November 2010: The biggest thing this month was our week-long trip to Texas to visit family and friends.
November 7, 2010: Aurora takes a nap on the couch. She looks just like her Mama!
November 13, 2010: Aurora shows off her "kwai tze" skills with blueberry pancakes.
November 20, 2010: A beautiful sunny morning poolside at our hotel in Houston.
Too bad the water was freezing cold!
November 21, 2010: Playing with Weston at Uncle Chris and Aunt Lisa's house. Weston sure has a lot of cars!
We took a trip to the Houston Children's Museum with Grandma.
Video: Lighted dance floor
Aurora and Jon try out the museum's version of DDR
Video: Aurora tries DDR
Video: Aurora watches Jon
Video: Aurora tries DDR again
Aurora puts all her eggs (and golf balls) in one basket, then into the hole.
The museum has a great outdoor water play space. Jon loves how Aurora approaches each activity with
great intensity and concentration.
Playing with boats with Grandma. Aurora likes to collect a great line of boats, just like she does with trains!
Video: Boat train
Water cannon! Wave tanks!
Ta da!
Aurora liked driving and gassing up the cars.
Up and down the ramp with the cars.
A short break for tea with Grandma.
Back to the cars.
Video: Filling up the truck
Video: The bear goes potty
Video: Plink. Plink.
That evening, we had dinner with Lisa's family. Marsha and Elizabeth had a house filled with toys
for Weston, and Aurora tried to play with them all. The tricylces were a big hit! A big
poofy dress and party shoes were not going to stop Aurora from having fun!
Video: Cycling 1
Video: Cycling 2
Video: Backyard soccer
Video: Teeter totter
Green sand!
Weston chills for a bit.
Video: Cycling 3
Bubbles for all!
More relaxing - on the swing and the recliner.
Time for dessert! Aurora had been eyeing Elizabeth's chocolate cake since before dinner.
Video: Baa baa black sheep
Video: Eating cake - yum!
Inside, there was even more stuff to play with. Unfortunately, Aurora had to stop playing
long enough to be in some family photos.
November 22,2010: Everyone went to the zoo that morning.
Video: I got you Baba!
Video: Dancing around the elephants
Reptiles!
What?! Is there an alligator behind me?
Aaaahh! There IS an alligator behind me!
It's always great to get together with good friends. Even though Jen and I hadn't seen each other in years,
it didn't feel like it at all. After dinner, Jen gave us a tour of her beautiful new home.
November 23, 2010: Quiet time finding Waldo in the morning.
Breakfast is followed by more play time.
What's up with the cat tower?
Hiding in the closet is fun!
November 24, 2010: We are now in Austin, visiting one of Jon's best friends. Again, we hadn't seen
Dee in a while, but she immediately made us feel at home. Wonderful Dee hooked us up with the local
YMCA and Aurora finally got in some quality pooltime.
Video: Jumping to Baba
Group shot!
More fun in the water.
Video: Pop goes the ball!
The YMCA has a great playground too!
November 25, 2010: Happy Thanksgiving!
After a big wonderful meal, it's time to play outside!
Video: Aurora scooters
After lunch, a cold front blew in and the temperature dropped rapidly. Here Aurora tries
the buttons on Sarah's coat.
That evening, Aurora works on a new puzzle. Notice how she leaves the square mid-west states for last. They
even stump Mama and Baba!
How can you tell if someone is a princess? According to Aurora, they have a belt and a skirt.
Aurora chases Jon...Jon chases Aurora.
Video: Towing the tow truck
Video: No room for Baba in Aurora's house
The evening ends with Aurora "helping" John build a house.
Video: Clicking
November 26, 2010: Our last morning in Austin. Aurora thinks the post-it notes are too big, so
she works hard to get them just right. Then she packs
the back of the truck with (Lincoln) logs.
