Summer Road Trip ~ 2013

 Our 2013 Summer road trip began with a quick stop over in Lubbock, TX.  It has been 15 years since I have visited my old stomp'n grounds.  The town has changed immensely...new stadium, new buildings (at least they built them to look like the others), no ghetto (now condos), and the city is no longer dry (the poor strip is a ghost town!)

Of course we have to stop at each state line!

Campsite #1...Mueller State Park, at the base of Pikes Peak.  We were welcomed by a lightening and thunderstorm that made us eat dinner in the truck.  The next day was perfect for a long hike!  Thanks to the Wild Boys for letting us borrow their tent (ours was too big!)

A quick trip down the street to visit the Garden of the Gods and to Wally World to buy gloves and hats...this TX girl did not pack appropriately.  The nights dropped close to the 30's.

Took the Cog (only 3 left in the USA) to the top of Pike's Peak...BURR!!

Campsite #2...Golden Gate Canyon State Park.  We rented a yurt, because we can and where else would we ever stay in one again?  More hiking and a gorgeous view of the front range of the Rocky Mountains.   

Toured an old gold mine with some cousins with my dad's side.  The kids had a blast, I felt short, and we did not leave millionaires!   But memories were made. 

Then we finally met up with my mom's side of the family.  We woke up and ran the Red Rocks Amphitheater and visited Mother Cabrini's Shrine...each taking a shot of the healing waters.  Alex was the only one up for one last hike up the steps to view the Stations of the Cross and the stairway of prayer.  

Sunday, we left at sunrise and made it home by sunset...15 1/2 hours of non-stop driving in daylight!  Glad to be back in ATX!!

Summer Stay 2013

Every summer we are lucky enough to have my niece come to ATX and spend some time with us.  I always try to keep her entertained with new adventures.  In our short 6 days together we managed to...

Mountain bike Reimers Ranch.

Swim in the ever so cold Barton Springs and picnic in the nearby Zilker Park.

Hit the road for a day trip to San Antonio to tour the Toyota Factory, get lost in a mirror maze, conquer the laser beam challenge and stop by for a quick history lesson at the Alamo.  The we escaped the flash floods of the torrential downpours only after getting soaked head to toe and swimming back to our car.

Flew like an eagle at IFly Austin...AWESOME!

And relaxed on a SUP board in downtown.

Until next summer...we love you so much!!

First Day of Summer...

Today was the last day of school and the first day of summer.  We celebrated by racing at K1 Speed.  After a brief safety lesson and a helmet check...the boys were off!   Fran even had her fair share of fun on the winners box!

Hoping summer does not go by as fast as these races did...or maybe so come August :)

Bittersweet

My LAST preschool graduation!

Bike to School Day ~ 2013

Our annual Bike to Work/School Rally was a success...donuts and OJ in our driveway at 0700 and a caravan of 30+ people to the elementary school!  

The Best Mother's Day EVER, check!

Mountain bike, check!

Camelbak, check!

Sunglasses, check!

Sunscreen, check!

5 smiles before the 7 mile novice trail at Reimer's Ranch, check!

Tears during, check!

A 5 year old taking the dirt road back to the truck with Daddy 0.6 miles into it, check!

2 boys racking themselves, check!

A small hike to the Pedernales River, check!

2 out of 3 kids sleeping on the way home, check!