This has been the best trip so far. Everytime I come to Texas I always try to squeeze in so much and see so many people, since my trips are only once a year, at best. This time I decided I needed a break. I needed to slow down and relax and enjoy things. So, I have just been hanging out and enjoying being away from normal everyday life at home. My phone is not ringing, there are days I don't get on the computer and a lot of days I don't even get in the car. It has been hot, very hot. This is proof that my car's thermometer was well into the triple digits.

Early on, JB ended up with his first black eye. Got knocked over and hit something - probably the wall? We never knew for sure. (I forgot to wipe the spaghetti sauce off of his face...)

The boys got to go riding on a golf cart - the easy simple things about some people's lives that really entertain/intrigue them.

Spent some time at parks. Did not stay long cause just really hot.

The boys have racked up a lot of time in the water this trip.

Fortunately JB is still taking a nap a day. Sometimes crashing whereever he gets still.

Boys enjoyed feeding carrots to a donkey.

Got some go-cart action in.



And some putt putt golf.

Did a little bowling one day.

Played in some forts.

In Austin, during the summer, there lives a huge urban bat colony. The largest in the world. They live under the Congress Street bridge and it is quite the sight to watch them all fly out just before dusk. You can see some of the bats in this photo, but imagine them streaming out like this for about 10-15 minutes every night. The later in the summer it gets the more there are. They appear as long dark streaks across the sky.

After the bats we wandered over to a Hyatt. I have always told my boys about glass elevators and they had one. Again, one of the little things that you are never exposed to living in a non-metropolitan place. (We were with an ol' college roommate and her daughter Hannah.)

Some more swimming...

Probably my favorite picture so far....This little kiddo, as well as the other 2 seem to have some of the olive coloring that they get from their daddy.


We spent 4 days in Austin, where my dad's side of the family had a reunion. Great to catch up with everyone. Later that evening, we all congregated at my cousin's house. The kids had so much fun running around and playing outside, that my boys just about saw the day go from pm to am. (I hate when the kids are up late because it means for grumpy kids the next day, but when it is beautiful outside and they are having so much fun being social and running with their cousins - not to mention mom is enjoying herself - hard to put them to bed. They have been playing so hard that not once this trip have they woken up in the middle of the night and found their way into my bed. Which translates into great sleep for mom.

One night in Austin we got a hotel with my sister and niece. The sole purpose was for the kids to swim, swim and swim...plus getting together with a brother/sister pair that we have known since birth. The kids swam from 2-10pm, only stopping to have pizza poolside for dinner.

I have managed to stay with two old college roommates and has been so fun catching up with their families. How my boys love playing with their kids, all of which are almost 10 years older. Seeing the bats in Austin, riding the glass elevator, riding escalators and fighting traffic.

This weekend will be getting together with my mom's side of the family. Should be a great time. Still have another 6 or 7 days before we will start the trek back.