Part II:b

While in Houston staying with that most delightful group, I took a little side trip over to Austin for another meet-up with my besties from high school.  These gals have been really really good friends for like 17 years now...tell me that doesn't sound like a long time, I dare you.  We met in Natalie's neck of the woods, Dallas area, about 3 years ago, then they both flew all the way across the country to Connecticut 2 years ago, and it was finally time to end the (rather large) triangle with a stay in Austin with Kristen.  I love these girls.  It is amazing and fun to be with them.  We don't even get to talk nearly as often as we would like, but we are able to pick right back up where we left off...sometimes that takes until 2am, but we get darn close to catching up.  Plus, it is really fun and unique and kind of weird that our kids (minus 2 of Nat's this time) get to play together, and they like each other...while we sit around and talk about weird grown up things like flooring and ovens.
One of the mornings that we were there, I enthralled the children with tales of Kristen's days on the drill team...and then made her dance for them.

Kristen, who is a very talented photographer, had two of her photographer friends take pictures of the three of us to commemorate the special occasion.  We were together and it happened to be dear Kristen's birthday.  I don't have any of those pictures yet but I will definitely share when I do.

And we had a Texas sized donut.  Yes, that fed all of us.

One or two (or three or more) of us took the opportunity to be bitten by fire ants.  A southern specialty.  Little boogers.

We went swimming and Hazel nearly drowned...honestly, the scariest and most horrifying unforgettable image I've ever had in my head.  That will not be happening again, ever.

Swimming in Texas is awesome because 1)the water is so warm you just walk right in and 2)it's so hot outside that you don't get chilled when getting out of the pool.

Kristen took us to a yummy "build your own yogurt" shop...I made her stand casually in front of that wall so I could take her picture...you see, not only did she take those photos but it was her idea that she casually suggested to the shop owner.

This is us on one of those very late nights that made me feel really really really not so young the next morning. Don't ask why I am awkwardly grabbing Kristen's thigh, because I don't know.

And then we took 8 kids to Target because we needed to buy a plunger.  We were detained for a short while so they could all play appropriately with 'said' plungers before making our selection.

Flat Daddy sat in a cactus because it's Texas, why not?

We took advantage of Kris' talents because that's what we do, and it's what she does.  It really works out nicely for us all.  This is Natalie's adorable not so new baby girl.  We like her a lot.  Her name is Mia.  Big Mia thought that was pretty awesome.

And here are some of the shots that Kris took of me and the girls.  She was trying out a new setup that I thought worked quite nicely...especially because you can't see the buckets of sweat under our clothing, or the bangs plastered with sweat to my forehead.  Texas is hot people.  So humid, you kind of feel like you are either swimming or suffocating.  But the people are so awesome, and the sky is so huge you can't even believe it...and they have Bluebell ice cream.  So that's why so many people live there.

Oh, how sweet, you thought I was finished talking about my trip.
No sir.  Part III coming shortly.  And there is even a Part IV and V too, but that hasn't happened just yet.