Memorial Day

Last Day of School
Gabi's last day of preschool for the year was just before Memorial Day. At the end of the day, parents and baby sisters (in and out of mommies' tummies) came for a small party in the courtyard.

Gabi peeking through the playhouse window at preschool.


William, Kate, Gabi, Sebastian, and Caroline eating brownies.
At Home
As we always tell Gabi she is pretty, she has really taken to that. She spontaneously says "Gabi is pretty" and "Mommy is pretty" (she is a very affectionate and inclusive child, so everyone else gets to share her good attributes). One day when Daddy was home, she told us "Daddy is pretty" -- to which I responded, "No, Daddy is handsome. Daddy is a boy. Girls are pretty, and boys are handsome." So she is trying to learn that distinction. Sometime in the next day or so, Gabi declared, "Daddy is some hands!"

Gabi playing with her giant ball.
She has discovered that it is fun to lie across it
and roll forward, similar to doing a somersault.


Gabi on her ever-popular slide.


Daddy thought Gabi was so cute while sleeping that we needed a picture.
Zoo Atlanta
Daddy had the holiday off work, so we took him to the zoo.

Daddy's shoulders provide a good view of the giraffes and zebras.


Gabi and Daddy love watching the playful gorilla babies.


Gabi and Mommy in front of the orangutans.


Alligator viewing in the reptile house with Mommy.
And now it is time for the big debate: Do we want to stay in Atlanta for now because we like it here so much and moving is a pain? Do we want to move back to Texas next year, since that is where we'd like to end up eventually and it would be nice to have family nearby? Or do we use these three years of upcomming training as our last chance to try someplace new, as there are so many neat cities out there and Gabi won't start grade school until afterwards, anyway? Well, soon we will find out where we'll be living as of July 2008.

Little Rock

On Daddy's weekend off, we went to Little Rock to visit Lolo, Lola, Ninong, Ninang, and Cousin Steven. Gramma Jane and Grampa drove up from Dallas to see us, too. We also met up with some of Mommy and Daddy's old friends.

Lolo and Gabi play with some kissing bears.


Gramma Jane watches Gabi try on her new hat and sun glasses.


A family portrait before we go swimming.


Cousin Steven, Daddy, and Gabi in the pool.


Gabi shows Daddy the turtle floaty.


Mom helps Gabi "swim" as Gabi kicks and splashes.


Gabi searching for objects in a book with Lola and Gramma Jane.
Gabi folds her arms just like her grandmothers do.


Gabi counts the apples in the picture while Grampa and Lola watch.


A family portrait with Lola and Lolo.


A family portrait with Gramma Jane and Grampa.


Gabi dancing to a Beatles song.


Gabi and Daddy building a tower with Tinker Toys.


Gabi loves her Grampa.


Gabi and Ninong are surprised when Cousin Steven pops out of the water.


Mommy spinning Gabi around in the pool.


Lolo and Mommy help Gabi try out a boat.


Gabi shows Lolo that the kickboard has puzzle pieces.


Gabi wears Cousin Steven's old life jacket.


Gabi steals some of Cousin Steven's diving keys.


Gabi listening to Cousin Steven play his piano recital piece.


Gabi meets baby Ben and his mom, Shelley.


Gabi visits Lolo at work.


Ninang helps Gabi play music.


Cousin Steven and Gabi play chase.


Gabi sure does have fun with her family.


Gabi and Shahked and both going to be big sisters!
Matt and Keren took Mommy out to a play that evening.


Lolo and Lola take Gabi out for ice cream.


Gabi loves her Lola.


Lolo and Gabi sing "I'm a Little Teapot."


Lolo and Gabi reading yet another book.

May Flowers & Friends

First, here are some pictures of Gabi with her "boyfriend," Martin. This particular day, we went to Avondale Playground, then we ate lunch at Fellini's Pizza with Daddy, and then the kids played at our house -- one of their favorite games is to wear different shoes.

Gabi and Martin swinging at Avondale Playground.


Gabi sliding head first, with Martin close behind.
Good thing Martin hardly weighs anything,
as it took a few turns for him to learn to wait for Gabi to get off the slide.


After Daddy's morning training session, we met him and his coworkers
at Fellini's for lunch. The kids loved the water fountain.


Gabi and Martin wearing big shoes, and Martin with Gabi's hat.


We're so funny!
Our friend Joe came to visit us on his way from North Carolina to Alaska. We took him on a long walk around Decatur.

Gabi shows Joe the flowers in the Scott Park garden.
Gabi has finally started including the numbers 4 and 5 when she counts; she used to skip those two for some reason. She can count all the way to 10 by herself, and sometimes she can get 11 and 12. Before she goes down the slide, she loves to count, but she ends at a different number each time; perhaps she'll count to 6 or 8, or maybe just the standard "1, 2, 3, Whee!"

Gabi loves her slide.
She sure does get good looks from her Daddy!


Gabi in the Gerber daisies in front of our house.
She is wearing a new headband with colorful Gerber daisies, too.


Gabi hiding amid all her stuffed animals.
Daddy and Gabi were playing with the animal friends before bedtime.
Gabi always has fun at playgroup.

Ava hugging Gabi as a train of friends heads down the stairs.


Gabi and Ava holding hands at East Lake Park.


Gabi and Martin in the tunnels at Candler Park.


Gabi and Ava dancing during a Decatur Concert on the Square.


Martin, Gabi, Leslie, and Emma playing with a dollhouse.
Mommy had lots of kids to watch this day!


Gabi, Leslie, and Emma share a pretend meal.
In the car on the way home from Virginia, Gabi started a new game where she gave us a word and prompted us to ask her what that word begins with. We would, of course, oblige her and ask what letter the given word starts with. Gabi is very good at this game, although certain words are difficult. (For instance, she says "xylophone" begins with Z, and when asked about "umbrella," she responded "ummm... B!") Gabi continues to love this game, and she's especially fond of telling us what letter our names begin with: Mommy, Daddy, Gabi, and even Anna, too!

Gabi wearing her new swimsuit to run through the sprinkler...
except she didn't so much run as just stand there.


Parker from across the street came over to say hello.