Wednesday 29 May 2013

Austin, Texas

Before we moved here, everyone would always tell us 'well, Austin is really nice' or 'I've heard Austin is really nice'; Austin is only 2 1/2 hours away, so for my Birthday weekend we finally decided to see if they were right.
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They were.

Austin is built on hills, with a simple grid system, fairly compact, easy to walk around, full of record shops, inhabited by hippies, hipsters and students, and it even has a nice park more or less in the middle, where you can take a small child. We also discovered that in Austin, you just need to type 'Austin Restaurant downtown' or 'Austin Pancakes downtown' into google, and your iPhone will take you straight to a tremendous eating establishment.

Austin
Stopping for coffee
Austin
Apologies for the blurriness, she moves too fast
Austin
Bluet in the process of saying "Watch Elmo"

We arrived on Saturday, and went to see the Capitol, where many bad ideas have been signed into law. They were even in session, praising some people for some things that they had done, so we got (briefly) to see government in action.

Austin
Austin


Later on we went out to dinner in a very nice restaurant called the moonshine grill (#1 on the google search, and highly delicious). On Sunday we headed to Barton Springs in Zilker park, where we let Bluet run around a lot. Then in the afternoon, I walked several miles looking at record shops whilst Bluet 'napped'.
Austin
Austin
Austin
Austin

On Monday morning we visited the state cemetery where lots of dignitaries are buried. Here Bluet became obsessed by flags.
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Austin
Austin

Austin
Bluet and flagpole 1
Austin
Bluet and flagpole 2
Austin
Bluet and flagpole 3
Austin
Bluet and flagpole 4
We went downtown after that, and looked at some historical buildings, and bought Bluet an 'Merican' flag and a Texas flag, which she waved vigorously as she rode on our shoulders around town. We are going to hire her out for parades and other patriotic events

Austin

All in all, Austin is highly recommended and if anyone wants to come and visit Texas, we'll meet you there.

Tuesday 28 May 2013

Sitting on the side of the pool

On Friday night we went to a party at Emily's old boss' house. Bluet very much enjoyed the pool - she spent most of the evening running around the side, playing with the floats, or sitting with her feet in the water where it was shallowest.


Austin

Friday 24 May 2013

One Pony

Yesterday Bluet went to school with two ponies and came back with one.

 I'm hoping for 3 ponies next time. Then we can make a counting book.


One pony
One pony
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One pony

Monday 20 May 2013

Conversation 1 & 2

And here I try to have a conversation with Bluet about our trips to school. Listen out for her saying 'Barack Obama'


Sunday 19 May 2013

Riding the train with Dadn

The last few weeks I've been taking Bluet into School most mornings, whilst Emily picks her up in the afternoons. When I take Bluet, we set off and I ask "Do you want to ride the train with Dadn?" Bluet likes to ride the train with Dadn, so she replies "yes", and I lift her onto my shoulders, and she counts "2 shoulders".

We set off.

First, we see an interestingly shaped sign. "What shape is the red sign?" If not distracted, Bluet replies "Octgon"

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We continue past the "mushroops" growing on the side of the road

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"What's up ahead? Do you see the horse up ahead?" (Despite the sign, we have never seen a horse).


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Onwards, we arrive at the station. Perhaps a train will pass in front of us when we are still several blocks away, and Bluet will point out the train, and then we will talk about what noise the train makes (surprisingly for an electric train, it goes "Choo Choo".

At the station we take a welcome breather, and wait for the train (on this particular day Bluet was wearing her t shirt that Emily bought back from Hawaii).

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Not this station "Next stop" says Bluet

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We ride on, and as the train slows, we stand up and make our way to the door. Bluet tries to push the button to open the door, often before the train has stopped. The door opens no matter what she does, but it always gives her satisfaction.

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We get off the train, and say "Bye Bye Train". Bluet is hoist back onto my shoulders and we walk towards the Kipling Street Academy. First, we see a mural. The first time she saw it she thought it was just any old Dad kissing a baby. But now she knows it is "Back y Bama".

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"What numbers do you see?" "One, Zero, Zero"

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We walk on. By this time I am quite looking forward to dropping Bluet off as she is very heavy, so I don't usually notice the Bluebird on the other side of the street, but Bluet always does.

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We walk on.

Eventually we stop and wait at the traffic lights on Montrose. We've tried walking further up the street to cross, but that doesn't work out well.

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We head past a fence that Bluet likes to run her fingers along, as would I if I wasn't holding Bluet on
my shoulders

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 We look out for the kids "playing football" at the posh school. Often there are "no kids".

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Bluet waves at the policemen and policewomen (not pictured).

We are getting closer. The tree that blocks the pavement is a sign we are almost there (and that Houston needs to improve conditions for pedestrians. "Watch out for the trees"; we run through safely.

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Bluet spies the "Merican Flag" on the other side of the road. We're almost there.

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Hello squirrel.

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Perhaps Bluet walks the last few metres across the car park, holding Dadn's hand.

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Once inside the School, Bluet knows where to go. She runs to her classroom, and tries to open the door.

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I let her in and she says "Bye Dadn" and sits down to listen to her teacher reading.

Tuesday 14 May 2013

4 ponies

Today I tried to do Bluet's hair before we left for school. Apparently Dadn's two ponytails ("Ponies") weren't good enough as Bluet returned with 4 ponies, none of which were the ones Dadn put in. Bluet often asks her teacher to put in ponies if we don't do them in the morning; today she got more than she bargained for
If tomorrow I put in 4 poor quality ponies, maybe Bluet will come home with 6 good ones.

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Sunday 5 May 2013

A long weekend

This weekend has been abnormally long and tiring as Emily is at a conference on the tropical island paradise of Hawaii. To entertain Bluet yesterday we walked to the library, where Bluet mostly looked for Maise books. Her favourite was the pop up one in the video below, which was rather cool, but I was loathe to borrow it as I am sure she would quickly destroy the pop ups that had not already been broken by a previous child borrower. In the afternoon we went to the children's museum, and played in the water, and in kidopolis, a corporate sponsored child run fake town where your child can learn to deliver parcels, work in a bank or drive a police car. This morning we went to the Zoo, where Bluet mainly enjoyed pressing buttons, and then this afternoon we hung out and did summersaults and made towers and read books. Finally, Bluet went to bed. Below you will find some photos, some videos, and my attempt to record a conversation with Bluet.


I walked in to Bluet's room, and found her reading her book to her dolly. Unfortunately my appearance distracted her, so I only got 6 second of video. Tonight I put Bluet to bed, and she was very quiet. I went in to check, and she was sitting by her bookshelf with 'owly' in her lap, reading Miffy books. 




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