Weekend Getaway

Both of the kids ended up on trips at the same time, so Jeremy and I thought it was a good idea to take advantage of that and get away. We were going to go to Mexico, but I was not okay with leaving the country with the kids in other states so we went to Fredericksburg and Austin. We love Austin and every time we go we find new, fun things to do. This trip we decided to go with a "best of Austin" theme. We took in best of restaurants, coffee shops, and boutiques. Totally recommend Shady Grove, Home Slice, Cedar Door and Jo's Coffee Shop! There are a couple of pictures of us at Hamilton Preserve, a historic natural swimming pool. It's about a mile hike to the pool but so worth it. It was beautiful! When we finished swimming we decided to hike the other trail which was fun until I saw a huge, black snake. That really freaked me out. I know snakes are out there and I'm okay with that I just don't ever want to see them. We also wanted to visit Fredericksburg because we hear so much about it but have never been. We spent the last day of our trip in Fredericksburg visiting wineries and walking around on main street. For whatever reason Fredericksburg equals heavy incense/candle burning. Seriously some of the stores were so bad I couldn't even walk in them! My favorite shop was a surf shop. In the picture I'm on some sort of balancing thing...so fun. Wish I could remember what it was because I want one. Finally, we decided to hike Enchanted Rock before heading home and loved it! Glad we decided to go.

Bailey's trip to Wilmington

I have been super busy with summer school. I am cramming three years of school into two, so that required me to take five classes this summer. I didn't want the kids to be bored so we planned trips and camps to keep them entertained. Bailey got to spend a week with my brother, his wife and daughter in North Carolina. She loved Wrightsville Beach! Jordan was so sad when Bailey had to leave. She cried every time they mentioned it, the entire time at the airport and apparently really lost it when she saw the plane take off...so sweet. We are planning a family trip there next summer...can't wait!

Panama City

Riley took a trip to Panama City with most of his best friends: Alec, Nick, Galen, Cole, Maggie, Taylor and Blaire. I would love for him to write about the trip, but that will never happen. I wouldn't even have pictures other than some of a crab he caught then ate and the Ripley's Believe It or Not upside down building if iI had to rely on him. Thank you Maggie and Taylor for taking and posting the pics! He did tell me that he and Cole spent one night digging a tunnel in the sand, he ate a raw fish, renting the scooter's was a lot of fun, and that he loved dancing at the teen club.

Bailey's 13th

How do you plan the perfect surprise 13th birthday party? Well, you do not send a text with all of the party details including the location and gifts to your daughter instead of your wife...oops! I guess we'll try for a surprise another year :) Btw it is now official...I am the shortest member of my family! I knew it would happen sooner or later, but I did not expect Bailey to pass me by 13.

Jessica :)

The first time I met Jessica my 6'4" husband was sitting in a toddler chair...and so our friendship began! We have shared a lot of laughs and a lot of tears! There was NRHBC young marrieds, Nathan reading the paper, the Burleson house, Jackson calling Jeremy "Jill", Bailey and Emma: two peas in a pod, Granbury, the Colonial, Hurricane Harbor, volleyball, Veteran's day and so much more! Even though she is all the way in North Carolina I still love her and miss her a lot!

Mother's Day

Yes, it is almost August and I am posting from Mother's Day. I realize that I am probably the world's most unfaithful blogger, but that's okay. I blog so that when my kids are older they not only have pictures to look back through, but my thoughts about our memories. Of course, it's a nice bonus that my extended family and friends get to stay more connected by reading these posts and viewing our pictures. I would say that I will be more faithful, but I probably won't. The down side to procrastinating is that I don't always remember sayings, phrases or thoughts I wanted to include, but I'm gonna' try anyway. So, Mother's Day was fabulous as usual. Riley gave me the sweetest card! I literally cried reading it and will keep it forever. Bailey is very thoughtful and puts a lot of thought into gifts so she made sure to get me some of my favorite things: gift certificate for a mother/daughter pedicure, Starbuck's card, and Reese's peanut butter cups. Riley knows that what I love most is spending time with my family so he decided to get me a gift card so that we could shop together. My kids know me pretty well and are super thoughtful! For that I give credit to their dad. He is one of the most thoughtful people I know and loves to make me feel special.

Spring Break in Breckenridge

Until this year we'd never gone on a winter vacation. Jeremy and I love the beach so that is always our first choice. But this past summer Nadirah moved to Breckenridge so we wanted to visit and our kids really wanted to go skiing and snowboarding. We loved the town of Breck, it was so cute. Our first day there we just walked around, shopped, ate at Eric's and the Crepe stand (both so yummy) and took a hike which didn't last long without snowshoes. We woke up Tuesday morning to inches of snowfall. We were all so excited and amazed by the beauty of the falling snow against the mountains. We headed over to Keystone for our first day to ski and snowboard. Some of us had a little experience but most had none which led to a very interesting first day. Jeremy and Bailey both tried to snowboard, but were quite unsuccessful. I think they said it took them about an hour and a half to get less than half way down the mountain before they decided to call for a ride down. Apparently, that was super fun and the highlight of their day. Riley, Eric and I skied until sunset. It was amazing being on the mountain at night with the town lit up below. I had so much fun with Riley and he was pretty impressed that I could keep up with him. Although, he was not so comfortable watching me fall. He said it's weird to watch Bailey and I fall down...so sweet!! After skiing a day we headed to Glenwood Springs, Colorado. There's a natural hot spring so even though it was snowing and cold we could swim. We all skied again on Friday at Peak 8 in Breckenridge. Bailey, Jesse and Colleen finally got the hang of it and skied with us all day. Jeremy is an awful skier!! I have no idea how someone can be so athletic and so bad at skiing :) Honestly, he was our entertainment all day. He ran into trees, the kids ski school area and a group of resort employees. He decided to give snowboarding one more try and was finally able to get the down the mountain. Before we left we stopped by Denver to visit some friends and spent a little time in downtown Denver.

J&J in downtown Breckenridge

Jeremy's brother drove in from Denver

Nadirah, Russell, Jill, Jeremy, Bailey, Rebecca, Lilly and Riley

On the slopes in Breckenridge

Aunt Colleen

Jeremy standing :)

Riley on the Terrain Park jumps

The whole gang at the base of Peak 8

Bailey doing a lot better on ski's!

Denver

Bailey and I heading out to a Green

Eric, Jesse, Colleen & Rudy

Jeremy, Jill, Riley, Bailey & Nadirah

Jeremy being funny

Rudy

Glenwood Springs

Jeremy calling for his ride

Jesse & Jill

Jesse & Colleen

On the "emergency" sled

Keystone

The gondola

Back in Breck

My little brother

Waiting on crepes