Recently in Babycakes Category

Today concluded Babycakes's drama camp at the Zach Scott Theater. The crew saddled up and got ready for some cool robot action!

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Learn it. Know it. Live it.

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Babycakes played a very convincing cat!

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Hmm... stagekill ;)

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Babycakes in the final song.

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Just before the curtain.
There are exactly five things in life that make Ol' Dad get teary eyed:


2) Mama's Mojo Rolls;

3) Pop's homemade buttermilk biscuit recipe;

4) third gear in the M Roadster; and

5) Babycakes crying tears of joy.

We tapped item 5 this past weekend when we told Babycakes we're taking her to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. After we gave her the invitation, the floodgates opened and she cried, "You're the best parents ever!"

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"Is this for me?"

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Babycakes read every word on her own. She was excited to learn that her cousin will be coming with us!

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"This is awesome, guys... you're the best parents ever!"

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Babycakes is, indeed, a true Pisces ;)

Here's to you, Possum... and the good times that lie ahead!
Babycakes finished up her first summer camp on Friday. She had been studying drama with the State Theater Company at the Paramount Theater on Congress Avenue. It was almost like Meatballs but not quite ;)

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The set of The Little Red Hen.

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Babycakes played a puppy... and quite convincingly I think!

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She perfected the puppy-dog-eyes long ago ;)

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The rest of the animals were bummed when they discovered they didn't get cake.

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Babycakes received her certificate and a standing ovation ;)

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The certificate quickly fell out of favor, however, when Babycakes discovered the paper clips. Kids... ;)

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Babycakes struck a pose!

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After the performance, the kids got a full-on semi-healthy buffet ;)

A Girl & Her Stein

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Babycakes digs a little Franny K. Stein before sunset.

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Like other girls her age, Babycakes is starting to appreciate a little privacy ;)

On Golden Basin

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Babycakes and P had a sunset picnic last evening. It was so cute even the coyotes cried ;)

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The sunset really set the mood.

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Note the incredibly well placed shoes.

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Babycakes practiced her mom-you're-embarrassing-me look.

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P tests the bigger-bites-of-brownie-are-better theory.

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P looked toward the horizon and gazed longingly at the setting sun. He closed his eyes and whispered, "Sit here... beside me." Hmm... reminds me of a number that is more than twelve but less than fourteen.

Sunsettin'

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Mama and Babycakes took a break from the madness a couple of nights ago and decided to catch the sunset and, well... just be themselves ;)

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The sun went down over the hill as expected, disappointing Flat Earth Society members across the globe, er... disk, um... well, you get the point.

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Mama took it easy... just the way she likes it.

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Mama and Babycakes proved that there is no escaping the power of DNA.

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Um... yeah.

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The eyes definitely had it ;)

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Weary of Mama and Ol' Dad judging her purchases, Babycakes decided to get her own Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Visa. Shades of thirteen!

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With her new card activated, Babycakes contemplates a future filled with fabulous shoes and cheetah print stretchy pants.

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The moon had an ominous glow, signifying that something was about to go down.

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Just as Nostradamus predicted, El Diablo arrived on the scene ready for action!

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El Diablo, hopped up on brownies and chocolate milk, couldn't contain the fury.

Power Walking

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Babycakes wanted to take a walk today and decided to bring along her camera.

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Babycakes is a budding photographer!

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Who would have thought Babycakes would have been the self-portrait type ;)

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What the scorpions see.

After the photo session inside, Mama and Babycakes were ready to go for their walk. The 103 degree heat limited the walk to the top of the hill :)

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The flowers along the driveway can really handle the heat.

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The bamboo we planted shortly after we moved in has finally come out of its funk, proving my theory that you just can't kill the stuff... even when you try.

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Honestly, officer, it's only bamboo!
Well, folks, the school year has officially ended. You've probably heard the tormented parental cries echoing in the wind around noon ;) Babycakes's kindergarten class had an end of school party last week on one of several playgrounds at Eanes Elementary where there was plenty of water and dirt.

The result was glorious!

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The Kamikaze-Banzai-Run, where kids used their cat-like reflexes to smack balls through hoops while being randomly sprayed by a water hose.

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Mama and her warm, inviting smile.

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Profesora-H saw the light at the end of the tunnel ;)

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P prepped for his upcoming role in Point Break 2: Legend of the Longboard.

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Meanwhile, Babycakes surfed a wave of her own.

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J did what J does best ;)

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Babycakes was an authorized sand distributor.

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Nothing says love like a kid with dirt in their nose.

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Well, okay... dirt in the ear is pretty cool too ;) T and Profesora-H fought for the best grip.

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Mangia served up massive-tasty pizza and treats for everyone.

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After lunch, P and other little dudes played soccer... with a beachball ;)

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P gears up to stomp the ball Pelé style!

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Mama's cute little toes have a way of making Ol' Dad get the itch ;)

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After lunch, the kids hit the "lazy river" once again.

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Babycakes tried her best to restore order with a mighty pink whistle!

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After she figured out no one was listening, Babycakes gave in and succumbed to the madness and hysteria surrounding her.

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Afterwards, Babycakes and JL found solace in the mud ;)
We awoke to clear skies and vibrant sunshine this morning. Babycakes decided that it had been too long without a rain shower in Austin, so she wanted to make a rainstick.

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With its typically quirky grin, the sky smiled at us and said, "Think I'm pretty? Heh... just wait until this afternoon when it's 100 degrees."


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Babycakes scratched her earlier design and started from a blank sheet of paper ;)

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Tape was her friend ;)

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These humble beans were about to be transformed into pure magnificence!

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With help from Mama, Babycakes fills the soon-to-be droplet conjuring device with beans.

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Los frijoles figuren en el tubo!

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Just like a time capsule being shot off to the farthest reaches of the galaxy, the tube is sealed forever.

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Pleased with her creation, Babycakes Shaman prepared for greatness.

Me & My House

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Babycakes brought home her classroom journal from Eanes Elementary on the last day of school. It was interesting to see her perceptions of self, home and Der Gnome ;)

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Babycakes is slowly moving closer to every parent's nightmare - age thirteen. Tooth Fairy is going to be quite busy in the upcoming months ;)

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Babycakes spent the better part of the evening trying to pull her first baby tooth.

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Tweezers were the tool of choice.

Ultimately, the tooth stayed firmly in place but at least it's a bit closer. Ol' Dad rested peacefully that evening, safe in the knowledge that Babycakes is still a long way from age thirteen ;)

BMW M 0.1

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Babycakes and Ol' Dad decided to build a custom BMW this morning. True, we had just finished some cinnamon-apple muffins and that probably clouded our vision of the project time but we forged ahead!

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After we got the chassis together, we went to work on the steering and transmission.

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Six speed courtesy of Getrag.

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Paint and bodywork was next.

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We couldn't forget the Roundel!

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It was finally time to drive!

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Babycakes was ready for the track!

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