Texas II- Austin and San Antonio

From College Station we drove to Austin and then on to San Antonio. Of the two cities I would say that Austin is very live-able and San Antonio is very tour-able. In Austin we spent the day wandering the city, looking for Bachelor Brad's bars, eating at the very first, very biggest Whole Foods Market, visiting the springs and eating yummy Mexican food with my 2nd cousin, Jennifer and her family. Thanks guys for letting us crash with you! (I love staying with people, it's in my blood.)


San Antonio is a beautiful city. The weather was perfect and the city was alive with St. Patty's Day excitement. We spent the day at the Alamo, on the river, walking the RiverWalk and eating waterfront Mexican food. Eva clacked her heels happily in her stroller the entire day. We loved it.

Check out our entire Texas Album.

Texas Trip

Boogers and Thunder Thighs- Reader Discretion Advised

So here are the much requested pictures of Eva's Thunder Thighs. I even took the liberty to upload a video to YouTube. The third picture was taken with Devin's cousin, Amanda. Eva's pants are off b/c everyone wanted to get a look at that chub. I can't resist a good squeeze.

Nor can I resist a good pick when there's a booger on the babe ripe for picking. So the other day I go to it, flick it out (b/c you have to move quick with a screaming child) and it lands on her top gum. I reach in to get it and end up pushing it in further. Eva slurped it up like a hungry hippo and the screams turned to smiles. Why is it that kids like the taste of boogers? Sorry if this is TMI but I can remember as a young child also tasting a booger and liking it. You see, I have this hidden talent of remembering strange details from my early childhood. For instance, I distinctly remember Princess Fergie's wedding, playing row, row, row your boat on my grandpa's lap, riding my big wheel down my aunt's basement stairs and knocking my tooth out on a weight set, an Asian man telling me to "beat it", and ending my prayers every night with "please bless that no fires or robbers or kid-nappers will come"- most likely b/c my sister and I had been exiled to sleep in the basement next to the furnace room. All memories pre-K as early as 2 yrs. Devin never tires of the endless stories. Good times.

Good times may not exactly describe my experience yesterday. I'm at my friend's house, chatting away, Eva's sitting quietly on the floor, a little too quiet I realize. Then I smell it, then I see it, what looked like a pile of cat poop 8 inches behind Eva's bum. Here is my hypotheses: She'd filled her diaper to the brim then leaned back squishing the goods out the top of her diaper in a perfect projectile, landing nicely on my friend's brand new carpet. I'm just happy my friend has a 1-year-old and understands the messes these little ones can create. I promise my next post will be a bit less nauseating. But don't say I didn't warn you!

Texas Part One- Katie's Races

We started out our trip in College Station for Katie's National indoor track meet. She was incredible and pulled out a 4th place in the 800 m with a time of 2:04.75 just behind her teammate that took first. But to be fair, Katie actually had the lead and then got boxed in at the end, opening up a spot for Lacey. We are just so proud of Katie. Her first few years of high school her coach wouldn't even let her run the 800m b/c of a snotty senior coaches pet. So she was forced to run the hurdles instead. When Katie finally got her chance she crushed all the school and state records and attracted the attention of the BYU coaches b/c of her speed and ability to hurdle- the perfect combination for BYU's steeplechase event. Having been recruited to run the steeplechase, no one expected her to be competitive in the 800, let alone place 4th in the nation. And who knows what this kid will do next year. Way to go Katie! The BYU team also placed 3rd overall, the best they've ever done. Adding to the point count was Katie's distance relay where Katie ran the 1200 leg. We all agreed that Eva was the good luck charm, even though she slept through both of Katie's races.

And here are more videos for the fam!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwxtGcoe_DI Bonus video for Gracie!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27e_6hni7bE Giggles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJg0YsdhNzs Our little crow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht4LjQURJNM This one's for you, Whit!

I Heart Grandparents

Time flies and I can't believe I'm leaving for TX tomorrow. We had so much fun in Boise. Eva was able to spend time with Devin's family as well as meet her great-grandparents and lots of cousins. It was fun for me to be able to pass her off to grandma and grandpa at the crack of dawn and finally be able to sleep in. Eva was so well behaved and all around delightful. She loves new people and never is afraid to go to a new person. She perfected her back to front roll as well as the preparatory crawl rocking. She missed her daddy and whenever I let her listen to him on the phone she would get a huge smile on her face, squeal and flap her arms. I think she is in Boise withdrawal because I now have a nearly impossible baby on my hands that refuses to sleep, suck on her binky, get swaddled, nurse, the list goes on. But now for my deep thought for the day: Baby Eva gets so much attention and I love it. I'm stopped about every 5 minutes whenever I go out in public to "what a cute baby" or "how old is she". I'm sure all of you with babies right now can relate. I'm telling you this because as fun as that is for me, it is nothing compared to watching grandparents and aunts and uncles with her. There really isn't anyone else in the world that will just hang on her every expression and sound. The slightest movement is like a turn on a roller-coaster or watching a white tiger jump through a hoop of fire. It really is amazing to me how much love we have for these new babies that come into our families. OK, that's it. Very deep. I know.

Blogger pics aren't working so here's a link to Joan's picasa album.

R-a-n-d-o-m-n-e-s-s

1. Since 90% of you are Bachelor watchers (some in some out of the closet) I'll just rage for one minute. How many of you got sucked into all 3 hours of that insanity last night?!? How many of you have sworn off the Bachelor, yet again, but this time for good. I just can't believe what a slime ball Jason is. How is it better to break up with her in person if it has to be on national television? I feel like I need to take shower after watching all that nonsense. Thank goodness for DVR, at least I could fast forward through the all the making out.

2. Don't get the chicken salad sandwich at Cheesecake Factory. You might spend the day with food poisoning (like I did on Sunday) but you'll get a free gift card out of it for complaining.

3. The book Uncle Tom's Cabin is so good! I'm only 60 pages into it and it is so exciting. And this is coming from a slow reader that takes forever to get into a book.

4. We've booked our tickets to Texas for spring break. We'll be going to Houston, College Station, Austin, San Antonio and New Orleans. So send me your suggestions for things to do, places to eat, things to see, zone leader's brother's x-roommate or grandpa's x-girlfriend's great niece that would want some house guests. That's the way we roll!

5. Devin's grandma is the cutest! She took Whitney and me shopping at Macy's and within 5 minutes had picked out 2 designer jackets for us. If I could, I'd have her be my personal stylist. Her house is littered with Vogue magazines and the like with the corners of the pages turned down marking trends she likes. She seriously is too cute!

Boise Baby

We're in Boise right now and Eva is having so much fun with all her friends here. I'll write more when she's not attacking my keyboard. This little thing is rolling, sitting, scooting, rocking and getting into everything. Time to babyproof!