Amsterdam

It's been a while since we got back, but Europe was great and I never did share any pics with anyone. So, here are a few of Amsterdam. We spent time in Rome and Paris as well, but those pics aren't on my computer, so I'll have to upload those another time.

We loved Amsterdam, and what a shock it was going from the noisy, busy, super touristy, (yet still lovely) Rome, to a city that is basically silent because everyone rides bikes. Even the public "train" system runs on electricity so it is basically silent. It's easy to get run over Amsterdam.

This is a bike parking garage. The bikes were so packed in I don't know how people got thier bikes (or selves) in or out.

Here we are (self-portrait style) in front of the New Church on the Dam Square. And the next is us in front of the Royal Palace, also on the Dam square.

I probably walked through the Dam Square 4-6 times a day, because it was in the middle of where I was going, and because I get lost a lot and end up walking the opposite direction I think I'm going (it's a miracle I made it home).

This is us in front of the entrance to the mall (I love Europe).

And another of us in front of one of the many, beautiful, canals. The history of Amsterdam is fascinating (I spent 90% of my time in museums while Jon was working... boring to many, I know, but it's what I love). By the by, in pictures it looks like Jon and I spent all our time together, the reality is I had a few days in each city pretty much to myself, we just only took pictures with the two of us.

We did take a canal tour together, and here are a few pics. Our favorite is the brick house boat. You don't see that every day (or really consider it to be a good idea -- but it seems to have worked out just fine).

Keukenhof (The Tulip Gardens)

April was an amazing time to be in the Netherlands. All the tulips and spring bulbs were in bloom. It was beautiful... just take a look....

Oh, Happy Nylons!

If only wearing nylons made everyone that excited about life....

Frisco Sculpture Garden

One Saturday either we got adventerous or Mom got bored (or maybe a little of both). Whichever it was we HAD to get out of the house. So, we went over to a new little sculpture garden, and we had a wonderful time.

Kyra saw sculptures you could sit on,

and HUGE, TALL sculptures,

and sculptures of birds,

and of bunnies,

and of sheep.

There was even a sculpture you could play with.

Mostly it was fun to run,

and run,

and run.

And climb

and climb,

and balance.

It was a fun day.

The Fisher Farm

I'm Almost 2 and I NEED Wide Open Spaces!!!!!

Kyra loves farms. After all Old MacDonald had a farm (EIEI-O ... and she does add the O now), so here's our adventure at the Fisher family farm. It all started when we were invited up to the farm to pick up pecans...

We stopped at Sonic on the way up to the farm (Kyra needed a snack and Dad needed a Route 44 Cranberry limeade). Kyra had a corn dog. At the state fair she had tried a bite of a corndog, and had gnawed on the stick, but at Sonic she got her very own. Food on a stick is just cool, and Kyra loved it.

When we got up to the farm, and started looking around, I'm sure Kyra thought she'd gone to toddler heaven. There were wide open spaces where she could run around, there were horses, and cows, and she got to feed the cows! There was a friendly dog, a slide, and a swing, and a trampoline.

All of this wonderment couldn't have prepared her for the best thing of all... the golf cart.

Yes, that's right a golf cart. We hopped on the cart in order to go down to the pecan trees, and when Brother Fisher started to back up and drive, the smile on her face couldn't have been any bigger. She grinned and giggled the whole way down.

Once there she hopped out, but was not the least bit interested in picking up pecans. She wanted to know everything there was to know about that golf cart. She pushed buttons and pedals. She turned the wheel, and walked around and around it.

When it was time to go Brother Fisher let Kyra sit on his lap and drive home. The dog even jumped into the front seat. The whole 3 minutes back Kyra turned the wheel back and forth, and pointed at the dog and laughed and giggled. When we stopped she didn't want to get out.

That was the most fun EVER!

So, that was our wonderful adventure at the Fisher farm.

Oh, and you should ask Kyra what a cow says. She'll tell you...

Texas State Fair

Kyra, Grandma, and I went to the Fair in October of last year. Now its February, and with that much time difference I would usually just say, oh that happened too long ago I won't blog about it, but the pictures are just too cute, and Kyra was just too hilarious.

One of the little exhibits at the fair was a "Helping Hands on the Farm." It is just for kids, and although Kyra was a little too young we thought we'd let her try it. Glad we did, because she was a riot. She scooped corn, picked up eggs, fed pigs, looked at ducks, planted seeds, and drove a little tractor.

Food at the fair is always fun. Kyra got ice cream, a corn dog, and cotton candy (for the first time!). She was a little hesitant about the cotton candy. I don't think she much cared for the texture, but she loved feeding it to Grandma.

In case any of you were wondering how to eat cotton candy. Kyra is demonstrating that the best way to get the most flavor and satisfaction out of each bite is to use your ENTIRE tounge when tasting the product.

Our Park

A Lark in the Park

Kyra loves going to the park. She knows the way, and when she's in the mood all you have to do is open the front door, and follow.

Swings are her favorite, unless it's cold, then she just likes to dig in the bark and throw it around.

Her favorite slide is the biggest one. It looks almost strange to see such a little creature climb to the top of the big kids playground and then without any hesitation say "mark, set, .... GO!" and go flying down the big slide. She has no fear.

This picture of Kyra dancing was taken at the goldfish pond. She loves to sit at the edge of the pond and look over the edge and say "pish, pish, pish" waiting for them to come over to her so she can see them.