So we've finally reached the end. This is our last post from Spring Break (just a memory these days!). We went driving around the outer bits of Austin, specifically up to the Lake Travis area. It's a beautiful lake NW of the city. We stopped in at The Oasis for lunch....
and to catch the great view (from the restaurant balcony):
The weather was beautiful that day -- warm and breezy. It made lunch outside so grand.
On we go into the city. We drove all around the historic districts and up near the UT campus (getting lost trying to drive past the Tower). Nevertheless, we did not miss the chance to visit the Texas Capital.
Now I've known plenty of Texans who can wax poetically about their beautiful capital as representative of their beautiful state... especially about how big their capital is (the only capital taller than the US Capital, yadah, yadah). But even after such a build up, I was still very impressed. It was a beautiful campus with tasteful memorials and offices. I mean, come on... any place that puts it's name on foot-tall door hinges must be something:
Before we headed home, we stopped by a very special place to the south of the city. Austin is not only a nice place for humans to live, it's also apparently a nice place for bats, too! I came to find out that Austin is home to the World's Largest Urban Bat Colony. Don't believe me?? ...well:
The picture above is where you wait until sunset to see the bats fly out from underneath the bridge and fly down river to hunt. They're only 3 oz. and hunt small insects, particularly mosquitoes (we need some up here!!). They do this every day, all summer, but they are most concentrated in August. Even though this was the beginning of their "season," they were still impressive. They flowed out from the bridge for well over 15 minutes, just like this... feast your eyes:
It was wild! A good time for the whole family!
The next day, we headed down to San Antonio to spend some time on the Riverwalk and visiting the Alamo.
It's amazing how much was done in such a little space. The stories are almost unbelievable and worth your time.
Now friends, I have been told over and over again that this "walking the river" business was awesome, but I was not prepared for what I saw. The walk part of this river is sunk one level below the street. It's lined with shops and restaurants and beautiful vegetation. No wonder they hold major sports events here... it's amazing! I've never seen anything like it in this country. It was a highlight of a fantastic trip.
We hope you've enjoyed our vacation! Texas, you were good to us.
Stay tuned for Brayden updates coming soon. He's growing so fast!
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Thursday, March 29, 2007
On to Austin
Dallas-Fort Worth was great... but it's time to move on. Now we're off to Austin. We were very excited about Austin because its reputation as a fantastic city precedes it. We went straight to the Austin Children's Museum so Brayden could get some play time. It was a wonderful little museum and had a special play area for very young visitors.
It was a wonderful time, but just as always, the good times end. We had to get going out to Blanco where Aunt Paulette and Uncle Carl live. It's just under an hour west of Austin and in the beautiful hill country of Texas.
It was great to see Aunt Paulette again (Uncle Carl was on a hiking trip for the first couple days). She was thrilled to see Brayden, too!
We went out into Blanco that first night for some real Texas bbq. It was awesome (picture a little building with an umpteenth generation Texan cooking in a real pit... wow, wow). I didn't get a picture of the restaurant, but I did get a picture of the huge banner advertising one of the great ice creams of the world. Texans (especially friends now living in VA)... eat your heart out!
It was a wonderful time, but just as always, the good times end. We had to get going out to Blanco where Aunt Paulette and Uncle Carl live. It's just under an hour west of Austin and in the beautiful hill country of Texas.
It was great to see Aunt Paulette again (Uncle Carl was on a hiking trip for the first couple days). She was thrilled to see Brayden, too!
We went out into Blanco that first night for some real Texas bbq. It was awesome (picture a little building with an umpteenth generation Texan cooking in a real pit... wow, wow). I didn't get a picture of the restaurant, but I did get a picture of the huge banner advertising one of the great ice creams of the world. Texans (especially friends now living in VA)... eat your heart out!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Playground Romp
I must apologize in advance for this post, but this is a pure Brayden celebration. I can't even handle how much I love my baby. He is the sweetest!
We spent one day hanging around the Southlake area and visited their community playground. We weren't sure what Brayden would be able to do, but wanted to try it our anyway. Turns out, he's one happy player! The mulch was the best part, but as you will see, many other interesting activities came his way.
First we begin with the swings...
But oh no, friends, B was not always accompanied -- he swung by himself, too!
After we were all swung out, we played around in the jungle gym maze of wooden paths in the center of the playground. He loved it! He's so close to walking on his own... but not just yet. However, he was lovin' the mulch, crawling up a storm, and walking with a little help from his lovely assistant:
And as if that wasn't enough, we played with the bells, too!
Man I love this kid! This brings the first half of our Spring Break to a close. Metroplex, you were good to us... but there's still more!
Keep scrolling down for some Dallas tripsters, and stay tuned for the second half of our Texas vaca!
We spent one day hanging around the Southlake area and visited their community playground. We weren't sure what Brayden would be able to do, but wanted to try it our anyway. Turns out, he's one happy player! The mulch was the best part, but as you will see, many other interesting activities came his way.
First we begin with the swings...
But oh no, friends, B was not always accompanied -- he swung by himself, too!
