For Christmas we asked TJ's parents to join us in Texas for a week. We chose Austin because we had never been, heard the weather was great, the culture was fun, and we thought it would be the perfect getaway to beat winter blues. We rented a house for all six of us and headed down for sunshine and exploration. After five days there, I think Austin is pretty great. And for the next time we go we have a whole list of things to do that we never actually got to. :)
Life doesn't always go as we plan, does it? We'll never forget this week ("Remember that time when the kids were little and we went on vacation for a week and they were so sick we hardly left the house?). It definitely wasn't the vacation we were planning on, but there were lots of great moments and we left with scads of new memories to cherish.
Reed was sick all week - sick enough that we rotated sleeping with him at night as he just couldn't breathe clearly - and by Wednesday Holland was sick too. Nana and Papa (saints! seriously, saints!) were up with Reed every morning by about 5 AM so TJ and I could get some extra sleep. We packed a puzzle that we thought would be far too ambitious for a five day trip but on Thursday night we placed the last piece - we had a lot of down time and that's okay!
Tuesday was a nice day and we went out for lunch before heading to Zilker Park, a Central Park-like space in downtown Austin. The sun was out and we all marveled at the people swimming in the river (it was about 65 degrees outside). Reed tromped around the playground with Nana, Papa, and TJ as I pushed Holland's stroller along the path that paralleled the river. I could've spent days at that place - botanical gardens, a train for the kids to ride, an outdoor science and nature center, loads of paths through loads of beauty. Eventually I convinced Reed to leave the playground to explore the river, where he ended up in his diaper playing in that same cold river as all the other crazy people. :) I joined him (up to my knees ;) and Holland seems to also have inherited the cold water gene because she, too, was happily splashing around.
Wednesday morning we hit Mt. Bonnell for the gorgeous views overlooking Lake Austin (and the magnificent estates along the river!) Reed had a complete meltdown so we called it quits early and headed to explore the Texas State Capitol, an imposing structure (with a pink hue!) that was just gorgeous to explore. After another meltdown we headed home for naps, did takeout for dinner, and had a low key night at home.
Thursday Nana and Papa headed to Waco to explore the world of Chip and Joanna Gaines. TJ and I spent the whole day home with the kids, just venturing out in the evening to explore the Austin Central Library with Nana and Papa prior to getting crepes for dinner. The library was so beautiful - I wished for several more hours to see it all. TJ and I were especially enchanted with all the board games they had (including a bunch of really nice ones we'd never want to buy without playing first).
Friday morning we scrambled to pack up, return the stroller, buy snacks for the flight, and travel home. Reed and TJ joined Nana and Papa to explore a Bass Pro Shop and go bowling while Holland and I traversed the (numerous) highways to get everything together for our flight home. We were so worried about the kids' sinuses on the flight but they did great - probably due to the Benadryl we gave them.
And now we're home. TJ picked up this yucky sickness on Friday and has spent both yesterday and today in bed, the doctor told us yesterday that both Holland's ears are infected, and we are feeling a bit of trepidation as we look at the busy week ahead. Instead of focusing on that, here are a few things I want to remember from last week:
- The two morning runs I was able to do in Texas. It was so refreshing to be out in nature, running along paths in the green spaces that seemed to be everywhere. Those quiet moments with the birds singing and my legs moving were beautifully restorative.
- The family walk we did one evening, where we ended up at a pond we didn't know was there. Poppy and Reed had both brought their binoculars and it was my first time bird-watching with binoculars. We saw hooded mergansers that were captivating.
- Tacos! Turns out Austin has some really great Mexican food and we fell in love with Tacodeli, eating there three days in a row.
- The relief I felt when TJ made our flight home. Man oh man. Seeing his face coming out of security, literally five minutes before they shut the door, made me breathe a huge sigh of relief. So glad we didn't have to decide whether we'd split up to get home.
- The river swim. It was just so fun - spontaneous and adventurous and maybe a little crazy with sick kids, but probably the highlight of the trip for me.
- The kind cowboy who helped me to the car in Salt Lake City. TJ had gone to get the car out of parking while I gathered our luggage and this cowboy - who saw me with two kids, wearing a backpack, pushing a luggage cart (carrying two precariously-balanced car seats) with one hand and pulling two full-size suitcases with the other - turned to his friend and said "watch my saddle." and turned to me and said, "Let me help you out, Ma'am." It was just so incredibly kind. Before he walked away he said, "Come see us at the rodeo this weekend if y'all have time." So nice.
- The date TJ and I had one afternoon. It was lovely to sit out in the sunshine and eat tacos together without juggling kids and who got to eat food while it was hot. ;)
- The unbelievable sunset on our flight home. It was the most brilliant red-orange I've ever seen, vivid as could be, and we chased it for more than thirty minutes.
What a week!
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| A post-river swim picture - thank goodness for jammies in the diaper bag! |
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