Mommy is funny

I have no idea why Olivia thought this was so funny. Her pediatrician keeps asking me if she is putting things, like a ball, into a cup. No way! She only likes to take things out and throw them everywhere. I think the thought of cleaning up or putting things "in" had never occurred to her until she saw me do this. She is now putting things "in"!

Moving Day

Olivia was seriously entertained by watching the movers unload the truck. Moving day happened without incident.

Here is Olivia and Mike having a little lunch buried in moving mess!! Exxon pays for the movers to unpack the boxes. We have never taken advantage of this because we had heard that they just dump it all on the floor. We got their help this time and I am so glad we did. We got them to unpack all of the kitchen, china, crystal, and pictures. It made a huge difference. Just taking things out of boxes takes a lot of time. So Mike and I just organized it after they unpacked. I am loving our new house! All of our stuff from Doha should arrive at the end of August...so we get to have yet another moving day!!!!!!!

4th of July Videos

First morning O said "Doggie", her second word ("Dada" was her first). She is pointing to the miniature dachshund statues in Rockport.





This is hilarious! Playing "Deeky (Aiden's nickname) Toss" in the pool.

Empty Houses are fun!

Once we got the keys to our new house, we went ahead and checked out of the hotel and moved in! We had been preparing for this and over the past few trips up here, Mike brought more and more things so we could stay in the house comfortably until the furniture arrived. On the plus side, empty houses make great play lands (especially when you can only go straight and don't yet know how to get around obstacles)!

2 dogs, a baby and a husband...

ALL in a hotel together!!!!!!!! It wasn't nearly as bad as I feared it would be. The dogs were very well behaved!







Olivia and Maya checking out the sights from the room.

Galveston

Pong Pong (my dad) had a meeting in Galveston last week and so Ducky, Olivia and I tagged along. We had a fun "girl's trip". Olivia discovered Ducky's Blackberry and was sending out some texts! my ancient Sprint phone is not nearly as cool.

Hanging out at the Galvez pool

4th of July

What a fun 4th of July! We went to Rockport for fun times with the entire Stobaugh clan. The 4thof July is a huge holiday for my family and for the ocasion, Olivia had TWO fancy outfits to wear (one of which was purchased before she was even born). Olivia had so much fun playing with her cousins and getting loving from her aunts and uncles (except for Uncle Timmy...Olivia is DEATHLY afraid of him!!).

Cousin's Emery and Delia

Uncle Matt
Aunt Jenny

Outfit Number 2

Aiden and Delia each with their own bag of tortilla chips chillin' in the hammock

Cousin Haylie's new dog, Beau

Swimming with cousins Aiden and Haylie

Reading a magazine with Aunt Heather

Walking with a chair

Happy Canada Day

Olivia and I set out for our daily walk and discovered a bunch of celebrating Canadians. I had forgotten it was Canada day today and the park by our hotel was the spot for massive celebrations. Olivia is really getting into this whole moving to Canada!

Calgary

We have been in Calgary for the past week and I really think we are going to like it here. Of course, we might have a different opinion this winter when it is -30 degrees outside! We are staying in a hotel, which I was really worried about with Olivia. It turns out, there is more to do here than at home! There is a beautiful park not 50 yards from the hotel that has a river with tons of ducks and geese, a playground with infant swings, and even a little splash park. It is so green and beautiful. We have taken long walks each day and Olivia has loved it. The weather is spectacular. Bright and sunny and in the upper 60s/70's during the day.

Calgary is gearing up for their annual rodeo called, "Stampede". It has been interesting watching the city transform for this huge event. It is the largest rodeo in the world, apparently. Here are some things that are now in our hotel lobby.

First Father's Day

Mike kept telling me that he wanted to have pictures taken of Olivia and I, so that is what we surprised him with for Father's Day. Olivia was a mess trying to get pictures done. She had NO interest in sitting for the photographer. She kept crawling away. I was EXHAUSTED after the photo shoot! Amazingly, she got some good pictures!










Olivia had absolutely had it with us!

Meeting Sophie

Last weekend, Olivia finally got to meet Sophie Leedy!! Sophie is the latest "Al Malki" (our compound in Doha) baby to be born. All Olivia wanted to do was grab her. Maybe once Sophie is a little older they can really have fun! Congrats to the Leedys!

Fancy Camera

I got Mike a book about photographing children for Christmas and he is just now reading it. It told him about some setting on his fancy camera. Here are some of my favorites from this cool setting!






This is the new face that Olivia has started making whenever she thinks something is really cool. It is too funny! She really liked the grass.




The funny face again. She stole the lettuce from Aunt Carrie's taco salad.

Daddy's birthday

Mariachi singing Happy Birthday

For Michael's 33rd, we went to El Tiempo with my parents and his parents. Olivia hates going to restaurants right now, but she was fantastic that night. Fife called and asked what we were doing for his birthday...going to dinner with in-laws and parents! My how times have changed, in a good way! :)

Pong Pong giving her queso for the first time

Her "band in a box" was delivered while we were out to eat. She must have been inspired by the mariachi

More Austin Fun

Here are some cute photos from our recent trip to Austin. Olivia had the best time with her bud Chase. They really had fun!

Chase teasing Olivia with her favorite thing in the whole world, a cell phone

O checking out downtown Austin and their labs from Fife and Courtney's

Walking to lunch from Courtney's new office

At the Hagarty's party with Uncle Joel...maybe next time she can do the huge slide

Driving the police car with Chase

At their pool

With Daddy at the pool