After we were all swung out, we played around in the jungle gym maze of wooden paths in the center of the playground. He loved it! He's so close to walking on his own... but not just yet. However, he was lovin' the mulch, crawling up a storm, and walking with a little help from his lovely assistant:
And as if that wasn't enough, we played with the bells, too!
Man I love this kid! This brings the first half of our Spring Break to a close. Metroplex, you were good to us... but there's still more!
Keep scrolling down for some Dallas tripsters, and stay tuned for the second half of our Texas vaca!
Touring Dallas
I love tourists... so we became some last week in Tex-ey. We tripped over to Dallas for the sightseeing and strolled around Dealey Plaza, taking in all the conspiracy theorists hawking their books.
We also walked around downtown Dallas, including a stop at the Kennedy Memorial. This memorial was designed to be simple and noise canceling. When you step into the center the structure, the noise of the city all but disappears. There is a simple raised platform with JFK's name in the center.
We also walked around downtown Dallas, including a stop at the Kennedy Memorial. This memorial was designed to be simple and noise canceling. When you step into the center the structure, the noise of the city all but disappears. There is a simple raised platform with JFK's name in the center.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
The Rodeo
How many of you have been to a rodeo? This was my first, and I was anxious to see the boys (and girls) in action. It was much more entertaining that I had anticipated! Here are some moments from the event...
The Rodeo Hall is located right in the middle of the Fort Worth Stockyards. On either side of it is the main street filled with shops and restaurants, and the occasional street performer (note his St. Patrick's day celebratory Care Bear):
This man is playing the mountain dulcimer... electric style. My grandfather plays, too, so I thought he'd get a kick out of it.
Before going to the rodeo, one must don the proper attire. As Nicole and I are no country folk, we decided to let the professionals at one of the local emporiums dress our little man:
He was about as comfortable in chaps, vest, and Stetson as I'd be (note the fuzzy picture... he did not want that hat on his head!).
Now that we were dressed for rodeo success, we headed in. Here's the little family in our very own box seats (you must hit the rodeo in style!):
We had a fantastic view. Here is a video and picture from the action. (Sometimes I felt like I was watching a car crash in slow motion -- just waiting for someone to break their neck. To each his own!)
It wasn't long until the serious riding turned into some serious play. Here is a kids crawl, and when I say crawl, I mean run. These kids run after a frantic sheep trying to get away. Watch the poor sheep trying to get out of the fence over and over again. A couple kids get wiped out, too... I suppose that's why the rodeo program told parents they enter at their own risk! Nice.
I won't lie -- it was a great time! I'm glad we got a chance to see it in a real Texas country town. AND, Brayden had a great time, too! He cheered his cheeks pink!
The Rodeo Hall is located right in the middle of the Fort Worth Stockyards. On either side of it is the main street filled with shops and restaurants, and the occasional street performer (note his St. Patrick's day celebratory Care Bear):
This man is playing the mountain dulcimer... electric style. My grandfather plays, too, so I thought he'd get a kick out of it.
Before going to the rodeo, one must don the proper attire. As Nicole and I are no country folk, we decided to let the professionals at one of the local emporiums dress our little man:
He was about as comfortable in chaps, vest, and Stetson as I'd be (note the fuzzy picture... he did not want that hat on his head!).
Now that we were dressed for rodeo success, we headed in. Here's the little family in our very own box seats (you must hit the rodeo in style!):
We had a fantastic view. Here is a video and picture from the action. (Sometimes I felt like I was watching a car crash in slow motion -- just waiting for someone to break their neck. To each his own!)
It wasn't long until the serious riding turned into some serious play. Here is a kids crawl, and when I say crawl, I mean run. These kids run after a frantic sheep trying to get away. Watch the poor sheep trying to get out of the fence over and over again. A couple kids get wiped out, too... I suppose that's why the rodeo program told parents they enter at their own risk! Nice.
I won't lie -- it was a great time! I'm glad we got a chance to see it in a real Texas country town. AND, Brayden had a great time, too! He cheered his cheeks pink!
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Still Livin'
Hey gang -- we're still going strong here in the Bigness that is Texas. Now we're in Blanco, outside of Austin. We've spent a day in both Austin and San Antonio - both beautiful - and will have some great pictures and stories for you soon. Unfortunately, uploading large files with satellite internet is no picnic. SO... patience, patience. We'll be sharing soon!
Monday, March 19, 2007
Your baby's in Texas
It's vacation time -- wooh, wooh! We're in the Lonestar State (haven't figured that name out, yet) having a grand old cow-poke time. We arrived on St. Patrick's Day, so we should begin with the proper cuteness tribute to such a great, green saint. Here's your St. Paddy's day baby cutey:
When we arrived in Dallas-Fort Worth (aka, "the Metroplex"), I immediately noticed that these folk were not as country as I had imagined. Take a gander at the "vending machine" that was along the terminal wall just after we deplaned:
After that technological marvel, we headed to get out rental car (which is a separate story -- at the DFW airport, the rental companies are all in a wonderful mall-type building with a food/entertainment/coffee kiosk and cafe and all the cars in a shared garage... but the best part was that when we went to get our car, we were able to pick the make and model from a host of cars in the garage... whichever we wanted! That was exciting... what can I say, we're easily excitable!) Anyway, we headed to Southlake, TX where Julie and Andy Cronberg live, our hosts for the first half of the trip. We headed out to the Fort Worth Stockyards for a St. Patrick's Parade and rodeo.
