SXSW 2011

It's St Patrick's Day and we celebrated by listening to some good music! Had a few Dublin Dr. Peppers....

Pretty sure the bands were playing just for these nine kiddos. Not really but it sure seemed that way.

Yes, I made them get down right after I took five pictures.

The kiddos sat right up in the front. This band, American City, rocked it!

We also loved Hungry Kids of Hungary.

We saw The Butts yesterday. Hilarious and worth every second since their songs were about 20 seconds long each.
They actually pointed Freya out in the front of the crowd and sang this just for her.

What to do with 15 kids

Well, really only 7 kids.

Take kids to playground.

Overload tire swing.

Find a seven-person cow.

Take ice cream break.

Dip toes in water.

Repeat as necessary.

Jennifer Hoech

Frogs

Summer bugs and frogs. Or are they toads?

I've been listening to the kiddos laugh and squeel about the toads for the past hour. Honestly, it's been a long time since I've heard my son's high-pitched innocuous jubilations of delight.

Utter abandoment for all things cool and a too long reigned in release of excitement.

I would have gone out there to take pictures of him so excited but that surely would have ruined the delighted yelps of summer.

Summer. That's what it's for.

Texas Meadows

The wildflowers in Texas are absolutely beautiful. Little Bit had fun exploring the end of the wildflower season.

SXSW '10

For the third year in a row, we took the kids down to listen to some music.




The boys are not shy about finding a good viewing spot.





Freya loves to sit in front and enjoy the music.






Didn't get any pics from the cupcakes but here are pics from last year. They are highly recommended if you're in the area.

Afternoon Hike

Our family relishes a good hike in nature.


As much as we loved the huge trees, mountains and water falls in Oregon, Texas can be really pretty.





If you look, you will find pockets of beauty.

Mom and Kid Camping Trip III

Why is it that most of the pictures of our camping trip are in the water? Well, I guess because there isn't much else to do and it was in the 90's.





Freya was spending some time with these dragonflies. So cute.




I think this last picture is right after a group of kids rescued Freya. She had floated downstream a bit. I wasn't worried too much, she was on a tube, but still...

Mom and Kid Camping Trip II

There is a huge rock in the middle of the river that the boys loved sitting on. I guess because it was slightly dangerous and they were away from us.

They are at that age where they so want to be independent but I am not sure that the mom's are ready for that. Well, I'm not, I worry. They had their own tent to share, went out exploring on their own quite a bit and had some freedom from the women folk.

This last picture is one that Jonah took of his friends when they were walking by themselves. I did end up with some other random pictures that the boys took. Things like; urinals, toilets, random butts, I'll save those for when Jonah has his first date.

Mom and Kid Camping Trip I

This is the second year we have had a mid-week camping trip. We plan it this way so the camp sights are a bit less crowded and also it is just the moms. Not that dad's aren't welcome, it's just nice to get some time with the ladies.

This river is so picturesque, the kids have fun, the mom's get to relax a bit. And the dogs really enjoy themselves.

I have so many great pictures this may be a three part post.

Barton Springs

Sunday we headed over to Barton Springs.

We love to swim here, it's really big (over an eight of a mile long) has fish and plants to look at and a relaxing atmosphere. The pool is spring fed so it is pretty chilly, about 68 degrees. Once you commit and get in, it's not so bad.

I love to go swimming there, such a great long swim uninterrupted by the turning that you have to do in regular pools.

Bluebonnets

It is the Texas thing to do to get your little one's picture taken among the Bluebonnets.
This lovely flower is the Texas state flower and is actually against the law to pick them. I guess that if you pick them or mow them, they will not regrow the following year. A few of our neighbors will not mow their lawn until after the Bonnets have run their course.

There are frequent posts on email lists and such, asking where the best patch of Blue bonnets can be found. Here is a great article about why the Texan's love them some Bluebonnets. Taken from the article: Perhaps historian Jack Maguire explains it best. He once wrote: "The bluebonnet is to Texas what the shamrock is to Ireland, the cherry blossom to Japan, the lily to France, the rose to England and the tulip to Holland."

Austin Fair

The last day my mom was here, we went to the fair. It was small but very sweet.

Freya wanted to ride all the rides and we had to convince Jonah he wouldn't die if he rode a ride. Once Freya is tall enough, I bet she will be the one riding them all!

We pet deer, say baby kangaroos and let some of the animals eat out of our hands. There was the mandatory long horn and we even ate biscuits made from a chuck wagon!

But I think the best part was watching the dare devils ride motorcycles. Freya asked me, "why are they doing this?" I told her, "because they are crazy."