How do they keep track of everything?

Daddy asked if they used their lady manners at our last tea party.  You can't see Clara's tongue, but it is stretched nearly to the end of her ice cream cup to get every last bit. 🤣

It's been busy around here!  Last Thurs. Papa Pat and I accompanied Clara to STEM time at the library.  She loves going to the activities and enjoyed playing in the library's toy area.

One last tea party!

A softball tournament for Lilah in Sante Fe, about 40 minutes away, kept us busy Sat. and Sunday.  It started early on Sat. and ended Sun. evening with 2nd place.

Lilah

Alexa found a quiet place to read.

After the last game Sat. we went to 3 Acres Food Truck Park in Sante Fe.  There was a car show to check out while we waited for our food.

We enjoyed the band there made up of gentlemen with varying disabilities.  They and the crowd were enjoying the nice evening. 

I think this guy had more than food!  He was bouncing from one table to another playing his air guitar.

Winning 3 of 4 games earned all of us some ice cream.

Time for a little grilling at home.

Salmon topped with a Savory Red Pepper Relish. Delicious!

Toni's Dad started making crosses for Vacation Bible School next summer.  We worked on finishing those this week and we're almost done.  Pat did most of the work.

Alexa (not pictured) and Clara both helped sand the cross pieces with me.

99 completed!

Usually there are 3 kids, going 3 different directions, and often at the same time.  Tonight, Mon., Emma had HS band practice, followed by her first practice with the Deer Park Community Concert Band in one town, Alexa had theater practice (they have a performance Thursday) in another town, and Lilah had a softball game in yet another town. It won't be long till Clara gets involved in activities too, lol.  My head spins, but Toni makes it work.

Where are the Piepers now?  Houston, TX

Would you like an adventure now or shall we have tea first? - Alice in Wonderland.

Alexa, Isabelle, Clara, Little Clara, and myself had a tea party Sunday afternoon.  The girls got themselves and their dolls dressed in their finery, and set the table.  Not exactly outside flower time so we borrowed some from Toni.  We had some fancy macaroons, grapes, and a small candy for each of us.

It doesn't matter if it's apple juice or just water, they love pouring it into their cup.

As ladies we put our pinkies out.  Once Lilah told Emma, "I don't have to stick out my pinky, I'm not a lady!"

Tea parties have been a tradition, often with several in one visit, dress-up or casual, at Grammy's or at home, many with treats they've prepared, and several with hair styled by Emma.  At some point we moved up to real tea sets.  Tea parties hold a special place in my heart!

This was Emma's first tea party. 

Grandpa even dressed up for this one.

One year we went to a tea room in the Kansas City area.  Once a month they had a tea party for kids complete with activities and a walk through a fairy garden.

Their dolls joined us at their own little table (in the back).

They've searched through Grammy's purses and jewelry...

... and dressed up in my clothes.  

Clara

Clara's first tea party. 

Not a lot of room when you have to fix a drawer support.  I had to pull Pat out.  He put all the drawers back, but where's the drill?  Yep inside, under a drawer.

Lilah 

Clara and her friends enjoyed a mud puddle on Tues.  We escaped some of the severe weather Mon. night, but we had quite a bit of rain.

Alexa's school had a STEM night Tues.  Their prepared eggs were dropped from the fire engine.  Hers survived.

Alexa liked the feret--a lot!

Where are the Piepers now?  Houston, Tx.

Are you a Pelican or a Pelican't?

Clara wanted a picture by the pelican at the Seabrook Waffle Co.  Toni and the girls have seen many, if not all, of the Pelicans in Seabrook.   They have all been brightly painted by various local artists.

We have 4 days while Mom and Dad are gone.  Can we fit it all in?  Wednesday we picked up Kolaches and had a picnic breakfast at Zip-Line Park, officially called Cottonwood Park.  Longest zip-line I have seen.

Alexa (10) teaching Clara (5) to use her hoverboard.  I asked Alexa if this was a good idea.  She said "Grandma she has a helmet on."  Fortunately it ended well!

Wednesday afternoon we completed a few tasks and then headed to the Aquarium Restaurant on the Kemah Boardwalk.  The boardwalk has a carnival atmosphere and includes restaurants, rides, etc.  Spring break week and there were a LOT of people there.  We had dinner at the Aquarium Restaurant. Guess I had in my mind that we were eating under the sea.  I was wrong.  They did have a huge Aquarium in the center of the restaurant.  Lots of different fish, an eel, and a shark.  Food was nothing to write home about.

Aquarium Restaurant 

We went to the stingray tank and other ocean exhibits downstairs while we waited for our table.  The kids each got 4 shrimp to feed the adult stingrays and instructions on how to touch them.  Clara wanted nothing to do with feeding or touching them!

They each got one ride.  Pat with Alexa who chose the yellow ride behind them.

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Clara and I went on the train.

Emma and Lilah road The Bullet.  

The Bullet is one of four wooden roller coasters in Texas.  It is 96 feet tall and 3,236 feet long.   

Before heading home we walked a few blocks from the Boardwalk to the Cool Cow Creamery.  The girls were right, it was really good.  They had a variety of flavors, as well as sugar-free for Pat and dairy-free for me.
All ice-creams and baked goods are made in house.

Thursday we went to an afternoon movie.  Pat and the older two saw "Unchartered," and I went with the younger two and saw "Sing 2."  Both were good.  Very few people at either.

Reubens for dinner on St. Patrick's Day.

Decorating shamrock cookies

Friday we went to the Seabrook Waffle Co. for lunch.

The few tables inside were full and the wind made it a quite chilly.  There are 4 girls huddled together under those blankets.  Several other tables had blankets too.

A trip to the library and, in case they hadn't gotten enough sugar, we stopped at Smoothie King.

When we got home we rode bikes, walked, and drove to Circle Park to work off some of that sugar!

A dinner request of stuffed french toast.  We tried an over-night recipe and I was impressed.  

Where are the Piepers now?  Houston, TX