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austin.part two

(click here for part one)

even though we didn’t set one alarm,
B and i both woke up promptly 
at the exact time our children would have been waking.
in another state.


we headed to brunch with two other couples
and then saw the city of austin.



we visited a popular coffee spot


and just sat.
yeah, that was weird.


we were greeted by this friendly turtle


and B enjoyed a nice cold cream soda
while i had my coffee fix.


we then headed back to the hotel for a quick swim


and then got ready for the big event
(the wedding).


it was beautiful
and heartfelt and
the minister was the bride’s brother.
i know, how special was that.
so special. 


the bride and groom were equally laid back.
which was hard for me to handle 
since i am 100% type a.
like i needed to tell you that.




the location of the reception was incredible.
it used be an old church in a small town in the center of texas
and the building was moved to austin in the late 90s.



it was light and bright and just perfect for a party.




we had a lovely time at the reception.


B and R.
also known as “two of the three pranksters.”



the other prankster and his lovely wife.


the bridesmaids all had different dresses on.
and even though that maid of honor 
probably would have helped our prankster husbands, 
she couldn’t because she wasn’t allowed any essential information 
 like the whereabouts of the bride and grooms bags, either. 


all eight of us.


us wives.


pretty soon, it was time 
for the bride and groom to leave the party.
(isn’t her dress just adorable?)


they were sent off in a sea of bubbles,
and that was that.


the day ended with a beautiful sunset, 
filled with streams of clouds.


and i have decided that austin is just about 
as beautiful at night as it is during the day. 

No one will be able to stand up against you 
all the days of your life. 
As I was with Moses, 
so I will be with you; 
I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Joshua 1:5

1476. being almost on time
1477. getting to pick K up from school
1478. more artwork than i know what to do with
1479. new little friends
1480. truth spoken into my life at CBS


part three will be next week!

austin.part one

nearly two weeks ago
(how could it already be that long ago?)
my husband i and went on a little trip to austin.
(i’m sure you remember the ten on ten here.)
one of his best buddies from college was getting married.
and there was no way that we would miss the event.
so, my parents kindly watched all three munchkins.
B and i hadn’t been away for a night
without at least one of the children
in nearly three years.
it was time.


through God’s mighty hand,
we were able to use miles and got the privilege to stay at 
the W.



that hotel holds a special place in our hearts
as it is where we were blessed enough to
have our wedding reception.
eight years ago. 


the room was
absolutely,
positively,
incredible.
as was the view.


i brought my mom’s cowboy boots,
(which, by the way, i am never giving back)
because seriously, if you don’t wear boots in texas, 
where can you wear them?
sidenote: i had no idea that my ankles could sweat like they did.
i was definitely not prepared for that.
now i know.


for the first night, 
we got all gussied up 
and headed to the rehearsal dinner. 

it was there that the bride-to-be 
warned my husband 
(which to whom she referred as 
“one of the pranksters”)
 that her bridesmaids were on full alert.
(more on that soon…)

May the God of hope 
fill you with all joy and peace 
as you trust in him, 
so that you may overflow with hope 
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

1471. giggles in the stroller
1472. L’s love for books
1473. crickets chirping
1474. pink and yellow
1475. shopping in my sister’s closet

the concert.

every single summer,
we head to a local museum
for an outdoor kids concert.


and every year, it’s even more incredible.


this year, we had some dear friends join us


along with a bunch of family
and it rocked.


as usual.


L got to hang with one of his besties from school


and the girls got to dance with their dads.


sweet L loved the tunes,


and these little girls loved 
dancing,


dancing and
dancing


to the great band.


my sweet nurse friend
brought her hubby and sweet baby girl.


isn’t she so adorable?
yes, yes she is.


there were lots and lots


of laughs,


and even though this guy 
was a little too cool to dance,
he enjoyed the music.


my sis and her B joined us,


and i was as thrilled as can be 
to have my B join us.


and sweet H had a thing for my D.


and this little girl,
she stole my heart ages ago.
and i can’t believe how grown up she is getting.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,
but only what is helpful for building others up
according to their needs,
that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29

1461. pizza delivered
1462. a silent car ride home
1463. spending so much time with baby E
1464. getting to see baby E again
1465. a whole new week ahead

we could be sisters.

this week is kicking my butt.
in a major way.

we’re figuring things out though.
like how to be even more efficient.
and cutting more stuff out.
it’s still wild and crazy for nearly every second of the day.

here’s a photo from a fabulous outdoor concert we went to last month.
more photos to come soon.
(i know that i have been saying that
a lot lately but i know you all understand.)


this is the lovely S 
(with a Y).
only two of you will understand that.
she was one of the incredible nurses 
that took care of me 
when B and i lived in the hospital 
for six weeks. 
i think we’re going to be life-long friends
and don’t you totally think we could be sisters?
totally.

