State Fair & Weekend Getaway!

We hadn't been to the State Fair since before Emma was born and we thought this year the girls would actually be able to enjoy it!  Which they did!  We got to the Fair nice and early on the last Friday and it was great.  Emma and Maggie were in awe of just the sounds, the smells and everything to look at!  Even though we were there for several hours it doesn't seem like we did much, but we had fun! 

Emma loves measuring how tall she is!

 

Pretending to collect eggs!
(They seemed to like pretending more than the real life thing at home!)

 

Farmer Maggie

 

Happy Maggie Piggie!

These goats were ruthless! They've learned just to
grab the whole cup!

 

Petting Zoo fun!

Sweet little piggies!

Can't go to the Fair without getting a corndog!

Family Fun at the Fair!

 

So after a fun day at the Fair, Billy and I got a chance to get away from our little ladies and go hang out in Fredericksburg for a few nights.  It was wonderful.  Just being on our schedule and not worrying about kid stuff.  (We love worrying about kid stuff, don't get me wrong...) It's the first time we've ever left them for more than one night.  We thought they were going to miss us so much... but they did great!  Billy had found a nice little house outside of town and the only things we could hear we the birds and the occasional moo-ing.  It was a wonderful recharge for us as a couple and as parents and we are thankful for the opportunity to get away.  Above all else, I enjoyed the great uninterrupted conversations we had. (and Alfredos, see below)

 

We stopped here for lunch in Lampassas. If you ever drive through
there, DO NOT MISS OUT on Alfredos! We almost went back on our way
home but we didn't drive thru Lampassas.

Our sweet little 150yr old house on a 1000 acre ranch!

View from my hammock.

Hiked up Enchanted Rock on our way home.



So thankful for this man and the way he loves me and his daughters. And so blessed to get away with him and just slow down. 



Arboretum Pumpkin Patch

Grandy, the girls and I went to go visit the Arboretum.  We loved their pumpkin patch last year and it never disappoints.  They said over 50,000 pumpkins were delivered to the arboretum to help create this work of art.  We are so spoiled that we get to enjoy it! You can't tell by these pictures but there lots of people there that day.

Maggie wanted to pose with many of the pumpkins! :-)

Thank you Grandy for sharing your membership with us!!  Such a beautiful place to visit no matter what time of year!

ATX, September 2014

My Aunt and Uncle live in California and the last time they came to Texas was almost 8 years ago.  So when I heard they were coming, I told my Dad to totally expect me to interrupt his time with his sister and brother-in-law!  I love my Aunt Mary Kaye... she's like a more talkative version of my Dad and is always willing to share family knowledge!  I just love it when she says 'You get that from the Gunthorp's' or 'that came from Mom's side (meaning my Grandma's family)'.  Unfortunately, it didn't work out that Billy could come with us, but we got to spend 4 fun-filled days with my Dad, Patty, Aunt Mary Kaye, Uncle Ray and Jamie too!

I didn't realize we would have such a schedule when we first arrived!  Dad and Pat had planned some fun outings for all of us!  Things I've never even done in Austin!! 

First full day there me and the girls had to run and check out the new Children's Museum in Austin, the Thinkery!  We went to the old museum right before it closed down and I loved how much more spread out the Thinkery was... we will definitely be going back here!

Got to spend just a tiny bit of time with these hot ladies!
Love our Ericka & Finley!

Lite-Brite exhibit was awesome!

Then the next day we did a little sight seeing around ATX on the Duck Tour!  It was awesome!  Maggie was a little hesitant about it for the first half but she got into it at the end.  Emma sat with Uncle Ray and loved it!  These two quickly became buds and it was fun to see them come up with nicknames for each other! (banana & tickle machine were the two favs)

Don't we look like a rowdy bunch!? :-)

Yes Emma, this is 6th Street.

The next day was Zilker and the Bats.  We tried to ride the Zephyr but due to some rain, the tracks were needing some repairs.  So we opted for the springs and playground.  I haven't been to see the bats in probably 2 decades.  They waited until it was almost too dark to see them but the girls had fun.  In total Texas fashion, it was nice and humid on this day. 

Aunt Jamie is always willing to go get her feet wet!

Fun on the swings.  Love how happy Maggie is in this picture.
She stayed on that swing for over half an hour!

Great pictures of Aunt MK, Jamie & Uncle Ray!

Waiting for the bats! (with lots of other Austinites)

We came back exhausted and with lots of laundry, but it was so worth it!  I was glad to be able to soak up so much time with family and get to catch up on their lives and have the girls meet them.  We hope we can take the girls out to California soon and return the visit!  Another great Austin trip in the books!