Valentine's Weekend

Dave organized a romantic Valentine's weekend in Austin for four couples and 7 children. :) Romantic, yeah, right. We had a great time catching up with fraternity brothers, their wives, and children.

We left DFW headed the 200 miles to Josh and Sara's house Friday around 6. It should take just about 3.5 hours to drive down. However, with traffic, it took us an hour and 45 minutes just to get to downtown Ft Worth. So just before 11, we got to Josh and Sara's. Rylee and Avery were fast asleep, and Josh was playing soccer. We chatted with Sara for a bit allowing Gavin to check out his surroundings before heading to bed.

Saturday morning, Gavin was ready to see Rylee.

After playing around the house for a bit and a great scrambled egg breakfast, we loaded up and headed to Zilker Park to meet up with the Clelands and the Gulbransons. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day.

At the park, Gavin made a b-line for the swings. After about 40 minutes in the swing, we were able to pry G away to go look at the doggie we could hear barking.

Daddy and Gavin watched a dog fetching in the water.

Then, they went down close to the water to check it out.

After some time on the playground, we all loaded onto the Zilker Zephyr for a ride.

It was getting close to lunch time, and Gavin hadn't had a snack, so we had some Apple Cinnamon Quakes on the ride.

At one turn, a guitarist was there serenading the riders.

A view of the Austin skyline.

After a great lunch at Uncle Billy's, we parted ways for naptime. Avery took a nap. We made several attempts to get Gavin down for a nap, but he wasn't having any part of it.

He did, however, love Avery's water and sand table. Sara loved Gavin's run. I think the picture below does a great job of capturing it. He lowers his shoulders before taking off; you think by his posture that he is getting ready of a great burst of speed.

After playing in the sand and water, Gavin went straight to the bathtub. As he was getting out, everyone was arriving for the evening.

We played, we chatted, we grilled burgers. We had a great time.

Sara, Rylee, Christopher, and Lisa

Tonya

Josh, Chuck, Dave, and Pete

Miranda, Lisa, Avery's bottom, Sara

Scott & Chuck (foreground)

Pete and Tonya (background)

Sara, Gavin, Rylee, Miranda

Pepper deserves a special award for putting up with everyone in her house.

Gavin and Christopher are intently playing with their toys.

Christopher--love those cheeks

Sara's delicious cake balls

Gavin, Pete, Lisa, Christoper, Tonya, Sara, Chuck, Dave, Scott, Avery, and Josh

Sunday morning, Gavin was up and ready to take a baby on a stroller ride.

Rylee loves the swing we forced upon Sara. I sent it with Dave to Austin shortly after Rylee's birth. Sara was hesitant since Avery didn't care for a swing. I have yet to find a baby that doesn't like the papasan swing. Sara is now so thankful that we were forceful with it. Rylee is such an easy-going baby. We heard her cry a few times when she was hungry. Other than that, not a peep out of her. She grabs for toys, watches big movements, and smiles.

Avery and Gavin had some yogurt to tide them over until we could meet the gang at Rudy's for breakfast tacos.

Gavin impressed us by eating the better part of an egg and cheese taco.

Sara and Avery pause to smile.

Everyone is happily eating their tacos at this table.

Yes, it takes two picnic tables at Rudy's for all of us.

Christopher is all smiles.

Gavin enjoyed playing with Pete--it was a better than average time. (Sorry, it's an inside joke.)

When it was time to go, Sara C. gave Gavin a big hug.

One more trip to the park before hitting the road. Gavin was supposed to run off energy. That's hard to do in a swing.

Avery is a pro at the "rock climbing wall."

Gavin got jealous once when he saw me racing Avery down the slide, so he got out of the swing, climbed up, slid down, and ran back to the swing. Later, we got him to go down the slide to race Avery.

On your mark.

Ready. Set. Go. Gavin flew down and back to the swing. I guess he knows what he likes.

We had a great time. I'm sorry that it took Pete and Lisa's impending move to DC to get us all together. The next Kappa Sig get together will be in DFW; we need to set the date now.