More GivingCity

When Mr Mooks isn't weaving scintillating marketing and PR yarns he rustles up articles like this one for GivingCity, about the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) and its new cancer patient navigation center.

Mr Mooks and Doug Ulman, president LAF

Prep Team!!!

Our little hot shot has progressed to the next level. She was proud as punch after her performance last night. We celebrated at our local pizza joint with a pie and a gazillion games of Frogger and Pacman.

Empty Bowl Project

I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday morning than making art with friends and family. Cheers to Mathews Art and Philanthropy patrons for bringing projects like this to life in our community. These lovely bowls will be auctioned off (and filled with yummy soup) to raise money for the Capital Area Food Bank's Kids Cafe Program.

photo credit: elizabeth breston

Camping

The Papas took the pigeons for a romp on the Guadalupe River this weekend. They came home tired, dirty, fire ant bitten, smelling of smoke and talking a mile a minute about their adventures in the wild.

bonfire
bonding
fishing

A little bit of this and of that

The unstructured moments spent close to home are often the sweetest.

bugs sewing doll clothes
fetch with new pal chubaka
fresh air before supper

Fall and Friday Night Lights

Finally a break in the heat. We sat on the porch wrapped in blankets to watch the rain. Ella wore her new hat courtesy of our sweet friend and beloved early years nanny. She brought us some delightful and unique gifts from her stint in Korea. Thank you C!

What would fall be (especially in Tejas) without football? True to the spirit of Austin the high school bands were in fine form. The back and fourth between the horn sections almost upstaged the game. Mr Mooks snapped a picture from the stadium of the gorgeous fall sky at sundown and the tower that marks our little patch of turf on earth.

Pickem UP games

Neighborhood soccer and such....
before the big kids come along
stretch jones
flirting
high

New sheriff in town

The ragamuffin quotient may have gone up a notch but the ducklings are thriving under the new regime. Exciting and long sought-after opportunities have taken me away from the nest more often, leaving daddy duck to rule the roost.

Rainy Day and Sculpey
Jedi vs Hulk
Rocket Launch

Roller Girl

If only she could sleep in them.

Sister's Stuff

Last Saturday night Cy snuck his toy saber and silly putty into my bag before we set out to see Ella Rae's BFF perform Ballet Folklorico at Zilker Park. Despite my best efforts little bits of grassy putty ended up in hair and the saber nearly blinded our unsuspecting neighbor, who also got a few fingers stomped when Cyrus joined in on the Dance of the Matchetes finale.

On Sunday Cy broke into Ella's Bendaroos stash. Bendaroos are second only to Floam on Ella's hierarchy of creative play options. In a not-so-distant past this behavior would have ended in fisticuffs but to my surprise Big Sis decided to make a Bendaroo mask for her Little Bro. And then she painted his toenails.

BOOdaroo
Blue little piggies

Changes

After the summer hiatus we've had such fun reconnecting with our school time buddies. My how everyone has grown. This theme continued as we observed the larvae/caterpillar/butterfly life cycle with the help of the Butterfly Garden Kit. When Ella learned that the Painted Ladies live for only two weeks after emerging from their chrysalises she was anxious to set them free.

School Shoes

2nd grader feet here. It gets only the teentsiest bit easier saying goodbye at the start of every school year.

Ellascapes

Ella's been whipping up hand-drawn thank you notes inspired by the recipient's environment and adorned with her signature sparkly gem in the right hand corner.

Pools & Boats

A few more summer pics to post before attention turns back to school.

not a care in the world
front flip
desert cacti, dog, ball, goggles, superman towel
on the river
sailing camp -- ready to rig
speed boat scamp on scamp

What would the world be without grandmas?

After decades of practice these angels on earth have honed the art of love and care. Thank you Grandma's for the countless kindnesses and generosity! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Grandma LizGrandma Roberta

Diverted and Delayed

While Mr Mooks drove the minivan back to Tejas from California, the chickens and I flew to North Carolina for the loafing, eating and sailing leg of our summer sojourn. Due to a major storm over Atlanta we endured a marathon adventure before the pleasure began.

Ella Rae took to commenting on flight updates with dramatic flair, "Mama! He just said that we are going to run out of fuel?" or "Why are we landing on a runway WITHOUT a terminal?" while Cyrus was busy creating a road block in the isle with his arm. He also gave passengers standing in line for the bathroom the evil eye, sometimes pointing and scrunching his nose for emphasis.

Once we landed tho, the chicks did me proud by running with their rolly totes and stuffed animals, holding steady on the jam-packed train and escalators to our connecting flight gate. I can't believe we made it -- seeing all those bodies lined up at customer service or resigned to the hard, dirty floor made my heart sink. We were all elated as we plopped into our seats, buckled up and broke out the last few, coveted tic tacs for take off.

Go Fish

Dog Days of Summer

If only they could talk....

"I love you, I love you, I love you... sshhh.. stop yelling my name.. and dragging me around by the collar... and teasing me with your chips and cookies... and putting that dumb hat on my head... and yelling my name... and chasing me and pulling my tail and ears... and hiding my toys and hiding your toys and... I love you, I love you..." Sophie Jones, Oriental, North Carolina
"Okay buddy, one more tow around the pool and then I need to get back to guarding my ball."
Boo Ridley, Tuscon, Arizona
"You must all stay together now! Wa..it...WAIT... not that way, all in a big pack together! Get back to the heard YOU.... Come back HERE... no... no... not like that... together in a nice, neat pack... NO, NO... together..." Coco Hartley, Pleasanton, California
"Time to put down the margarita and rub my belly!"
Pablo Papa, San Diego, California