Alison, in preparation for their year in Tanzania, generously sent Luis two big packages - one full of books and one full of clothes. Luis was enamored with it all, even before he found out that it all used to belong to Solly & Franklin. In particular, Luis has been dying to wear these lace up shoes. "I'm BIG boy" Luis declares as he stomps around in them. Indeed he is.
In the last couple of weeks, Luis's interest in "taking pictures" has elevated. He now wants to be the one to hold the camera and push the button. Unfortunately, with my camera, he hasn't quite figured out how to look through the view finder... Regardless, he still manages to snap some interesting shots.
There are also loads of pictures of feet and bums and walls and floor. With the exception of his first couple of baths, Luis has always loved the water: bath time, pool time, ocean time,water games at the sink, watering the plants, water games with the hose and even playing in the rain. But up until now, he has not enjoyed getting sprayed by the hose.
Last week, I wrote about Luis and The Lizard. Here are some pictures of the two of them together.
This morning, Luis and I went out to breakfast with our neighbor Kyle; also known - by Luis - as Mr. Pyle. (Diego is in Melbourne for a long weekend with FIT friends.) Kyle invited us out, I suspect, to offer a nice diversion for me and was even willing to go at 7:45a. We've got some GREAT neighbors.
Not once, not twice, not three times - FIVE times, Luis has uttered, shouted, flaunted and shared this phrase in the last 6 days.
Bethany, Caleb, Luis and I went to the zoo this morning -- and it was another great trip. We got there when it opened, and bee-lined to the kid's zoo (after, of course, riding the carousel). We were the very first kids there; the first kids to play in the sand box, the first kids to climb, the first kids to splash/swim in the meandering stream. Bethany was smart enough to bring a bathing suit for Caleb. Lucky for Luis (and me), the zoo gives away Lil Swimmers (while supplies last).
After the Kite Festival (and a nap and a snack), we headed back out to the Dog Bowl. It was basically a dog free-for-all held on the field of the Cotton Bowl. I decided not to Ashley - a hard decision. But it would have been too much excitement & stimulation, not to mention to much running around for her. It was almost too much stimulation for me.
Sunday morning, we headed out to the Annual Japanese Boat, Kite & Lantern festival in nearby Irving. Diego bought a small kite for him and Luis to fly and we went out to the grassy area to fly the kite and watch the boat races. Luis was only mildly interested in the kite or kite flying; he was much more fascinated by a golf ball he found on the ground or the fact that we let him put the trash in the trash can. Oh well, such are outings with a toddler.
Most days, I chose Luis's clothes for him. Occasionally, he'll protest my choice in shirts and request something else. Last weekend, he picked his own outfit from the hat to the boots. Nice job, Luis!
Diego and Luis like to hit a few golf balls before dinner. Sometimes, they have to wait until after dinner and Luis incorporates it into his "run around half naked" game.
Luis (standing in his closet): I'm going POOP.
At the end of our block, a company is doing some extensive work on the utilities. I say extensive not because I know the scope of the work, but because it's duration: it's been going on for more than a week. At least four times now, Luis and I have walked down to watch. We bring our snacks (usually popsicles, as it's starting to get hot) and a drink - and sometimes Ashley, and sit in the grass in the yard immediately in front of the work. And we sit and watch the construction.
I posted about our evening out with Mark, Natalie & Baby Josie here. Then, I got this picture of Luis and his "new friends" from Diego (it was on his phone).
Luis, Diego and I went back to Annapolis on 4/25 for my grandmother's service. Diego had to come back to Dallas on Monday night, but Luis and I stayed another week (until 5/3) to visit with friends and family. Despite having a week in the greater DC area, it was a busy time and we only got to visit a fraction of the people we'd hoped to see.
In between all of our visits with friends and (extended) family time, we had a wonderful visit with Bibi and Grandpa Sandy. Luis had a clear (and correct) memory about life at Bibi's house - from the Fisher-Price castle that she has to feeding the birds to Grandpa Sandy's lawn mower to the great swing set/playground next door. There were a few changes - instead of the pack-n-play, he slept on the "big bed". Instead of using a booster, he sat in "Solomon's chair".
Luis and I spent all day Friday (5/1) with Sarah and her family (and spent the night). The week thus far had been great - seeing so many great friends - but had been exhausting. I canned the original plan for Friday and called Sarah. "Can Luis and I come over tomorrow morning (Friday)? I need a vacation day from my vacation. I can't tell you when we'll leave - Friday or Saturday." Not surprisingly, Sarah said Come on over. 
I started tutoring high school math in Falls Church in 2003. In 2007, just after Luis was born, I started tutoring Malvika - a freshman at the local high school. At this point, we knew that we were heading to Mumbai over the summer, so I could not tutor her for her sophomore year. It turned out to be a great coincidence that Lopa, Malvika's Mom had grown up in Bombay and had recently spent 2 years there with her family. Lopa and I emailed while I was in Bombay (mostly her encouraging me to try new foods and to shop at the market and to explore the city) and really developed our own friendship. When we were back in Virginia, I started tutoring Malvika again, for her junior year. Malvika also baby sat for us on a number of occassions. Lopa, Luis, and I would meet for lunch regularly. Luis adored both Malvika and Lopa. Moving to Texas did not stop our tutoring sessions. Malvika and I still meet once or twice a week on-line for tutoring.
Thurdsay (4/30), we picked up my friend Paige, from HITT and went over to the Sushi Hut for lunch. I wasn't sure how much Luis would remember. Turns out he remembered it all - Kim, his favorite waitress, the soy beans & pickled radish appetizer, how to use chopsticks, and that he gets ice cream for dessert. Of course, the ice cream was the first thing he remembered.
On Wednesday (4/29), Mom and I drove over to Fairfax to spend the night with Dodie & his family. Luis loves loves loves to be at Uncle Dodie's house, play with his cousins, and jump on the Jumping Bed. Thursday morning, after some breakfast and a play, Luis declared that he was going back to bed and asked me to come give him a snuggle. I started to crawl under the covers when Franklin (almost 6) came into the room. "No Mommy, no Mommy!" Luis squealed. "FRANKLIN snuggle me".
While in Annapolis, we met up with Mark & Natalie - and finally got to meet Baby Josie (who was born in February). We met up at their place, and we went to Hard Times for dinner Diego has not found a suitable place here for chicken wings. Unfortunately, they forgot to bring the wings until the meal was over and the chili wasn't very good. The company, however was outstanding.
