Bens field trip to Austin Nature centre

So Mum and I offered to be adult help on the field trip for the first graders. It was to Austin Nature centre which I had not been too before, so that was interesting.

we spent a morning there and had lunch at a different park.

The kids enjoyed finding out about nature, they have just finished a section on pond life and habitats, so seeing the place deer slept last night, and pond dipping, watching for birds etc was great for them. the guide was great with the kids, he understood how to talk to them and keep them interested.

the sign about the snakes is always interesting...we had a field trip earlier this year in West cave preserve..must check if I put that on the blog...and the two classes that had gone the day before had a snake on the path down..and it did not move out of the way..which is unusual..so i have learnt to be on the look out for snakes now..I did think the sign was a good way to remind the kids that this is actually the snakes habitat and they need to respect that..and of course a very good reminder to the adults to keep an eye!!

I am on two field trips next week..Austin zoo with Ben and Austin cemetery with Alex..so more photos to follow..

Cleaning the pool

Allan was having trouble getting the pool chemicals right, too much cyanide..being produced as a by product, so the pool shop said it most probably had not been emptied in a while, so to pump out 33% minimum...Allan decided to just empty it and then we would know and it will last for at least three years before we need to do it again.

We had already emptied the spa and now it was the turn of the pool..as you can see the boys loved this, they came home from school and played in the emptying pool. I also took a photo of Allan disassembling the filters and then he cleaned them and put them back together..it took about threes days to complete the emptying, cleaning and filling..and our water bill for that month was only $127 more than usual..not bad really.

Allan also managed to meet the neighbours at the back of us, as he heard them come into there garden mid morning...a lot of water had gone there..he went around and offered to hep them sort out there back yard...he is so kind!!!! they were OK in the end..although we did not invite them t o our Hollywood party..maybe we should have.

The wildflowere centre

Mum , Jo and I went to the Lady Bird Johnston wildflower centre..it was beautiful. It is very close to where we live and is dedicated to wildflowers of Texas.

When we came here, we had heard many times how Austin was famous for its wildflowers..we could not understand why, and then the drought of the last three years ended, and we had good rain this winter...and the transformation of the road sides, gardens, school areas..it was amazing..so beautiful and fresh..the colours are amazing and the shear number of wildflowers is lovely...if you like plants you need to visit from march until mid ,may, we have plenty of them then, before it get too hot for flowers to survive.

Baranoff library club

Alex and Ben joined the Library club and each now have a book dedicated to the library from them, so for years to come they will be remembered..a good way to get new books for the library.

Hollywood party

so we held a Hollywood themed party and many people came, it was lots of fun..although I must say the camera lies.. look awful and I distinctly remember after my nth glass of wine that I look amazing....

Cara came as Marilyn and look fantastic, so many people dressed up which was great and the rest just had a fantastic time..one to remember for sure..my new neighbours are starting to learn I love parties, and they always come alone..i am very lucky..old and new neighbours.

We had a fantastic rain storm in the middle, thunder lightening and torrential down pour.. it added to the event, for sure and stopped some people from venturing out..Austins roads are not designed to deal with that level of rain, and neither are the tyres..but for those who made it, we all had fun..the last guest went at 4.45am...so I just stayed up and cleared down until late morning and then crashed ...

Ale playing football this season,

Alex has been playing football for the stormtroopers, and these are some pictures for you to see him in action..The soccer season is over now, but he might do a soccer camp in the summer..we will see, the local YMCA is offering them and they both seem to enjoy it.

so long since I posted..sorry

well, as you know mum came out and visited, and now she has returned home..not hindered by the volcanic ash..but a close run thing. Alex has turned 9 and now Jack is about to be 16 in two days..if I was in UK I could say tomorrow.
The weather has changed from our wettest month April for those planning holidays, to summer in a big way.sun, sun and more sun and we have been in the 90's for the last few days, with our lows not being low at all..in fact higher than the highs in UK..so all is dandy in Austin.

School breaks up soon and the kids are counting down to there 12 weeks of freedom, I am not sure I am counting down, but it will be nice not to have such early mornings.

Allan and I are signing up for the San Antonio marathon in November, our next goal and since my dad bought my a shiny new bike for my birthday, i am tempted to try a triathlon..the rookie one is this weekend, so not that one..but I will start looking and training.

Allan has had to pop to the UK for work and is bringing home a load of Cara clothes..lucky Allan, but also we are watching that volcano as well..it seems to be rumbling..so all thoughts positively towards it waiting until he is home please. Not sure that actually makes sense, so positive thoughts to stop it spewing any ash..hopefully that is clearer for you all to know what is expected of you.

My dad is expected out this month as well, so another good reason for it to behave.

Rookie, Alex kitten was spayed today, so she is feeling under the weather, but strangely, or not, Tex was quiet all day and moped about, and did not pick up until we bought her back from the vets this afternoon. They are really very close, this huge lab puppy, who is 18 months old and small kitten..

anyway, i am going to post some pictures so you can see what has been going on and hope I have more time to keep the blog up to date.