Austin for S's Birthday

S turned 40 on Christmas day. I wanted to do something special to commemorate this monumental birthday, so after speaking with Cheryl about her willingness to keep our child for a weekend, I made a plan to surprise him by whisking him away for a weekend of just the two of us. I decided we should go to Austin - we had to go someplace within three hours of Dallas, and we couldn't fly. So, Austin seemed like the best choice. And, since I used to live there and we don't get there very often, it seemed like it would be fun to revisit our old haunts and just hang out, just the two of us. Also, I wanted S to have a day at the spa to relax. He was indeed surprised, and has told me several times what a great present it was. We ate at all our favorite restaurants, S did go to the spa, we talked baby names, drove around and saw the parts of town we used to hang out in, stopped by a book store, and generally just had a nice quiet weekend. It was really, really great. Here are some photos we snapped at the capitol on our way out of town on Sunday:

I loved these leaves, as you will see.

slightly stylized...

the six flags of Texas

S having fun at the canons.

Special thanks cannot be said enough to my in-laws for watching LM for two nights. It was really very nice to have that time together - to celebrate S's birthday, but also just before we have two little munchkins under our care. It was very, very cool to have that time.

See you soon.

A Little Vacation Weekend

This summer the boys vacationed, as usual, in Vail, while I worked. However, since that is not vacation for me, I like to get away somewhere else in the summer too. Last summer, we went to San Diego and it was awesome. This year, I could not talk my husband into taking more than a long weekend away, so we went to a resort-style state park in southeast Oklahoma. We had nice weather and some fun time together, even if it was incredibly short. That said, I'm thankful we had the time and resources to get away at all. Here are some photos:

The boys did some go-kart racing.

At first, LM wasn't so sure about this.

But he really liked it!

Daddy liked it too!

After the race.

After the go-karts...an evening snack!

Another activity - a train ride!

A family selfie.

We went into town for some groceries. 

That's where we saw this big ol' watermelon!

Our hotel was right along the lake - one night we walked down to check it out at dusk.

Along here, it was a very rocky shore. Shale, quartz, etc.

On Monday, we rented a boat and went out on the lake. 

We had the lake practically to ourselves!

LM and S did a little tubing.

LM did a little driving. 

An Ate Up Selfie

Quite a beautiful outing.

See you soon.

The Haircut

Tonight, LM and I will jet off to see our Indiana friends and relatives for a nice long weekend. I can't wait. LM can't wait either, actually. He's really into the airplane ride itself these days. And, he'll love being in Indiana too, of course, that's just still a bit abstract for him. But, on to today's post.

Before - in the tub, where you can actually see the length.

Yes, the paci still lives.

When we were in San Diego, my friend Magda mentioned she came over to the part of town where our hotel was because there was a children's haircut place. LM's hair was getting a bit long, and more than that, a little unruly, so we decided to take him in for a trim. S was all for this endeavor, really pushing me to do it. I was afraid I would cry. He was gung ho. At least until we got there....

the "before" photos...

waiting...

When we arrived, the place was cute, but some of the people cutting hair had their own definition of fashion, shall we say. And one little boy was getting a cut with a Wahl trimmer. S started to freak out! He said, "Do they cut all the hair with that trimmer?" Um, no. "I think we should leave." Um, no! We made it this far, waited in line, and we're NOT LEAVING!

more waiting...

FINALLY!

When it got to LM's turn, he chose a sporty airplane as his seat and was SO GOOD. He wasn't interested in the video they were playing, but he listened to the hairdresser and sat very still. I think he was probably pretty fascinated at the process, and it didn't take long to shape things up, so it was a good trip. They cut off a curl or two for me to keep. And I didn't cry! I know, right? You're as amazed as I was.

There were snacks involved. That helped, too.

Blow dry!

Done!

So, the boy had another little rite of passage. On to the next thing...

After!

Even MORE curls, people!

See you soon.

Last Day at the Beach and Mission San Diego

We hit the beach one last time on Friday, and then saw Mission San Diego on Saturday before we left town. The plan was to have gone to the Museum of Natural History, but the boy fell asleep on the way there. So, I remembered this mission wasn't too far away  (by the football stadium, actually) so I talked S into driving me out there so I could look around while he sat in the car with the sleeping boy. How is that for a long sentence?

The biggest and best sand cities were built on this day.

Before this day, LM would knock them down before they were built!

On this day, he "helped" build. 

That is the shirt with permanent sand embedded in the fibers, by the way.

This boy so loved the beach. He really did.

Look out! Snot-nosed sand boy on the loose!

For those of you wondering if I was really there, I was.

And that's the MOM hat, by the way.

Another version...imagine, two photos of me and the boy I actually approve of.

The Little Man's feet in the sand.

Some sort of Navy vessel floating by.






Anyway, the last beach day was back out at Coronado Beach. We played a while, again on an overcast morning, mostly before the crowds. That way, you get a great parking space though! We had a space about 20 feet from the main entrance to the beach! We played in the sand until LM seemed to be getting tired. Then, we put him in the stroller and walked down to check out the historic Hotel del Coronado. Then, we walked into the little town of Coronado for lunch and then back to the car.

The hotel from the beach.

We saw the hotel, LM checked the inside of his eyelids.

The beach from the hotel.

Some flowers on our walk.

I think they are apples, no?

After the beach, we took LM to have his first haircut, but that deserves it's own post, don't you think? Yes, I think. Then, that night, we were privileged to have dinner again with Steph and her family. It was a nice visit as well, out near where they live, in Mira Mesa, except that LM was in a funk. But, otherwise, it was nice.

Steph, LM, Me

Look how we all coordinated in our reds and pinks.

On Saturday, we got packed up and headed out pretty early, and thought we would get to the museum before LM fell asleep. But we were wrong. So, we drove around Balboa Park a bit and then to the Mission, as previously mentioned. Then, to the airport for the flight home.

Saint Francis of Assisi

My favorite saint.

I found it hilarious that their security company was called, well, you know.

It was a beautiful and sacred place.

I was quite taken by it.

See you soon.