’ve ever spent on a meal, so it’s lucky our grocery bill came in well under budget this week. You know, if it weren’t for our usual diet of rice, beans, cereal and PB&Js, I think I’d feel guilty. Instead I’ll just settle for feeling grateful.
The first news is that our baby is due in just two weeks! All seems to be going well. I’m not hating the third trimester as much as I could be… I’m still in pretty good health and the baby seems to be doing well too. She’s pretty active and those lungs seem to be developing—as evidenced by her daily hiccoughs. I wonder if she’ll be as hiccoughy when she reaches the outside...
I’m down to weekly doc appointments now. Got my first ever flu shot. Last appointment the doc did an impromptu sonogram to check the baby’s position; her head is down but her body is a bit oblique. Her butt is sticking out towards my left hip and her feet are pointing over to my right hip. Doc says it’s nothing to worry about, but we’ll keep an eye on it. Also, I’ve been pretty steadily gaining weight at about three pounds per week for the past month. That’s probably more than expected (by me), but I’m still within normal ranges. Last of all, I’ve been having some pre-labor contractions for the past four days or so. So far it doesn’t hurt, but it seems to wake me up in the morning and happens several times a day for maybe thirty seconds at a time. My belly just tightens up and gets uncomfortable for a bit, makes me a little out of breath, and then it slips away again. I’m pretty sure this is the “dropping” phase since the baby seems to be sinking down a bit lower.
Oh, here comes another little contraction…
In other less exciting news, our renters in our San Antonio house have been having trouble paying their rent. This hasn’t been a very fun situation for any of us, least of all for them I’m sure. We’ve prayed for them every day this month I think. We’re feeling bad for them but learning that we need to be a bit tougher so we can avoid falling into their situation. Paying rent here and mortgage there isn’t sustainable for too long. Still, I consider this month’s mortgage payment like tuition in a real estate class. It’s just like Grandpa Walch says “Well then, that’s your thousand dollar education!” Shucks. Also, I think I’ve gained a better understanding of the gospel concepts of justice and mercy. I sure wish some savior would come to give our renters mercy, and to satisfy the justice our bank account demands. Still, the more time goes on and the more we hear about their financial woes, the more it becomes apparent that mercy for them might be to have them move into a cheaper place. As for us, we’re grateful to be feeling the peace and protective power of paying tithing.
Lastly, just to mention a little something of our life in Fort Worth this month, we finally tried out Uncle Julio’s, a Mexican restaurant close by that always has a full parking lot. After a beautiful walk in the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, we went to Uncle Julio’s and pulled out all the stops with a lobster and fajita platter and they gave us a complimentary plate of sopa pillas. So delish. I think that’s about the most we’ve ever spent on a meal, so it’s lucky our grocery bill came in well under budget this week. You know, if it weren’t for our usual diet of rice, beans, cereal and PB&Js, I think I’d feel guilty. Instead I’ll just settle for feeling grateful.
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