Fun with Nonna!

After Rockport, Mike left to go back to Abu Dhabi.  We went and had fun with Nonna!

 Getting fitted for ballet slippers...a dream come true for Eliza!

 We went to the Natural Science Museum and saw the IMAX about Pandas.  They both loved it!

 Next, we went to the butterfly center.  

 Olivia loved looking at the card that shows pictures of the various butterflies in the center and trying to find them. 

Then we ran into this guy!  She wasn't afraid to touch him!

Sweet Sweet Friends

Of anyone back in Texas, Olivia was most excited to see her friend Katherine.  She couldn't wait!  They invited us over for a play date and dinner that they turned in to a little surprise birthday celebration for Olivia.  So very sweet.  Not only did she have a fantastic time playing with her friend, she also felt very special.  So thoughtful!  It was so fun seeing the entire Hayes family!

 Love this sweet photo: Eliza, Samantha, Olivia and Katherine

 Opening a fun gift!

 Sweet friends!

They also got Eliza a fun book with a character named, "Eliza"!  So so thoughtful!!

Fun in Austin!

Mike finally arrived in Texas!  After a few days in Katy, we rented a car and hit the road to Austin.  We love all the fun we have at the Rhodes house!

 Eliza and Elizabeth with dueling iPhones :)

Hilarious!  Mike taking all three girls on a walk :-)

Chaser showing the ladies a good time ;)

 Fife and Courtney graciously offered to host a swim party at their house for all of our Austin friends.  It was so great to have a one stop shop to see everyone.  Sadly, I didn't take hardly any pictures! Here is one with me, Claire, and Maggie...both just had super sweet baby boys!

 Olivia, Margo and Eliza.  My girls were so excited to see their friend, Margo!  We sure missed David and Erin.

Jennifer, SSR, Maggie, Maggie's Dylan and only 10 day old Hayden, Jennifer's Channing

 We went out to Steiner to go see Maggie and brand new Baby Hayden.  Olivia was IN LOVE!  She loves babies and was more than thrilled to hold and feed him!  He is adorable.  I am so glad we got to meet him before we left.

 Best baby with the best view!

 Jake and Olivia, only 6 weeks apart.

Eliza's turn to hold him!

I adore this photo!  We stopped by the bakery and got to see my cousin, Ian and Uncle Jimmy.  So great to see them!

First Week of Texas Fun

We just love our little life in Abu Dhabi.  So much so, that I wasn't really all that anxious to get home for a visit.  However, once we did get home, it sure was nice!

Eliza just about fell over with excitement when Uncle Matt walked in the door :)  Olivia ran up and gave him the biggest hug.  It was so sweet!

 Our first weekend, Aunt Murf had us over for Sunday brunch cooked by Big Jim

 We also got professional pictures of the girls taken our first week.  I will post those once I get them.

Love this girl!

 Uncle Matt came with us to provide entertainment to get some real smiles...here he is just being a goof!

 We went to see Dr. Wolens for their annual check-up.  Their stats:
Olivia 6 Years Old:  Weight:  44.8 pounds (54th %)    Height:   46.6 inches   (78th %)
Eliza: 3 Years Old:   Weight:  31.4 pounds (54th %)    Height:   38.7 inches   (74th %)
It looks like my girls have the exact same body type.  So funny.

Sadly the only picture we got from our super fun play date with the Grings and Hayes.  Olivia with Samantha and Katherine.

We went to Lupe's with the Jacksons!  The girls with their buddy, Amy.  Olivia watched Aimee eat chicken fajitas and now really likes them!!

Last Day of School

The last day of school finally came!  We actually missed the real last day of school because we flew out one day early on June 19th.  What a school year the girls had.  They started at different schools, in a different country from where they finished.  I am amazed at the growth and change in such a short amount of time for both girls.

 People keep asking me if it is a dry heat where we live...uh, sadly NO!  You can see the humidity in this picture.  I am not looking forward to August with temps that reach 120 F with 70% or greater humidity.

Eliza would not cooperate for her last day of school picture, so this picture with sister is the best we got.

 She loves to pose and really wanted to include Eliza's Minnie Mouse purse

 Here is a comparison picture from her first day of Kindergarten.

 After school that day, we went to this neat furniture store (The One) that has a cafe on the top level for a yummy "last day of school" milkshake!  They love the egg chair that is in the elevator.

 Olivia was way more interested in finishing her 1-300 number chart they worked on at school.

Trying each others milkshakes

1st grade, here I come!