Hill country getaway

On the last weekend of our summer break before I have to go back to work on Monday we took a little trip out to the TX hill country.

Lunch at the root cellar cafe in San Marcos.

Quick visit to the outlet mall, to this place:

a little antique shopping......

some icecream.......

a visit to Stonehenge II in Ingram TX.  This has recently been re-located from the original location.

As well as a replica 2/3 the size of the original Stonehenge, there are 2 replicas of the Easter Island heads too.  Both kids used to be terrified of these when we visited this place when they were toddlers.

Now:

and then:

Here we are in December 2005.....

Kate @ 4

Kate @ 10

some visits to state parks....

I saw this place on the highway and I "googled it" to find out it is called the Lighthouse hill ranch, and you can rent it out the "Lighthouse" for $590 a night.

Old courthouse in Blanco, TX.

swimming.....

Bluebonnets and Strawberries

Finding some bluebonnets is a yearly tradition for us.

These pictures were taken 6 years ago:

And this year:



And another flashback - berry picking 2004:

And all grown up:

10th birthday party

I'm finally getting to blog pictures from Kate's birthday party over a week ago.  Kate invited 15! of her closest friends, she wanted a sleepover, but I could not stay sane with that many girls for a whole night.  The party was from 6-10 at night instead, so they still had a good long time to play.

birthday flowers

some of the birthday cards

I made these cupcakes and Chris made a chocolate cake, and we had pizza to eat, so overall it was a pretty simple party, but I did have that day off work to organize and get ready for it and I took these pictures before the kids even came home from school that day.

I found this little lantern at Dollar tree, most of the other decorations I got from Hobby Lobby.

A poem Chris wrote for Kate and we had in a little frame, sorry the picture is blurry.

The birthday girl.  The main activity of the party was karaoke outside, with a microphone and small amplifier - sorry neighbors!  I also put bubbles and sidewalk chalk out there, so I was happy to see 10 year olds are not too old for that still!  Our little playhouse got played in the most it ever has too.

A good picture of Kate with her friends.

And sweet little brother who did well for having all of those bossy girls around, he only got his feelings hurt once.  We had one little incident were a girl fell in the pond too, but otherwise a good success of a party.

Thomas' birthday is in May and I will convince him to a simple little family party I think!



And just for my sister, the birthday video:

Happy Halloween

Summer fun

the kids have enjoyed having Nana staying with us from New Zealand.

we went to Hermann Park one day and rode the train

and saw Pinocchio at the Miller outdoor theater

Kate had softball camp last week

last weekend we went to the Bluebell creamery for the tour of the icecream factory

and to the Monument Hill state park in La Grange

and went to one of these "painted churches"

(pictures do not do this justice, it was so beautiful inside)

plenty of relaxing at home too.  Kate has been learning how to knit.

Molly has been getting lots of walks

and fun at the pool

How is your summer?