To go back a couple of days, last Sunday Joshua was feeling better, so we took the kids to A Day Out with Thomas (the Train). It was in a neighboring city, Grapevine. There is usually a vintage train that travels from Grapevine to Fort Worth, but for the Thomas event they hooked a real Thomas up to the front of the train and gave 20-30 min train rides. There were several booths for different activities. Rachael and Jacob liked the small battery-powered Thomas the Train sets. Rachael also liked coloring at one booth. All of the train ride tickets were sold out by the time we got there. Jacob apparently remembered when he last rode the train in Oct 2003, because he started fussing when he couldn't get on the train.

Deren checked in with the ticket counter, and waited in line for stand-by tickets. I took Jacob and Rachael over by the train. They got Thomas tatoos while we waited. Deren got 3 tickets for the train! I took Jacob & Rachael. Jacob sat by the window and watched. Rachael sat between us, bopped around and sang to the Thomas music playing over the speakers.

Joshua and Abby stayed with Deren. Joshua had already climbed back in his stroller - he didn't really care for the whole thing. Abby had a great old time just being outdoors and munching on cereal. It was really neat to be able to take the two who most wanted to go on the train.

..Fast forward to the present.. The kids received Easter cards and books from Grandma and Grandpa. Rachael liked her card with stickers (below is a picture of her sticker collage on her shirt). Rachael is having an Easter egg hunt at school next Monday. Abby & I went out this morning and bought plastics eggs and candy to fill them. The girls have been having a great old time playing with the eggs - luckily I bought some spares that I've hid. Abby has already thrown a couple by the toilet and in the bathtub!

Abby had her weekly appointment with the OT from ECI this afternoon. She has been really persistent about refusing to crawl, but scoots on her bum instead. The OT saw a nylon tunnel in the corner of the living room and had me get it out. Abby proceeded to crawl back and forth across the tunnel. She crawled until her hips (which are weak) wouldn't carry her anymore! She was a real trooper. Abby's birthday is on Monday. I hadn't thought about presents yet. The OT strongly suggested a walker (the mobile kind - not the stationary). She said if we put it down on the lowest setting, Abby will bear weight on her feet more and strengthen her hips with all the upright time. So Abby's getting a walker! Hopefully we'll be healthier than we were at Miss Rachael's birthday, and we'll bake a cake and take some pictures. Matter of fact, I think we're going to tell Rachael it's her birthday, too, and celebrate them togeter - along with Grandpa, who is going to be in town with Grandma this weekend. Time to get baking, Deren! (I once again tried making GFCF pancakes this past Monday. Deren doesn't think I should try my hands at baking ever again. He was in the room with me the whole time - I still messed it up!).