Big trip to ... Costco?

Sharon visited us tonight -- eating dinner, taking Cooper for ice cream, washing dishes, folding laundry, reading bedtime stories. While the five of us were at dinner, Sharon asked Katie about our weekend plans.

"We're going to Costco!" Katie answered with great enthusiasm. She then mentioned a big train and a swimming pool.

I explained that we were at Costco last week, that I didn't remember a train and that there was a hot tub, but no swimming pool.

But Katie insisted on her version of the story.

We visited a little more and then pieced it together.

Katie confused the words "Chicago" and "Costco," and her mind, I was completely wrong. In fact, we have promised a ride on the big train when we get to Chicago and a dip in the hotel swimming pool.

So, if she invites you to Costco, go! And if she invites you to Chicago, be prepared to fetch her lots of snack samples from the end of aisles.

The new Stoneleigh

I recently visited the reopened Stoneleigh Hotel and reviewed the property for Fodor's. The review is here.

Princess K

On our way to Medieval Times this weekend

Cooper at the Rocket Derby

Cooper, his homemade space rocket and his second-place medal

Catching up

Cooper competed in his Scout pack's space rocket derby on Sunday afternoon and placed second among all Tiger Cubs.

Cooper's coaches are especially wonderful. When they saw that Steve was at Saturday's game, they decided to let Coop play all four quarters.

Both Katie and Cooper have strep throat. Cooper is the sixth child in his class to get strep since Friday.

Ami has been here this week to help around the house and to take care of Katie & Cooper while Steve & I go to Houston.

Our Easter celebration was wonderful!

Happy Easter!

Katie, Steve & Cooper at our church's egg hunt yesterday

Steve & Tyra

Katie & Tyra flying a kite

Katie & Uncle Jim

Cooper & Uncle Jim

Katie before the egg hunt

Our little family

Cooper after the hunt

Katie and her candy

Cousins

Katie & Aunt Mel

Molli & Brooke

Mel, Greg, Brooke and Molli drove out for one of Cooper's recent soccer games. We all cheered for the Dolphins and then headed out for a barbecue lunch.

Brooke & Cooper

Steve plus four

That Brookie is strong!

Snow in March

Playing at Kyla & Kendall's house

As a lifelong Texan with most of my years in the Dallas area, I wasn't too surprised by the snow last week, just a couple of weeks until spring. I was surprised by the huge snowflakes -- the largest I've ever seen! The snow fell off and on for about four hours, blanketing our neighborhood and creating a late-winter wonderland.

The following morning school was delayed for two hours, offering just enough time for Cooper and Katie to play in the snow.

Walking to school

Child-like faith

During Steve's second ER visit last week, our minister, Don, stopped by to check on us. He had been writing his sermon for the week when he learned that Steve was at the hospital. So he left Starbucks (one of his favorite creative spots) and drove over.

He shared a funny story with us that was the lead of his sermon:

Every year our preschool holds two President Day parades and many of your children were part of this year’s flag waving throng! After all was said and done, an annoyed Pre-Ker named Jack announced, "We had two HUGE parades for the President …and he didn't even come!

The rest of the sermon is here.

Recent photos

Cooper won the award for the Cubbiest Car at the Pinewood Derby.

Katie and her new rainboots

Katie, her friends and Tyra at the preschool Valentine's Day party

Cooper and some of his first-grade buddies at his Valentine's Day party

Steve and Ami

Ami and Tyra before she leaves last week

Morning before President's Day parade at preschool