frozen

Scout and Catcher saw the movie Frozen with their grandparents over Christmas break. Now, on occasion, Scout likes to freeze herself. On Monday we managed to acquire a paperback book version of the movie when Scout tucked it under her arm and walked out of a restaurant with it (in her defense, it had been forgotten and left behind by another young girl). I have now read Frozen at least a dozen times, and Scout has assigned character names to the entire family. If we break character and call someone in the house by his or her actual name, Scout is quick to correct--and kind of scold--us. She is Elsa, the older sister and the one who does the freezing. Tillie is Anna, the younger sister. Alex is Sven the reindeer. Catcher is Olaf the friendly snowman. I was Olaf the friendly snowman until Catcher got home this afternoon and convinced the casting agent that he was a better snowman than I. So now I'm one of the wise old trolls (thanks, Elsa). 

the outtakes

I can't think of anything clever to write today, so here are some of last week's outtakes for your viewing pleasure:

margarita afternoon

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, then I don't have to tell you that A) today was another beautiful one in Austin and B) Alex got home this morning.

mad tea party

It all started with an innocent tea party that Tillie was hosting for herself on the front porch this afternoon. Then Scout decided that she wanted to join in, but she upped the ante by turning it into a fancy tea party. Once the heels were out, however, the party was forgotten and the girls took off racing down the sidewalk in their fancy shoes.

Catcher was on board with the racing until he tripped over Scout's discarded feather boa, and then he tried convincing--which had a slight air of bullying to it--the girls to play soccer instead. No one acquiesced, but I managed to convince him that he could join in on the dress-up fun with a little costume-ization of his own. I don't think he was particularly keen on the idea (judge for yourself sighting the evidence below), but he humored us for a few minutes.

i love austin in the winter

Another beautiful January day. What else can I say?

you're it

When Catcher asked me if I would play tag with him and the girls at the park this afternoon, I hesitated for a split second before remembering that tag is pretty awesome. "Sure, I'll play tag," I responded. We had a wide open field with no dogs or other kids around and the warm sun was setting in the background, so there was no excuse not to play. As we chased each other around I found myself laughing like a kid--or, more specifically, like my kids--and wondered why it had been so long since I chased anyone around a field. Unfortunately as grownups we sometimes forget the simple joys that come from simple games. Thanks for the reminder, guys.

the puppeteers

When it's 72 in January, what else are you going to do but host an impromptu puppet show on your front porch? (Duh.) This was my entertainment this afternoon. Be warned, though, the puppets do get a little wild (and naked) at the end...