Fun with Cousin- East Coast

We had so much fun with our cousins in Boston. We got to suprise Grandma and Grandpa, for a very fun, energetic visit. Here is Miss L with the only other girl cousin. They were like two peas in a pod. We had fun touring Boston, celebrating 4th of July, seeing my sister, and not so much fun getting the flu.

An unexpected trip to San Diego

Gary's grandmother "Grams" past away last week, and we spent a the weekend with his whole family in San Diego. It was very eventful. We swam, went to Lego land, celebrated Liet's birthday at the pier, and went to Balboa park. San Diego is beautiful, and not humid. It was so nice to be with his whole family.

Gram's service was lovely, with 5 musical numbers. It is nice to have a tenor, alto, soprano, bass, violinist, and pianist all in the same family. Everytime I've been around her, which is only a handful, she has thanked me for playing the piano. I know that she loved music and I know that she was there to enjoy it. I'm glad I believe that families are forever, and I'll get to know her better some day.

Timeline

Tonight: I baked 300 cookies.


Tomorrow: I will be hosting a Piano Recital for 17 kiddos.



Next Friday: I will be in Indiana enjoying the colors and foliage (the coolest place on earth).



Yeah for vacation!!!! The last 6 months has flown by.

Renaissance Festival

Gary had the 1st weekend off in a long time (and the last weekend off in a long time). We had so much fun.

Especially today, we pushed kids in the bike trailer (converted to stroller) while we roller bladed through the neighborhood this afternoon. Unfortunately I didn't bring my camera. I even duck taped my feet so they wouldn't get blisters....why do I have such thin skin? And What on earth is my husband home during the day?... He is working nights for the next two weeks. It will be interesting, but I sure did enjoy him home today.

Back to the weekend. We went up to Renaissance Festival in North Houston. This is to make up for the fact that I am leaving him for Thanksgiving and going home. I know that SO doesn't make up for it, but...I love you honey?

Anyway, It was very interesting. Definitely more of an adult theme park. We enjoyed belly dancing, shows, eating turkey legs, watching jousting, and the medieval attire.

I am convinced those people dressed up fell into 3 categories...

1)kinda like Halloween,
2) Teenagers/Adults of the gothic persuasion which dressed like that year round,
3) Girls AND Guys wanting an excuse to wear as little as possible.

Miss L was quite upset we didn't bring her SnowWhite dress.


It was fun to hear people say "thou", and "thy" and "it cost three pounds" in a thick English accent.

My favorite part:the kettle corn
Gary's favorite part: The glassblower
Miss L's favorite part: the elephant that took people for rides
Lil G's favorite part: the fireworks

A fun weekend in Hill Country

This weekend was really fun. To recap, Gary finished Internal Medicine Shelf on Thursday, I taught piano lessons and had a choir practice.

Friday morning we left for San Antonio, where we spent the afternoon at the Riverwalk. Miss L was pretty excited, ran for about a mile of it, when we implemented a rule that she could walk or ride in the stroller. She had only one breakdown, but it was due to the fact she was hungry, which was momma's fault.



The landscaping around the Riverwalk was gorgeous, especially this little stairway.


We stayed the night in KOA in Kerrville, in a tiny cabin. We probably would've camped, but after this experience, I wasn't going to risk it. It was perfect other than the fact that the bathrooms were down the way, and of course I am pregnant and have to get up in the middle of the night. Miss L loved her bunk beds and kept sweeping our little cabin. We had a relaxing evening watch shows, takings showers, playing at the park, and watching Miss L eat a DQ dipped cone for the first time.

Kerrville was beautiful, with vacations home pushed up against the river. Very secluded and relaxing. We went here too. It is a replica of Stonehenge and Easter Island, We played a lot of hide and seek.

Nighttime was a little cold for Miss L and Gary, until we turned the heater on, which I would've but of course I was sleeping quite comfortably in my pregnant state with no blankets, so I did not recognize the need.

We finished our trip by hiking Enchanted Rock, which I thought would be no problem since it was only .6 miles to the top. But Gary had to carry everything including Miss L, so it was about all we could handle. I also I don't really have the maternity clothes to be and avid hiker, and I had to keep my heart rate down, which after my little scare a couple months ago, I am keenly aware of how I am doing. Unfortunately, I over estimated our food and water intake, so Gary had an extra load as well. We took it really slow to the top, and Gary hiked the cave at the top, and Miss L and I enjoyed the view.

We finished our little trip with a little walk down main street in Fredricksburg. It is a beautiful little German town with shops, German Bakeries, and Bed and Breakfasts lining the street. We had some Apfel Strudel, and headed for home.

Hill Country

Remember when I was researching this. Well funds from that expedition allowed us to have a very fun trip this weekend. Gary finished his marathon of two weeks of tests Thursday.

