Spring Break 2012

This was our first real spring break with kids. I have a whole new appreciation for it. Up until now, spring break with kids was not really a break. Instead of spending all but a few hours a week with the kids, we (I) would spend every hour with them. Not much of a break. Now that Aubrey is in elementary school, it's a whole new ball game. I get very few hours with her during the week. We all have to rise early, eat quickly, and be out the door by 7:20am. I cherish the mornings when we have nothing to do, can eat breakfast leisurely, and lounge in pj's for a few hours.

We did not have any real plans for the break, and while I was a little sad at first, I am so glad it turned out the way it did. We had a great first night with an impromptu dinner at the neighbors. I was so relaxed it was 9:30pm before we thought about getting the kids to bed. If you know me, it's lights out and eyes closed at 7pm almost every night. The time change ended up helping our lazy mornings. The kids slept until 9am a few days and we able to last a little longer each night. I was so thankful we didn't have to race to school, tennis, choir, or soccer. All in all the weather was perfect. A few rain showers, but mostly beautiful Austin days.

On Monday, our neighbors invited us to join them for a day at a lake house they rented... 8 miles away. It was perfect! We were there in 15 mins. Aubrey had a blast swimming in Lake Austin, and both kids were given kayak rides by the older kids. Thank you Roberts family for a great start to the week.

On Tuesday we headed to Lost Creek Park and caught up with some old, and new, friends. Wednesday I was able to sneak away for a few hours for physical therapy while the kids played across the street. Earlier in the week, we talked about talking a last minute overnight trip for one night, but nothing was working out. When talking to my friend Susanna about what to do, we ended up convincing our husbands to take a day off and headed to San Marcos. We went on the glass bottom boat ride at Aquarena Springs and then headed for lunch by the river. And then, everyone lost their mind and went swimming in the chilly river. Everyone but me. I'm smart like that.

on the boat

we stopped at a great park before the swim

monkey bars take serious concentration

her comes Sally

and here are the crazy people. Marty, Sally and Clark

this one is crazy too.

Sally has no fear

Can you see Aubrey and Sally shaking?

Because we have had a decent amount of rain lately, the wildflowers around Austin are popping up and are beautiful. On Friday, I decided to take the kids to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower center. I love it there. The architecture is beautiful and so are the grounds. The kids had so much fun exploring, talking to turtles, and climbing the tower. Best of all, they humored me with some fun photos.

I was a little disappointed that there weren't any huge patches of bluebonnets. So after some lunch, we went flower hunting and found this...

The bluebonnets are gorgeous, and apparently, very itchy. Henry was none too pleased.

Alas, the break is over. Today was a hard day. Aubrey cried about going to school for the first time ever, and I had to peel them both out of bed. All in all, we had a really great break. Now I'm really looking forward to summer...

Where did my baby go?

While Aubrey is still very much a child, it became even more apparent to me after our last visit to the eye doctor that she is no longer a baby. We have gone from this...

to this...

to this...

somehow I don't think it's just the new glasses that make her seem older.

and now this...

End of one season, start of another

Last weekend we had a very busy Saturday. Aubrey had her first soccer game of the spring season, following by her last basketball game of the season. We had to leave the soccer game early to make it to the basketball game. I'm glad we don't have to race between games more often. I fear, however, that Henry will not stand by and watch for much longer, and by next year, I'm sure we'll be splitting our time.

Aubrey is on an all girls team this time around, and the Cheetahs can't be missed in that pink. I'm pretty sure there was some trash talk going on in this photo.

I admit I was a little unsure about how basketball would turn out. I was shocked at how much they learned. Some kids were naturals, and others had to work at it. I remember back at "try-outs" (more of an evaluation to balance out teams), Aubrey didn't even know how to dribble. Now she is so proud that she can not only cripple, but do it running down the court.

She isn't a very aggressive player, but she did understand playing defense and didn't let the boys push her around.

I think Coach dad had a great time too.

Way to go number 15!!!!

Oh, and about Henry. He was just devastated that he couldn't play and didn't have a uniform. Thanks to our friend who is in charge of Upward, he now has a jersey all his own. Here he is with GiGi who was here for one of Aubrey's games a few weeks back.