ATX

A good friend of mine from work got married in Austin on Saturday.  We decided to head down on Friday and make a family, fun weekend of it.  Aunt Rah Rah went down with us to babysit during the wedding and help out with the kids!  Her best friend, Rachel, lives in Austin...so it was perfect!  It was a jam packed weekend full of fun!!  I will describe the weekend with pictures...I took a few :)

We headed out Friday morning after we dropped the dogs off for a weekend getaway at their favorite boarding hotel!  Rah Rah rode in the back in between the kids.  She had her hands full.  My shoulders got a break!

Our first stop when we got into town was at The Domain, an awesome outdoor mall with great shops and restaurants (PS...thanks to my good friend Amy for ALL of the family fun recommendations in her hometown!)  We did a little shopping after a great lunch and ran a few errands before checking into the hotel.

He is hat crazy right now!

After shopping and lunch we checked into the hotel.  So glad we got a room with a pool view!  Yuck!  Chance asked the front desk if they rented fishing poles.  They didn't find that funny...apparently their chlorine dispenser was broken.

Both of the kids were absolutely crazy over the hotel phones.  I realized they probably have never seen a phone plugged into the wall.  I had to unplug the phones because they played with them nonstop.  Didn't need to pack any toys!  I'm serious...best toy ever!

After a short nap we loaded back up in the car and drove downtown.  We had dinner at Homeslice (the best pizza in town) and walked down the street to the old fashioned candy shop.  The kids picked out a few treats and we headed down to the bridge to wait for the bats.  We waited...and waited...and waited...and finally once it was dark and we couldn't see them, the bats flew out.  It was a little anticlimactic.  We made our way back to the hotel with 2 very sweaty, sticky and sleepy kids!  

The greatest candy shop ever

Waiting for the bats

"Look at bat!"

Yes, that is a sucker in his hair

Paxton woke up bright and early after a good nights sleep.  He and I went down to the lobby and had breakfast with the other early risers (a few old men reading the paper...we ate our breakfast outside on patio...overlooking the pond pool).  We brought breakfast back to the room for our sleepyheads.  Ashlyn loved the Texas waffle!

After breakfast we found our way down to Zilker Park to ride the Zilker Zypher...the miniature train that circles the park.  Paxton pointed out every dog that we passed in the park and Ashlyn waved at every passerbyer.  They loved it!

Paxton loved this musician playing along the track

We headed over to our lunch destination, Phil's Icehouse!  A good burger and a cold beer...with ice cream and a playground next door.  Score! 

"I think there was a hole in the bottom"

Aunt Rah Rah and Ray Ray

After lunch we went back to the hotel for a little R&R before the wedding.  The kids took a good nap and Chance and I watched a little college football.  Aunt Rah Rah and Rachel (Ray Ray as Ashlyn calls her) came over to babysit while Chance and I went to the wedding.  We met in the lobby to catch the shuttle to the ceremony along with all my other work buddies.  The shuttle was 45 minutes late which led to a CRAZY drive along the winding roads to the wedding.  It was a little scary.  We made it just in time for the wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony and reception and I'm not sure I have seen a more perfect bride and groom.  Unfortunately, Chance wasn't feeling very well, so we had to catch the early shuttle back to the hotel.  It ended up raining and the reception was cut short so we didn't miss too much.

The most insane bus ride!

The Zale clan

Thanks Babe

Mr & Mrs Marshall

Seriously...could they be more perfect?

Here are a few pictures Sarah sent me while we were at the wedding.  It looks like everyone had a great time!

Paxton insisted on wearing this shoe!

Hiding

"Word to your mother"

Another early morning breakfast in the lobby (which had an awesome breakfast by the way) before we packed up and ventured out for our last day in Austin.  We grabbed a yummy cup of joe and walked around for a bit before meeting Gigi, Pop Pop (they were on their way to San Antonio) Rah Rah and Ray Ray for lunch at The Salt Lick in Round Rock.  It was the perfect lunch spot before a 3 hour drive home.  We filled our tummies with delicious BBQ...listened to some live music and let the kids get rid of every last ounce of energy for a guaranteed nap on the way home!

I LOVE this picture!

Pop Pop and Ashlyn

Well, if you  made it through this whole post, you win a prize!  I know it was so lengthy, but it was such a great weekend I didn't want to forget a second!  We love you ATX...see you soon!