Adventuring in Texas!

Are you totally shocked I'm posting a blog?? I am. The girls and I went adventuring around Austin, and it seemed like a good idea to document our trip so here it is!

First stop, GHOST TOWN.

This is the position Brooklynn assumed upon arriving at the  Ghost Town. 

The Undertaker, the sign said 'Why walk around half-dead when I will bury you for $22'--Sounds like a deal to me!

Measuring Alexis for a coffin...course who needs a coffin in a ghost town??

My children being animals of some kind.

At the SALOON, picture compliments of Alexis. 

Still trying to get Brooklynn to wake up and take a decent picture. 

Jail House

Brooklynn, in the jail house. 

An overview of the Ghost Town, the place was kind of dead  if you ask  me, but it fulfilled Alexis's need to see a  Ghost Town. She's been reading 'Magic Treehouse #10, Ghost Town at Sundown'

Off to the next stop, on the way we saw people hauling Christmas Trees, is it Christmas already??? Never would have guessed with our 75 degree day.

We were off to a farmers market, but ended up in the ghetto. Chicken Wings, Gizzards, and Check Cashing at the local gas stat ion...now we know we arn't in the suburbs anymore.

After cruising the ghetto, we ended up at the Texas State Capital. 

Silly girls, enjoying the beautiful day and refusing to take a decent picture.

Bright and sunny at the Capital.

Best I could get of Alexis, awesome background!

On the steps of the visitors center. 

Dressing up as a Texas Cowgirl. 

The dome of the Texas State Captial. 

We headed up the stairs to see the House of Representatives. 

3 hours into the trip, first smile!

Cute Girls!

Couldn't resist one more picture. 

Davy Crockett, yes we have a monument for this cool dude.

After the Capital we went to CORNOCOPIA, where we made ourselves sick on the yummiest popcorn in town. Then off to lunch, a trip to Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and home for naps. Fun day checking out all the fun things Austin has to offer.

Easter

Here our a couple of pictures from our Easter week. Check out facebook for more.

My mom requested a close up of Brooklynn, here she is...a little droopy eyed, but cute as ever!
The Saturday before Easter we had a BBQ and egg hunt with some great friends. The Barlow's, Summers', Kinghorn's, Richmond's, and Vanderpool's all made it out for some food, sunshine, and-of course-Easter Egg hunting! Here are some random pictures from the afternoon.



Since I had already worked two night shifts in a row, I was too tired to organize a family Easter picture. This is the best we could get on the floor in the kitchen. Turned out pretty cute with the girls in their flower hats and necklaces from Grammi.

March Events, making my mom proud.

There are so many things my parents made us do as kids that I hated. Now I am the mom, making my kids do all those same things, but somehow they are fun now. Life coming full circle I guess.

For Spring Break we made it up to the Waco Zoo with lots of friends. It was a beautiful day, and as usual, tons of fun.

Last Saturday Lexi volunteered to help Matt wash the car. Here she is working hard, ha!
Enjoying an afternoon in the park.
So here's the big story, (drum roll please....) The Matt Hall Family went camping on our own free will and choice. We had tin foil dinners, smokey camp fire, slept on the hard ground in a tent, and woke to a misty morning dew. All the things I gave my parents so much grief about as a child, and there I was enjoying (mostly) every minute of it.
Just hanging out, looking too cute.

Showing off his Eagle Scout skills, getting our fire ready for tin foil dinners.
Camping brings smiles all around!
Having too much fun going in and out and in and out of the tent.
Of course no campout is complete without s'mores. Alexis was an expert roaster by the end of the night. We had some good friends join us for evening and enjoyed watching the kids run around and eat way too much sugar. It was so much fun, we might even do it again sometime...we'll see!

March has come and gone, and summer is right around the corner. We are looking forward to Matt's graduation in May, an anniversary trip to Dallas, and a Utah visit in June. One last important announcement, Brooklynn is potty trained--woot woot!! Crazy ridiculous how exciting some poop and pee in the potty makes us around this house. Bubye diapers, hello Dora panties.

February Update

It has been another busy month. Time seems to be moving faster and faster! Matt is 6 weeks away from completing his MBA, wahoo! What an accomplishment for him, I am very proud and so happy that graduation is within sight.

Alexis has turned into a reader in what seems like overnight. She has been carrying around 'Red Fish, Blue Fish, One Fish, Two Fish' for several days. She loves dance class, going to school, and jumping on the trampoline.

Brooklynn and I hang out most days, spending time at the gym, in the park, and at Ikea. She is very helpful around the house but loves to be outside.

I am so thankful for my little family. I have a wonderful husband who works so hard to keep his three girls happy, two happy healthy girls who (mostly) adore each other, and a happy life.

Here are a couple pictures from last month.

Last Saturday we headed down to Round Rock Main street for a vendor festival. Lovin' my girls!
A trip downtown isn't complete without some Round Rock donuts.
Would you believe this was an empty field of weeds? Texas has the most beautiful wild flowers I have ever seen.
Hoping in the car after our outing. Alexis was desperate for one more picture.
Matt took Alexis to a Daddy Daughter Valentine's Day dance. She loved it, and it was a great time for them to spend together.
My girls (and pretty much any other friend that comes over) love the trampoline! All Matt's hard work putting it in the ground has paid off.

Some Pictures

I kind of hate my camera, I tend to get more fuzzy pictures than good ones...so I've been protesting. Course my mom says she suffers the most in my misguided anger. I've promised to try harder and find some love for my camera and post more blogs, for my mom's sake.


Last Saturday the girls spent a couple of hours decorating a box and running around the house pretending it was a train. It's funny the things the provide entertainment.

We also hit the Eagle Nest Farm, we love a good farm :)






That's all I've got. I'll see what kind of Valentine's pictures I can pull together, stay tuned :)