Cooling Off in the Famous Pool

We have been trying to get together with some preschool buddies and to keep busy now that school is out for all of August.  Andrew goes back in September and Lillian goes in 4 weeks...the last week in August.  So we called up the Bodnar's.  Lillian was in class with Payton for a few years.  We've only gotten together with them once this summer, so we wanted to see if they would come swimming with us. Payton's mom, Sara told me about their summer bucket list of places they wanted to go in Austin.  So we planned a trip to the Barton Springs Pool!

All the kids on the Zilker train: Cael, Andrew, Payton, and Lillian

Andrew on the Zilker train

Me and my big kids in the Barton Springs pool

Having a fun snow cone break after we swam

Lillian and her buddy from preschool, Payton on the Zilker train

Next to the pool entrance is also the Zilker park train, which we haven't ever ridden before, so we decided to do this as well.  The kids loved riding it and especially the little tunnel you go under.

Then we had a picnic lunch while watching the people swimming in the pool.  They were very curious about this big pool!  For those that don't know, Barton Springs Pool is a spring fed pool and an Austin Landmark that has been here for years and years.  Because it is spring fed, it is very cool!  So when we went in, the kids were a little shocked by the cold water.  But they loved it and ended up going in pretty quick and going all around it.  It was a nice change from going to a regular swimming pool and the water doesn't feel so bad once you get used to it.  Luckily, Brandon was off work when we went, so he kept Marjorie home because I don't think she would have agreed about the water and we were flirting with nap time too, so she probably wouldn't have made it.

After the kids tired out, we went out and got snow cones and an ice cream for Payton.  Thanks so much to Sara who had extra cash since I used mine up on the train ride and pool entrance fees. We'll have to treat them next time! 

It was a fun day and with weather in the 100's now it was perfect for the Barton Springs pool!  We may have to go back!  I will for sure once Marjorie is bigger and can handle the water better!

Tory and Drew Were Here

My sister, Tory moved to Arizona back in February and we haven't seen her since!  So we were all very excited for her to fly in to visit and for Marjorie's birthday!  We got to meet her boyfriend, Drew and we broke him in to the Pearman craziness.  The trip flew by, but we enjoyed all the time we got to spend with them.  We tried to take Drew to some "Austin" places to show him around.  Hopefully we didn't scare him too bad and they will come back to visit again!  I know the kids miss their Tory!

Tory with Marjorie when she just got to my house after flying in from Phoenix.

Poor Drew...we got him this shirt! ha ha

Tory, Me, and the kids on the cow at the arboretum.

Tory and Drew on Lady Bird Lake...I'll still always call it Town Lake!

Outside of the famous Round Rock Donuts

Drew with Andrew at the Hula Hut

Race for the Cure 2011

The annual Komen Austin Race for the Cure was held on Sunday. My mom and sisters all came in for the weekend to visit and participate in the race. We are so excited to participate and raise money for this cause that has affected us with my mom being diagnosed twice. My kids even count down the days until the "pink ribbon race." They were all smiles Sunday morning getting up and putting on their shirts for the race day.

I ran the 5k in 30 minutes and 22 seconds. Not to shabby for only having 2 months to prepare after having Marjorie. This was my 4th time running this 5k and my 5th 5k overall. I hope to now train to run the Capital 10k in April next!

We had a great time visiting with all the family here. My aunt Kathy and uncle Randy also made the trip so we got to see them and she did the walking portion of the race with mom, Katy, and the kids. My sister, Katy and brother-in-law, Clay brought their nephew on his side, Cooper, too. My kids had a blast with him playing.

St. Patty's Day at the Austin Zoo

This morning we all got dressed in green and I wanted to take our picture together before we left, but Andrew refused to cooperate, so here is me and my 2 girls!

And here she is by herself

Since he wouldn't stand still for a picture in the house, he started jamming out in the car, so I took his picture then!

We made it to the Austin Zoo...definitely unlike any other zoo I've ever been to. It was very rustic and hard to push strollers around! But it was a neat place to visit! Here is the closest pic of all the kids we could get today.

Love for the rooster!

The kids feeding the deer

Andrew checking out the tortoise

And a tiger

The kids at some monkey cages

My ducklings

Pausing for lunch

We decided to stop on the way home at Amy's Ice Cream! Yum! Marble Slab just thinks they have good ice cream...wow, I had forgotten how awesome Amy's is! Lillian was amazed at the guy throwing the ice cream up and catching it in the cup.

It is safe to say Andrew enjoyed it too!

Austin Kite Festival

I have been wanting to take the kids for several years now to the Austin Kite Festival. We really were going to go last year, but then it rained it out and it got moved to a date we couldn't go, so when I saw it was this weekend, we thought we would finally check it out. The kids were very pumped to see all the neat kites. Of course it wasn't very windy today, so a lot of the kites stayed down or went down fast, but a few people got theirs up high and they were so pretty to see, especially with the beautiful backdrop of the city of Austin behind them. The festival is at Zilker Park and there is a huge rock wall in the middle of it, so the kids spent some time climbing around on it too. Here are some pictures from the festival this morning:

Independence Day

I hope everyone had a wonderful Independence Day! We had a nice relaxing morning followed by a very busy afternoon. We just hung out at the house all morning and Brandon made a yummy brunch. He even made some Scooby Doo waffles with my Scooby Doo waffle iron.

Then after naps, we loaded up the car and headed to Seguin. Brandon's uncle Jimmy had his 60th birthday, so the Hajek side of the family had a big party for him. His daughter, Misty was also in from Canada to celebrate, so we got to visit with her. It was the first time I met her even though we talk on facebook quite a bit. The kids enjoyed running around and playing with the other kids, especially cousin Zachary.

Then after a yummy bbq dinner, we packed back up and headed to Austin and decided to check out the city of Austin fireworks. We parked in Zilker and walked over to find a spot in the grass. The kids were excited and loved it. In the past years, they have always been sleeping or about to fall asleep by this time, so they actually enjoyed them this year. About halfway through the show, they were ready to go home though.

Dressed for the 4th

Lillian giving a kiss to Cousin Zachary

Andrew and Zachary running around the stage at the hall

Lillan and me waiting on the fireworks

Lillian took a picture of me and B

Watching the fireworks

Andrew loved it!