A visit with some precious babies :)

Anyone who knows me knows how attached I can get to my babies at work.  Especially babies that spend a long time in our NICU.  The ones we are closest to, especially if we get to be friends with the parents, we keep in touch with and it is wonderful!  I love being able to watch how a baby that started so small and at such a disadvantage can do so well, partly due to all the things we do for them!

Recently, I have been able to catch up with two NICU graduate families!  These two moms were not just my sweet baby's moms...they truly became my friends and I miss being able to talk to them at work!  This past week was the 1st birthday of my favorite twins!  

Alyssa & Brooke

Brooke in on the left of the pic, Alyssa is on the right.

I missed their birthday party (I had to work) but their mother invited me over another day for a visit.  It is so great to see how big they are and how they are developing!  They are doing so many things!  Crawling like crazy and starting to walk holding on to things.  I love it!  Alyssa has the most beautiful smile and Brooke was so social and friendly!  She loved playing with my necklace.  I can't wait for another visit!

Here are a few of Alyssa...I tried to get a smile up close, but she's too fast for the shutter on my phone!

Now for Brooke's turn with the paparazzi!

I did not take any pictures at my other visit...boo!  But mom took one and I will have to see if she will text it to me (So Bree...if you're reading this please text me the picture of Lila and me!).  Lila is a more recent NICU graduate but I am confident that her mommy and I will stay good friends so surely I will be able to watch her grow!

Late addition to blog: Bree came through and emailed me this picture today!!  Thanks!

Next post:  Recipe for cheesecake squares :)

Quick trip to Dallas

Shawn and I have started a tradition since we moved to Texas...a yearly trip to Dallas to see the Chicago Blackhawks play the Dallas Stars.  Yesterday was the game so we decided to go up a bit early and spend the day doing something in Dallas.  We decided to try out their train system.   It was nice but kind of strange.  We each bought a single day pass for the system at $7 each.  We never once had to show anyone!  We could have ridden the train all day for free!  Apparently Dallas is very trusting of the mass transit system riders.

Shawn decided that we should go to the The Sixth Floor Museum.  It is in Dealey Plaza and is the museum about the JFK assassination.  It is on the 6th floor on the old Texas School Book Depository and is the location that Lee H. Oswald allegedly shot JFK.  The tour was really pretty interesting and we both learned a lot.

This is the 6th floor window where the shot originated.

This is the street where the car was when JFK was shot and of course, the grassy knoll.

JFK and Jackie in their car just before he was shot.

One thing that Shawn and I were both struck by in the exhibit, was the parallel between JFK and Obama.  There were are surprising number of similarities in their policy and the struggles they faced during their presidency's.  Look it up.

Last night we headed to the American Airlines Center (on the train again...still no one asked to see our ticket!).  The Blackhawks were taking on the Stars, who are currently ahead in the rankings.  We got there early so we could wander around and get close to the ice for some pictures.  

Although the stands look empty in this picture this ended up being one of the most packed houses the Stars have ever had...in large part to the number of Hawks fans!  There were a TON!  Hawks fans are super loyal :)

The view from our seats...in the nose bleed section.  It was cheap though and still awesome!

Warm up time!  Unfortunately Toews is still out injured :(  No pictures of him...

My favorite...Sharpie!!  He just happened to be #1 player of the game too.  My next jersey will be a Sharp jersey!  Also had Crawford in goal for the game...he did awesome!

Here we have Kane in the distance, Keith and Leddy up front and of course Crawford, the goalie.

Look at the Hawks fans!!

Getting ready for the teams to come out on the ice.

National Anthem.

The start of the 3rd period.

We had a great time, as usual.  We are already looking forward to our trip next year.  Now for St. Patrick's Day celebration tonight :)

Sherwood Forest Faire

A few months ago I bought a Groupon (isn't Groupon amazing???) for 2 admissions to the Sherwood Forest Faire.   This is a Rennaisance Festival about an hour east of Austin.  It seemed like something Shawn and I would enjoy to do together.  So since we were both off of work today we went to enjoy the faire.

As soon as we walked in we found archery to the right.  They had stuffed animals on the targets!  I was shocked to find Logan's green stuffed monkey (Sheldon) on one of the targets!  Poor Sheldon! 

Which way do we go??

These guys were singing a song from Serenity...very Rennasiance?

Oh Shawn!

My princess hat...can I get it??

The "Birds of Prey" show was really cool!  The show started with a hawk.  He was very well behaved...followed all the instructions and flew all around the crowd.  We were warned to keep turkey legs well hidden from him ;)

 The owl, Artemis, was the coolest!  He had huge claws and legs, not skinny and scrawny like the other birds.  When he flew it was absolutely silent...except that he wouldn't stop "talking."  He looked so intense as we was flying right toward us!  His wing brushed my head!

The vulture, Igor, was hilarious!  He did not want to follow directions and kept walking around the audience looking for scraps of food.

Cool suit of armor.

The jousting competition was pretty cool too.  It was a real competition, not acting.  These two guys were part of an ongoing competition.  One of them was Canadien and the other was from New Jersey or something like that.  It was neat to watch...even though no one got hurt :(



We had a really good time.  Shawn was not allowed to buy a sword...although he tried!  I did get my turkey leg (yummy), we bought a really cool wooden mug (I will take a picture when we use it), and we both got sunburns (yes, it was almost 80 degrees today!).