R & R, four years in the making.

Brian and I had a great weekend away without kids, our first time away together since before Aubrey was born.  What on earth took us so long????  Actually, it's not like we haven't wanted this to happen.  Life just seemed to get in the way... nursing babies, deployments, grad school, and not living near family hasn't helped. Anyway, with the help of some amazing friends, we escaped to Wimberley. TX for a little R&R. We enjoyed slow meals, some good books, slow strolls, and even some live music at the famous Gruene Hall.  I feel refreshed and ready to tackle the latest toddler crisis. 

Meanwhile back at the ranch, Henry and Aubrey had a BLAST!  Henry enjoyed the undivided attention of the Sessis, and from their photos, he was all smiles.  Aubrey got to have her first sleep over with a friend, Alivia, and has not stopped talking about it.  Alivia's mom and I have known each other since Kindergarten and spent many nights at one another's homes back in the day. Who would have thought our kids would be doing the same thing?  

To the Risingers and Sessis: THANK YOU! 

This photo sums up Henry at sleepytime. He is a thumbsucker and holds on to the snap on his jammies as a little security blanket. So sweet.

The Blue Chair

January...

and today...

Back to school, finally!

Why does it seem like it took forever for school to start this year?  Probably because we had such a hot summer and spent too much time inside the house.  Aubrey has been so ready for pre-school to get going again, and thankfully, yesterday was her first day. She will go 3 mornings a week this year and I know she is ready!  It will be a challenge to get everyone up and going three days in a row, but she is desperate for some additional stimulation.  She had a short day yesterday and today, but will go the full time starting next week.  She loves her new teacher and is happy to have some old classmates and one of her best buds in her class this year. 

Then. 

September 2008.

And now. September 2009. What a change! No more babyface :(.

Aubrey and her teacher, Ms. Jami. Doesn't she looked thrilled?  Really, she was. She had been wearing her backpack since about 7am. I'm surprised she wasn't up and dressed at about 4am.

Today was Henry's first day of Mother's Day Out.. all 45 mins of it!  And it wasn't really a day out since I had to stay with him the whole time. Hmmm.  He will go twice a week, and by the end of the month, will be there a full 4 hours each time.  WHAHOOOO.  I say that now.  What will I do with myself for a whole 8 hours a week!!!  Somehow I think I will fill the time quickly, and hopefully be a better me, mother, housekeeper, wife and who knows what else because of it.  He is definitely the youngest in his class and still seems like such a baby.  I know it will be a rough transition with no morning nap and no mommy. Luckily, he really started walking in the last few days, so hopefully the other kids won't run him over. 

Then. 

Sept 2008 (ok, so he wasn't in "school" last year, but this was taken on Aubrey's first day last year). What an even bigger change!

It's impossible to get Henry to sit still for a photo.  He just doesn't "get it."  Wonder how the teachers are going to get him to sit at a little table to eat? But he still has the babyface. So sweet.

Come on sis, let's goooo!

What's that you say?  School?  I don't wanna go!

All in all, it was a great first "week" back. The school has a brand new building and it's amazing! I'm so excited for what the year holds.

Lunch with some fellow Vixens.

OK, I know most of you are wondering why I would ever refer to myself as a vixen. That's probably because you are thinking of a vixen as a "spiteful or quarrelsome women." While my husband might agree with that definition every now and then, I am referring to the other definition, which is "a female fox."  Now, now. Before you start thinking I'm a little high on myself for thinking of myself as a foxy lady, what I am really referring to is the mascot of my alma-mater.  I went the Sweet Briar College, a woman's college (and it's THE most beautiful campus you've ever seen, but  I'm not biased).  Holla holla fellow Vixens.  

Anyway... short story long, I had lunch with some of my college friends on Saturday and had a great time. Heather and Rosemary were both a class ahead of me, but at a small school like SBC, you are friends with almost everyone.  Heather lives in Amarillo and was coming to Austin to visit family. Rosemary lives in Austin. In fact, we were roommates in Austin for about a year after I graduated from college.  I hadn't seen Heather since she graduated, 15 years ago! Both Rosemary and I had moved away for Austin for a while, and other than seeing her at my wedding and running into her a few months ago, hadn't spent much time together.  So, we were all long overdue for a visit.  We had lunch at my house so Heather's kiddos, and mine, would be entertained by toys and we could catch up properly. It was such a fun lunch and I'm so glad we did it!!! Thanks girls!

Me, Heather and Rosie

Lauren and Aubrey had the best time playing dress up.

Holden, Henry, Aubrey and Lauren. Our kids are so close in age, which made them instant playmates, and partners in crime.

With the boys away, the girls will play!

Aubrey and I had a somewhat unexpected girl's weekend last weekend.  Brian had planned a quick weekend trip to MN to visit his family, and since Henry is a lap child and can fly free, he decided to take him with him.  It was so great to have some time with just Aubrey.  We haven't had much of it since Henry was born.  I decided to make it a really special weekend, and although we were staying behind, I made it feel like a vacation for her.  We kept VERY busy and did many of her favorite things. We started off with ballet class on Friday, then met friends for lunch at her favorite restaurant (Chik-Fil-A), then had dinner with friends at a great pizza place with a playground. Saturday we headed to New Braunfels to check out their children's museum. It was wonderful! She had a blast.  Then a quick trip to the outlets in San Marcus and we were back home and at the pool. Sunday we made it to church and then went to Central Market for playtime, lunch and grocery shopping. We rounded out the weekend with a trip to a splash park downtown. Whew, I'm worn out again just thinking about it.  

I have to say, having only one child to haul around and entertain was a lot easier, but by Sunday, I was very ready for Henry and Brian to come home. I missed my little baby so much and I think Aubrey did too.  

So happy to be playing with friends, and to be having pizza!

Henry's buddy Jane Ann was wondering where he was.

At the museum. She LOVED the "store" and probably would have stayed there the whole time if i would have let her.