birthday girl

There is much to say. But so little time! Our rosebud turned one. Somehow she has bloomed from this:

To this:

She may still look like her daddy but she is learning to shake it like her momma.

my brilliant husband

Back in the days before Stephen and I dated, I had a nice little apartment with a hot tub outside and a sunroom off the bedroom that I used as an art studio. I had all kinds of crazy projects going on back there. One of these projects was born of necessity - I had a favorite pair of shoes that were in need of replacement. Problem was, they were the perfect mix of heel, platform and bounciness - and of course I couldn't find anything else like them anywhere. I analyzed the slope of the last (and found out what a last was) and replicated it. All I needed was something strong and sort of bouncy - I figured that if I could get the last, insole and sole together I could just make it into some sort of sandal. I figured cork would be a perfect material, so I saved some wine corks and began to assemble them into the requisite shape. One could say I possibly had too much time on my hands. Stephen likes to joke that if he hadn't come along I would still be off somewhere, trying to make my own shoes. hee. 

All this is background on just why it is that we have a large quantity of wine corks in our house. I'm always thinking I'm going to make something out of them. But, drumroll please... Stephen found a use for them before I did. 

So it's springtime in Texas, which really is a pretty spectacular thing. For just a few short weeks, people in snowbound places feel envious of our weather. It's a sentiment that doesn't really return until October or so. We're really enjoying the courtyard we put in last fall, 

and the fountain especially has been pretty entertaining for the bambina. 

Stephen had the idea to throw some of her bath toys in there... good idea, but a little short-lived as she can't reach far enough in to fish them out, and there are just a few of them. But then... inspiration strikes. Ladies and gentlemen, may I please introduce you to what is sure to be a craze among the junior circuit: corks in the fountain. 

All you need are a couple hundred corks and a fountain. She spent hours picking up the corks and putting them in the fountain. Then moving corks one by one on to the ledge, then into the fountain. I tell you the possibilities are endless! The great thing is they float, so once enough are in there, she can bat them around with her hands or even take some out. Cleanup is easy with a colander. This is our new favorite game. Go Stephen!

April 1st Free Zone

I really don't like April Fool's Day. To be frank, I got tired of always being the sucker and never being able to successfully turn the tables on Jess. She is a master at fooling me (comes from her family). After several years of marriage she got me so bad that I used one of my few but extremely helpful "if you loved me" cards and declared our family a no April Fools zone. I realize that this all sounds a bit pathetic, but I have to protect my innocence from the truly evil and wicked Jessica.

She once told me that "a fool can be a good husband for a clever girl." You see what I have to love. Happy April Fool's Day!