1456. 800 photos of someone special
(coming soon)
1457. an entire dinner made by B
1458. going shopping with my little girl
1459. being surrounded by joy
1460. giving myself a break

that day.

do you remember that day at the beach?
well, here are the rest of the photos (finally).


my happy little man.
who is nearly always happy.
except when he’s not.


it was sensational
on that day.


like nothing we’ve ever experienced before.


windbreakers and the ocean?
you bet!


the guys doing manly things.


the girlies.


my girlie.


running.


the sweetest little boy in town 
with one of the best aunties.


how incredible is that orange boogie board.
so incredible.


the little athlete of the family.


trudging through some water. 


they are always happy to get in the water.
which they never get to do 
when i am the only with them at the beach.
we do a lot of looking at the water on those days.


the birds 
(photo thanks for B)


the sun got lower and the day drew darker.


our little hermit crab.

Cast your cares on the LORD 
and he will sustain you
Psalm 55:22

1441. two sweet little girls
1442. a great teacher for my little D
1443. limes
1444. dinner already made
1445. catching my breath

really quiet.

B has been working really hard
on some sweet little gifts for the bigs
(more on that soon).

so as we headed out the door 
bright and early yesterday morning,
these little gifts were waiting on the front porch
for D and K.


orange for D
(of course)


and pink for K.
(of course)


my sweet little D started kindy yesterday.


i can’t believe that my first-born is already school-age.


i cried like a big baby after his teacher
took the kids to their classroom.


but i’m okay now.
i think.


it was really, really quiet with
only two kids at home.
really quiet.


and he loved every moment of his day
(of course).

1436. the moon, out early to greet us
1437. new friends in the neighborhood
1438. a breeze
1439. ice cubes
1440. confusion being ironed out at the pharmacy

farewell.

well, it’s about that time we say 
farewell to summer.

(a dog, obviously)

you’ve been good to us.
so very good to us this year.


(i have no idea)

we have enjoyed some lovely sun-filled days 
at the beach
and the pool 
and you have provided many quiet moments 
among a surprisingly rigid and 
unrelenting summer schedule.

(again, no idea)

we will always look back at this summer 
and think about all of the lovely ways 
in which we enjoyed our time with you.
and we will always remember this 
as the last summer before D enters kindergarten.
(snakes)

even though i didn’t even get close to 
implementing my summer schedule
(a lot of that will hopefully be put into a fall schedule)
we still had an intentional and fulfilling summer.

(a playdough man) 

It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; 
you made both summer and winter.
Psalm 74:17

1426. giggling children although they should be sleeping
1427. an absolutely incredible sunset
1428. talking books with a seven year old
1429. a painting project with my B
1430. a two hour “planning” meeting

butterflies.

i’m sure you remember my post about

well, this year they had 
the most incredible
new exhibit. 


it was a butterfly exhibit.


the children were in absolute awe
that they could each catch a little fluttering friend.


and they quickly figured out that 
if they were careful enough,
they could place the little butterfly food
on themselves.


and so that is what they did.


did you know it’s always a good idea to close an eye 
if you have a butterfly on your head.
it’s typical butterfly protocol.


and there was a worker at the gate 
making sure that there 
weren’t any butterflies trying to escape.

The good man brings good things
out of the good stored up in his heart,
and the evil man brings evil things
out of the evil stored up in his heart.
For out of the overflow of his heart
his mouth speaks.
Luke 6:45

1421. catching a breath
1422. fluttering butterflies
1423. B solving my computer mouse problem
1424. a brave B keeping our family safe from rabid squirrels
1425. an iced coffee delivery
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