...and again, technology in Texas amused me. This one is almost as good as the Amish man I saw using a cell phone in DC!
On to the parade... the Fort Worth Stockyards celebrated St. Patrick's Day with a special parade down their Main Street. It began with the longhorns (this is the first time I've seen these in person... and honestly, I don't know if I've ever seen a picture of them, either -- I suppose I didn't know they actually existed. I'm what you'd call a true southern boy, right??):
Yes, they let those things walk within arms-length of us... uh-huh. Anyway, here are some other photos from the parade (including a "gen-yu-wine" cowboy) beginning with a sweet looking family:
One final thought -- How do you know you're in Texas? As we sat on the side of the street waiting for the parade to begin, I smelled a little something... looked down... and saw a blob of red goo running down the street like rain water:
I turned to Andy and said, "What do you think this is? It smells a little like vinegar... maybe ketchup?" Andy said in response, "It's barbecue sauce. You're in Texas now!" Duh.
Welcome to Texas, people.
When we arrived in Dallas-Fort Worth (aka, "the Metroplex"), I immediately noticed that these folk were not as country as I had imagined. Take a gander at the "vending machine" that was along the terminal wall just after we deplaned:
After that technological marvel, we headed to get out rental car (which is a separate story -- at the DFW airport, the rental companies are all in a wonderful mall-type building with a food/entertainment/coffee kiosk and cafe and all the cars in a shared garage... but the best part was that when we went to get our car, we were able to pick the make and model from a host of cars in the garage... whichever we wanted! That was exciting... what can I say, we're easily excitable!) Anyway, we headed to Southlake, TX where Julie and Andy Cronberg live, our hosts for the first half of the trip. We headed out to the Fort Worth Stockyards for a St. Patrick's Parade and rodeo.
...and again, technology in Texas amused me. This one is almost as good as the Amish man I saw using a cell phone in DC!
On to the parade... the Fort Worth Stockyards celebrated St. Patrick's Day with a special parade down their Main Street. It began with the longhorns (this is the first time I've seen these in person... and honestly, I don't know if I've ever seen a picture of them, either -- I suppose I didn't know they actually existed. I'm what you'd call a true southern boy, right??):
Yes, they let those things walk within arms-length of us... uh-huh. Anyway, here are some other photos from the parade (including a "gen-yu-wine" cowboy) beginning with a sweet looking family:
One final thought -- How do you know you're in Texas? As we sat on the side of the street waiting for the parade to begin, I smelled a little something... looked down... and saw a blob of red goo running down the street like rain water:
I turned to Andy and said, "What do you think this is? It smells a little like vinegar... maybe ketchup?" Andy said in response, "It's barbecue sauce. You're in Texas now!" Duh.
Welcome to Texas, people.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Randomness
Hi all. Not only is this week the end of classes and Finals/Midterms, but we're getting ready to jet out to Texas for Spring Break on Saturday. Needless to say, things are busy. BUT, never fear, b/c here is a little baby happiness, just for you.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Aquarium Experience!!
B, Mom, and Gigi took a lovely jaunt up to Baltimore to their Aquarium! It was the first time Brayden has seen fish in tanks that large (a bit larger than the ones in PetSmart). He loved it!
In baby news, B is pulling up from the ground with authority. AND, just today: I sat him on the sofa, he promptly rolled onto his belly and pushed himself off the sofa (feet first) into a standing position and took a few steps! (along the sofa, people) It was such a surprise, and all at once! On top of that, he's been clearly recognizing names of people and things (us, animals, etc.) and finding them when we ask. Our little baby is growing so fast!
(Scroll all the way down to see a video at the end...)
Not only do we have pictures from the Aquarium... but here is a video of Brayden watching the dolphins (you'll have to imagine the dolphins based on the picture above -- they're just out of the screen). As you will see, B's informing me, "Dada-dada." That means that I should have been there. Next time, man!
In baby news, B is pulling up from the ground with authority. AND, just today: I sat him on the sofa, he promptly rolled onto his belly and pushed himself off the sofa (feet first) into a standing position and took a few steps! (along the sofa, people) It was such a surprise, and all at once! On top of that, he's been clearly recognizing names of people and things (us, animals, etc.) and finding them when we ask. Our little baby is growing so fast!
(Scroll all the way down to see a video at the end...)
Not only do we have pictures from the Aquarium... but here is a video of Brayden watching the dolphins (you'll have to imagine the dolphins based on the picture above -- they're just out of the screen). As you will see, B's informing me, "Dada-dada." That means that I should have been there. Next time, man!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)