Friday, we headed up to Austin, and stopped at the Bluebell Ice Cream factory in Brenham for a tour and lots of ice cream. Lily really enjoyed that part.

When we were all stuffed full of ice cream we headed into Austin and camped here. It was a smaller park than I anticipated, but that means we got to see about everything we wanted to. We went swimming Friday in the waterfalls, which Lily badly needed. It was hot. There were lots of turtles, and I had to keep reminding myself that there are not alligators in Austin.

We camped in a primitive campsite, which means we had a to haul a lot of stuff about 100 yards, but it was right next to a river, very pretty. Friday night we went and looked at Gary's old home when he lived in Austin, which was quite close to our park. It was fun to see his old stomping ground, the high school he went to, and I think he was pretty excited about it. We came back to the camp and had delicious foil dinners, and Lily enjoyed staying up past dark.

Sleeping was kind of a disaster. We brought the pack' n play, but because L could see us, and she was not in a home, her orientation and mood were off. We finally evacuated her out of the campsite much to the satisfaction of our neighbors. Gary ended up driving around for a while until she was out cold. He brought her back to the tent, and we then we slept pretty peacefully, although I had to get up to go the bathroom once (which noone like to do camping) and it was a little cold.

The next morning we had nice hot showers and went into downtown Austin. We went to Zilker park, which is actually is gorgeous, and the weather was beautiful. Barton Springs is damned to form a giant swimming pool. We let L get out all her energy at the this giant playground, then we walked along the springs for a while. The area around Zilker park is set on rock cliffs overlooking the river. There are a lot of little outdoor restaurants and cantinas and we stopped for some breakfast burritos.

L was out at this point and to keep her out we decided to drive for a while. We went downtown and stopped at a farmer's market that was actually having a nice demonstration encouraging breast feeding and to support the local breast bank. I didn't even know there was such thing as a breast bank. I guess you learn something everyday. Lots of woman showed up to breastfeed at exactly 11 am, and Gary was fortunate to be there for the "unveiling". Kinda odd, but all a part of the experience.

We planned on going to the capitol and UT Austin and the LBJ library, but when we got downtown, we realized there was a football game that day, and the city was madness. There were tailgate parties everywhere. Who brings a big screen with them in the car to watch pregame? Crazy Longhorns. So we headed out of the city.

Our next stop allowed L to sleep along time, which was badly needed, considering the night before. But we ended up going here.


It is called Hamilton pool, and was absolutely gorgeous. The water was a unnatural jade, but it was very beautiful. We swam in the cold water, Lily wasn't happy about the temperature, but she did like playing in the waterfall, which surprisingly was very warm water.

Then we headed to the Salt Lick. Gary has been talking about this restaurant since I met him, and although in the middle of nowhere, it definitely was the best barbecue I have ever had. Just to give you an idea, at 3:40 the restaurant was packed. Everything was good. Their story was that a local man married a Japanese woman and started the Barbecue Restaurant. I think there is something to that Japanese influence. The sauce was the best sauce I have ever had, the meat was the best as well, and the sides weren't your ordinary sides. The cole slaw definitely had an Asian flare, (no mayonaise, yeah!) and the potato salad was also better than normal. The prices were very reasonable and we left with full stomachs and some take-out too.

Then we headed home. The weekend definitely boosted the family moral, which was good too. I think L needed a little parent time, and I definately needed some Gary time.

Musings....

Well after a week away, I feel like I have lost my head. My house is a mess, my projects all on the back burner, I didn't brush Lily's hair this morning...and she had one piece that was standing straight up, and I am tired and a little under the weather. But....I still had a great trip. Some highlights:





1) Katie taking us to the edge of a 100 foot rock cliff to "ski"
2) Skiing through perfect powder on the back bowl of Snowbird
3) My dang boots (see the giant scabs on my legs for further info)
4) The porcupine that got fed trail mix on the Alta slopes(by no one I know of course...DIANAYNAY)
5) Enjoying the rides up the ski lift with each of my family members, who I am now updated on life
6) My nephew Anthon and "Puh, Puh, Puh", and "OO-tah" that is my name and Utah of course.
7) Fever of 104.7!@!
8) Watching my little brother learn how to give a priesthood blessing.
9) Temple Square and the Joseph Smith movie ... which I miss
10) Getting to know the Finley's (my sister's husband's family)
11) Gary and his "Sweet" jumps
12) Meeting Kat(Berk's girl) and debating social issues, I think it is always good to think.
13) My dad who graciously funded the expedition...THANK YOU A MILLION.



Some things I learned... I really like my family. I hate having sick babies. I am really glad to have a doctor in the family...(someday that will be 4...Dad, G, K, and J). I think talking about our world and problems in it is a very good thing. It makes me think and helps me to develop my opinions and stance on life. It helps me to see both sides of issues, which maybe I haven't thought about before. And most of all it makes me more open minded.





So that was my week. Pictures to follow....if my sister sends them.