Best Street in Austin America

Where else can you leave candy on your front porch, allowing the kids learn the honor system and still come home to candy in the bowl...only on our street. After a 2 hour party, for neighbors by neighbors, we started trick-or-treating. Mummy Wrap, Twizzler Chomp, Pumpkin carving contest, a hay ride, toy filled piñata, food and friends were all included in our neighborhood party. Then off to fill our bags with Halloween treats. Nothing like going to bed at 9:00 on a school night with a suger high!

Farm Escape

With school, work, sports, and other things that fill our busy schedule, the farm is becoming a rare escape these days. We have managed to complete our fall project this weekend...staining the deck. It looks amazing! Just in time for my sister and her family to enjoy it over Thanksgiving.

Even though we are not out there much, we still enjoy our time fishing (in the moss filled water), reading chapters to our latest Boxcar Children novel aloud on the dock, feeding the bull nuggets by hand, and watching the Rangers win a world series game!

9th Street

We love Austin because there is something here for everyone and surprises around each corner. With our school the only one with Friday off, we thought it was the perfect morning to explore Duncan Park (aka9th Street). Our novice BMXer's had the park to themselves minus 4 young men in their mid-20's who were not afraid to show off their stuff. It was a treat in itself!

Mini Muddy Buddy

And if there is a MB Race, there is a mini! Both boys were ready to race again, despite Alex's tearful first race, he was all ready for the second. Unfortunately you can see him walking the the edge after breaking down in the mud again. Will was a champ and is ready for the next one.

Mav-Beens: Muddy Buddy #2

I am now considered a MBV = Muddy Buddy Veteran, with 2 races under my belt...not to mention a medal now too! We made a quick trip to Dallas to compete in the Muddy Buddy so the husband can have his turn at getting down and dirty. This one did not even compare to my experience in Austin, but was still fun and unforgettable. Most of the race was on a paved road (Austin was trails), held in a state park (that means NO free beer at the end, COME ON Columbia!), a quiet and small crowd (Austin held a second race, first was sold out), and the mud pit was fun but 1/2 the size of the other.

We held our own and completed in 54:13, a few seconds faster than the Muddy Mueggs. We did receive a 4th place medal, competing against 26 teams in our coed-age division. Maybe we will road trip next year and experience another!

Kona Ice

We finally caught the Kona Ice truck. After trying to figure out his schedule all summer, we met up with him at the carnival. Imagine the creepy ice-cream man from the 80's replaced with a new truck, "This Little Light of Mine" playing full blast, and a naked snow cone handed to you as YOU get to put on as many and as much syrup as you would like! This world is improving.

Fall Carnival

We LOVE the fall carnival at our elementary school. There is always great weather, fun games, all our friends, and the fastest way to spend money other than Vegas! At least 100% goes directly back to the school and we walk away with a bag full of cheap plastic prizes :)

Cutie Pies

SINCE we were already downtown, who can resist a trip to the trailer park? We stopped in for snow-cones and dodged the bees that swarm the benches. Next door Cutie Pies was open! This place is always closed, only due to being sold out of their pies so quickly. I jumped on the opportunity and grabbed a mini-Buttermilk Pie ($4) to take home for dessert!

Umlauf Sculpture Garden

You can't beat this amazing autumn weather, so with another early release day we headed downtown to the Umlauf Sculpture Garden. Each kid was given a scavenger hunt picture list of sculptures to find throughout the garden. If they found every one on the page, a surprise awaited! I have never seen my kids so excited about sculptures. Each list was completed with joy.

We also received our seventh and final stamp in our Austin Museum Passport book. Each completed book can be traded in for a free large pizza at Austin's Pizza (dinner tonight!)

Life in the Bike Lane

We are VERY well known in our neighborhood and elementary school as the Bike Club. Most mornings there are 5 boys (ages 5-7)and 2 or 3 moms with a kiddie trailer in tow holding up to 2 more kids. So just our gang can easily be 12 people! The 1/2 mile ride is a hoot and we definitely get tons of waves and smiles.

Benini Sculpture Ranch

Follow an unmarked dirt road to a 140-acre sculpture ranch just west of Austin. Even the art illiterate can appreciate these magnificent pieces. Gorgeous works, amazing views, a must see!