Wildlife

We've been spending a lot of weekends staying within the four walls of Houston, so this Sunday we took a drive into the countryside. It doesn't take long to escape the city sprawl and find yourself out in the wild. We have a book of hikes around Houston, so we found one and set off. On the way into the Wildlife Reserve, we saw a sign describing the Auto route for the park, allowing you to drive around and see the wild life from the comfort of your car. "Ha", we thought, "what kind of wimp would come to a wild life reserve and stay in the car? We will walk." So we stopped and got out of the car at the location for the start of the hike 1000 mosquito bites later, and a close encounter with an alligator, we were back in the car, swatting mosquitos and swearing never to leave the car again. We did the autoroute, and saw a snake (possibly a cottonmouth, see picture. It stopped on the road and hissed at the car), a woodpecker pecking a fence post, lots of alligators, lots of birds, and best of all, a bobcat. All from the comfort of the car On the way back we stopped at a State Park (NB I may edit this and put the names in - they both began with "B"). This was much more tranquil (we didn't see any of the alligators, or get bitten by any mosquitos, although we did have a narrow escape from a wild boar. This meant Bluet could get out and run around, which made her very happy. She particularly enjoyed picking the wild flowers, and, of course, playing with the gravel.

Hula Girl

Hula girl vine.co/v/bxaaPju1w3g

— ben collins (@bencollins01) April 28, 2013

On Friday there was a 'Zoobilee' at Houston Zoo, so we took Bluet. Recently she has discovered the hula hoop (the 50s craze, not the delicious potato based snack that America sadly lacks) as they have them at school. I think that Bluet's love of circles plays some role in her love of hula hoops (or 'big circle', as she calls them). Anyway, immediately upon entering the Zoo, there was a DJ dressed as a pirate (because Zoos need pirates) playing music so that the kids could hula. Bluet immediately located her own blue hula hoop - which was available as it was slightly deformed and oval in shape. Anyway, for the next 20 minutes her and the hula hoop were inseparable. She would occasionally stand and watch an older kid, for tips, and then try and hula herself. Or she would see another hoop and go get it. But she kept an eye on her first blue hoop, and if anyone came near and tried to take it, she would run back and pick it up. Never has a hula hoop been so loved, especially such a runty and deformed one. After that we went and ate some bad Zoo food, and then more or less headed home (via the carrousel, which she also loves - this time on one of the animals that moves 'up down'), seeing hardly any animals. But I think the hula hoops made this Bluet's favourite trip to the Zoo ever.

Budding Graffiti Artist

Today seemed like a very long day. Bluet isn't used to napping in her big girl bed, so it took forever for her to get settled. Then a huge storm blew into town, really big rain with thunder ("boom boom" as Bluet says) and lightening, so we've been stuck in doors since this morning. So when Bluet finally was happy and quiet, we assumed she was drawing on her new chalk board. So we left her too it for a long, long time, alone in her room. We then enjoyed our respite from Bluet supervision. Of course, she wasn't only drawing on her blackboard, but also on the walls. Whilst her style is rather good and colourful, I am not sure that it is exactly permitted in our tenancy agreement. Still, it is only chalk. And it kept her quiet and happy for a long, long time. So long that by the time I took this photo, daylight was gone and the room was too dark, hence the poor quality. I think we need to work out a way for her to do her art that 1) doesn't damage property and 2) can be preserved for posterity.

Bluet's Big Girl Bed

Now that Bluet is 2 (2!) she has moved from her cot to a big bed. The other day as she was sitting on it she said 'Bluet is a big girl', so I think she knows she is growing up. Anyway, three days in, and she has only fallen out of bed one time - otherwise, she has slept as long as she used to in the cot. Probably because she has so much space to stretch out, and is therefore very comfortable.

 

Next year, please send gravel

Obviously Bluet got lots of wonderful Birthday presents, but what occupied her most this weekend was the gravel on the paths of Hermann Park. She spent almost an hour of a lovely summery* Saturday sitting in the dirt, sifting small pieces of gravel with her hands. We gave her an empty plastic water bottle, which she then filled and emptied over and over again. We sat and watched, but she was lost in her own world, and could've stayed doing this for days *a lovely British summers day, 20C and a little sun.

Post Birthday News

Thanks for all the presents and birthday wishes. Although Bluet had to go to school on her Birthday, she had a good day - probably because she got cupcakes. We were hoping that we might be able to go swimming in the water, but the weather was too humid and heavy to be outside. Instead she played with her presents, sticking new 'stickies' on everything, dragging around her birthday balloons, asking us to read her her new books, getting me to blow her train whistle (apparently highly amusing), being fascinated by the turtle that projects stars on the ceiling (she knows that was a gift from Aunt 'Abba') and building towers of stickle bricks - she really does like everything she received. We bought her a removable blackboard, which she likes to draw on, or ask us to draw a shape like a 'trangle', 'ceecle' or'demond' (see below). However, her favourite thing about her Birthday is clearly eating the icing (but not the cake).

Happy Birthday Bluet!

"Bluet, is it your Birthday?"

"yes"

"How old are you?"

"Five"

Well those 2 4 years went fast

More to come from today later. Meanwhile, here are some more pictures from the weekend, including some ikea snaps, and Bluet playing with stones on the paths at a place called 'Discovery Park' in downtown Houston - a nice park marred somewhat by the clientel