Returning home

Wow. We had a great time in south Texas! I can't believe I'm already back here typing this out!

Schlitterbahn was great on both days that we went. We got there early enough each day that we were able to pick a prime spot to set up camp, get changed/ slathered in sunscreen and catch two or three of the biggest tube rides with no wait at all. I really, really love that park. There's something so great about it - I'm not sure if it's because it's nestled (nestled makes it sound small, this place is HUGE) in trees and hills or if it's because it's powered by natural water (well, west is anyway) or if it's because the tube shoots and rides there are seriously some of the most fun you will have in your life. We took two rolls of film on our waterproof cameras and I can't wait to get them back!

The first day we went we took Rylee. She loved it. She didn't want to leave at all and I totally understood. She rode some of the big rides - there are 4 that she is not able to ride just yet - but she rode the bigger tube rides and she was totally fine. We got there early enough that we were able to get her one of those tubes designed especially for little kids and it was perfect.

The second day we went without her and the boys were wrestling around and causing havoc on every ride. I fell out of my tube just before a slide on Hillside and went down the slide on my bottom. Luckily there was a lifeguard there to catch me, my sunglasses and one of my flip flops. I fell out in front of a ton of people waiting in line, it was incredibly embarrassing. Oh well, I think we all fell out one or two times actually.

Austin was also nice. We got to eat at all of my favorite places. Kerbey Lane, Catfish Parlour, Texana...it was all so good! It was Clifford and Matthew's first time to Kerbey Lane and I think they enjoyed it. I already miss the white queso!

One thing that never changes about our trips to Austin is that we always come back with so much more than we left with.

Woo!



We also came back with a pretty neat ice chest actually. It looks like this but ours is red and black. I kind of like it.



And an icecream maker. I do not have a photo.

Today was Rylee's first ballet/tap/tumbling class. She looked so cute this morning I could have melted right there. She did so well too. They had us all go in there for a few minutes and look around and then off we went. There were a few girls that cried but Rylee didn't and from what very little I could see, it looked as if she was doing as she was told.

This had come in the mail for me while I was gone! I love it! It's exactly what I wanted when I set out to find a ballet bag!



I got it off of an etsy site called tinygreenapples.

Hope everyone had a lovely fathers day!

Weekend Getaway

It's been days since I've been able to update. We were in Austin Thursday through last night and I'm sad to be back.

Rylee and I missed her swim lesson on Thursday because she woke up with Scarlet Fever or Scarletina, one of the two. It's a rash associated with Strep and I've had it many times so I knew immediately what it was. Not contagious though, so the trip was still on.

We spent Friday scouring Austin for a good deal on a refrigerator. We went to a couple of scratch and dent places and Sears before we ended up at Conn's. We found a refrigerator! It's BEAUTIFUL!! It's a 26 inch stainless steel side by side. I know it's probably a really nerdy thing to be excited about a refrigerator but...it isn't if you know me ;) I will definitely post pictures of it as soon as I upload them.

That afternoon Rodney and I went up to Ikea to do a little kitchen planning. I bought a few things including a large clock for the mantle, an easel, some curtains and a lamp for rylee, a butchers block for me and a few other items. The Shipmans plus Suzy arrived shortly after got back and we all went to eat at Catfish Parlour. Yummy hush puppies!

Saturday morning I got up to make breakfast for everyone - waffles with strawberries and whipped cream and then we were out the door to New Braunfels. It was pretty cloudy on the way there but the website says "rain or shine" so we figured it would be fine. As soon as we got there we noticed there was a sign saying that certain rides were closed. Every ride in the main park, to be exact. All of the great, fun rides were shut down. They told everyone they would be opening the rides mid afternoon, so we decided it was worth it and headed over to Schlitterbahn East. After a few hours and lunch, we made our way back over to West to find out that nothing would be opening up. It was such a bummer. We felt like the Griswald's. Trying to make the best of the situation, we went back over to East and rode everything in Surfenburg and Blastenhoff. Overall it was fun but we were really sad to not be able to ride the best rides there.

After we dried off and got changed, we headed back into Austin for some deliciouswonderfulscrumptious dinner eating at Kerbey Lane. Now, if you've ever been to Austin and you haven't been to Kerbey Lane, shame on you! If you are ever planning a trip to Austin,please make sure you go to Kerbey Lane. There are a few scattered around the city but the best one is off of 35th and a half and Kerbey Lane. It's in an old house and it's amazing! It's friendly to all types of people, vegetarian, vegan or not and it's open 24 hours a day.

We ordered some salsa and white queso to munch on before our meals. Rodney and I ordered the avocado and black bean tacos and the spinach and mushroom quesadilla's. He also ordered two pieces of french toast. Everything was DELICIOUS. I'm craving it now, in fact.

After dinner we headed back to my grandmothers. We were all exhausted.

Yesterday morning we were greeted by the smell of homemade pancakes and scrambeled eggs with cheese. There's nothing in the world like my grandmother's pancakes, they are absolutely devine. We got dressed and headed to Ikea again. Rodney spent most of the time in the kitchen area, planning and re-planning our new kitchen. We were there so long, we ended up having lunch in the Ikea Cafeteria. I bought a few more things including a beautiful poster and some art cards.

The Shipmans left after the Ikea trip and Rodney and I went to see the new Harry Potter. After the movie, we had dinner at my grandmother's and then hopped on the road to head back home.

I have a lot going on this week. A big cake order for Friday that I need to get started on and Rodney's got the Tango show on Saturday, which I'm really excited about. We have the house inspection tomorrow morning!