Mucho March!

March started off with a nice weekend with a particularly busy Sunday celebrating Jake's good buddy Jacob's birthday and the Kite Festival. Jacob is so cool that he had a band for his birthday party. The Que Pastas were awesome and they are on heavy rotation in the car. 

That Sunday was also the Zilker Park Kite Festival and instead of battling the crowds we created our own by the 360 bridge. It was so nice! As always, our photographer Shannan did an amazing job capturing the fun afternoon!

This picture should be in every Austin promo

I love this set of pictures! Allie has the football but I love Jake and Max in the background playing chase. And Allie is ridiculous!

We've been easing our way into kindergarten, and by we I mean me and Alex. Jake and I went to a kindergarten play date Hill Elementary where Jake will be next fall. The play date was a bit chaotic but it's so nice that they're making the effort for both the incoming kiddos and the parents!

Look at my big (almost) Kindergartner!

March in Austin means the start of Oak allergy season (poor Jake!) and South by Southwest or SXSW. Alex was pretty busy for the interactive part so as a catch-up we all grabbed Starbucks one morning before work and school.

It's been really fun to have Jake in a music theory/appreciation class on Saturday mornings. Jake likes the class and having Jacob there, Allie likes playing with Max and Mommy likes playing with Shannan. Bubba came along this week too.

Off we go!

Watching Jake and Allie's new fish face

Allie & Max! 

We've been having fun exploring Bubba's new neighborhood and had a fun brunch at the Galaxy Cafe in Clarksville.

I ran into Bubba and Jake getting an after school treat. It was such a nice day out that I went and got Allie and we all went to the park.

So cool!

I think every preschool and daycare program in America must have celebrated Dr. Seuss day!

Jake as the Lorax

Jake as the Cat in the Hat

Allie's Dr. Seuss artwork with a little help of course!

We met up with friends at Central Market one Saturday night and ended up with a pretty cute picture of all four of us!

One Sunday while Jake and I were at a birthday party and Allie was sleeping, Alex set up an epic battle of Jake's toys for the ultimate daddy & son playtime! Jake was in awe!

Meanwhile, this is Allie's favorite accessory of late.

We had a very nice and mellow seder with Bubba and our friends Jason and Leigh Anne. Leigh Anne just got back from a trip to Israel so she was excited to attend a seder and Jake was obsessed with playing with Jason. It was nice to have them and Bubba with us.

Jake loved the Passover finger puppets that Aunt Judy sent us! They've been talking about Passover and the story at school, so much that Jake and a friend were recently playing Moses and the burning bush with their superheroes!

Jake may have connected with the story, but Allie on the other hand connected with the food! The girl likes her some brisket and just about everything else on the plate!

During the last weekend of March our friend Cary Haney came to visit from DC. We had a great time going out to watch the Ducks (unfortunately lose in the sweet sixteen round), Alex and Cary went out to Salt Lick and Duchman Winery, Alex introduced Cary to Alamo Drafthouse and we had a fun brunch on the Lake with the kiddos.

Jake and Mommy ready to root on the Ducks

Bubba's time in Austin has come to an end for this year and it was great having him here. I have a feeling we'll all miss him (and his free babystitting). Before he left we spent an amusing hour with Jake and Allie at the toy store picking out a toy from Bubba.

A strong contender for Allie's choice but Elmo won out in the end

Or maybe they're the toys!

Allie loves Elmo and says a sleepy thank you to Bubba!

Jake picked out a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Lego set and he loves playing with them so much!

Thank you Bubba! Love you!

Salt water sandals and flip flops...Summer is on its way!

This past week my very good friend Joe Rodden passed away after a five-year battle with cancer at a very young 52. Joe and I worked together at ARHP and he has always been one of my most favorite people. He was in Eugene for our wedding, was at Jake's bris and 1st birthday party and was a wonderful person who I feel so lucky to have had in my life for any amount of time. I just got back last night from a very quick trip to DC to celebrate Joe and his amazing life. Since the loyal readers of this blog are really my most important people I wanted to share this here.

With his wonderful partner, John, at our wedding in 2004

And with Jake in 2008