A Day Downtown

Flashback to my days in Helsinki when we would head to the city center and before I knew it...5 hours have passed.

Today we went downtown to catch the 11:00 IMAX Hubble 3D show. Before showtime, we toured the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. Then we were off for the kids first 3D experience. After 45 minutes of amazing facts and views of our universe, we were all ready to board to next spaceship to become astronauts. (Did you know in orbit, the sun rises and sets every 90 minutes?)

Down Congress Ave. to a hot dog vendor. Found a guitar left over from the Austin Guitar Town Project of 2006. Walked 6th Street (no bars open yet!) with my 3 kids to the Museum of the Weird. Stopped for a rest and lolly on the steps of St. Mary's. Finally, running through the grounds of the State Capitol, counting squirrels as we went.

Truly a full day of "Keep Austin Weird" with a tad of history.

Sunday's "to do" list: UAR

1. Ride your bike 19 miles (2.5 hours) all over Austin with someone you work well with, checking in at courses and receiving beads once you complete the obstacle.
2. Jump on a life size yellow rubber duck in Lady Bird Lake and let your teammate swim you to a buoy and back.
3. Throw 3 rolled newspapers into a box your teammate is holding while you ride your bike like a paper boy.
4. Ride Big Wheels through an obstacle course.
5. Solve a carpet puzzle.
6. Jump on your teammates back pretending he is a horse while you play "polo" with hockey stick and soccer ball around orange cones.
7. Lay shoulders flat on a skateboard while your teammate human bowls you for a strike towards pins.
8. Jump fully clothed into a swimming pool. Swim to the shallow end and find 2 beach balls with numbers that total '12.'
9. Solve puzzles to find 2 mystery check points.
10. Have one of the BEST Sunday mornings of your life on the Urban Assault Ride wearing Dallas Maverick jerseys in a San Antonio Spurs fan-filled city.

and for the BONUS: 2 free Fat Tire cold beers once you cross the finish line!

Boggy Creek Farm

Per Grandma's request, we headed east of downtown to an unbelievably amazing and colorful organic farm. Boggy Creek Farm is one of those hidden gems that would not be found unless the address is plugged into your navigation system. Fruits, veggies, eggs, special cheeses, bison, chocolate, and fresh flowers are a few of the things you can walk away with.

Camp Mabry

Taking a break from this heat, we headed indoors to the Texas Military Forces Museum. With amazing detailed dioramas, the boys continued to ask "which color are we?" at each enclosed glass case. Tons of retired jeeps, tanks, and other vehicles to explore along with replicas of horse drawn covered wagons from WWI. Great place for a quick history lesson!

Kate's Southern Comfort

Okay, right next to Sno Springs is Kate's Southern Comfort. While my kids took FOREVER to eat their snow cone, I could not resist the Cajun spice smell. Giving into all will power, I ordered the Crawfish Pie. Once covered in the Louisiana hot sauce, I was definitely 'comforted.' That pie was good!

Sno Springs

And of course we end each swimming day with our favorite, a snow cone stand. Sno Springs just opened last weekend. A good list of flavors but I have had better snow. Great shaded seating right on Barton Springs to people watch!

Krause Springs

Somewhere I read a review on Krause Springs describing it as a little piece of Heaven on Earth...and they were 100% right! This place was gorgeous. Less than a 30 minute drive west for us, we were the first car in the parking lot. A few night campers were already swimming in the creek, but the place was empty. Each of the boys even tried the rope swing.

Once lunch time rolled around, the people poured in. We headed back up the hill to the manmmade, natural spring-fed pool. The water seemed even colder here than below. We all had a great time and can't wait to return on a camping trip.

Truck Wash

This morning we put in some volunteer hours washing the Mobile Loaves and Fishes trucks & trailer. Until they are old enough for a "make ready" or delivery team, we will continue washing the trucks and donating hard boiled eggs decorated with love.

Butler Park

After being shut down for maintenance the past 2 month, we could not wait to try out the Liz Carpenter Fountain at Butler Park. We got there early enough to avoid the crowds and claim a spot in the limited shady areas. The kids ran like crazy trying to guess the next fountain to erect. The park is gorgeous with a picture perfect background of downtown. Restroom are close too so you can change into dry clothes before hitting up a snow cone stand. I guess we headed out too early today, all the stands were still closed :(

Family Farm Fun!

I think this is the first time all 6 grandkids have been at the farm together. 200 water balloons, 3 cans of shaving cream, 30 glow bracelets, 1 HUGE snake skin and 6 bird houses later the kids are exhausted. So what is a parent to do? Leave the kids out there with Grandma and return to Austin for a quiet sushi and movie night at home with Daddy with the hope of staying in bed past 0700!