August!

We've had a fun busy month of August with us squeezing as much as we could before SCHOOL!

We were able to spend time with friends at TopGolf on a Sat. morning.  The boys still love going there so much and now they love it even more cause of the doughnut holes you can fill yourself with 3 different sauces.  Not good!
We later helped host a farewell party for the Vasudevans that evening.

The next day we were able to rent a pontoon boat on Lake Travis - so long since we'd been out on the lake and Joshua and Noah's first time on a boat!  They were amazed at the speed of the boat and loved swimming in the lake.  I was a little nervous since I didn't know how to swim and couldn't help much with the boys in the water.  The boys actually helped push me along in the water cause I was a slow swimmer.  They tried to "save" me many times!

The next weekend we traveled to Dallas for Amit's wedding.  We were able to spend time with family after the wedding and before the reception.  Joshua and Noah had a great time with Christian - he loves to jump and the boys jumped with him the entire weekend!
We stayed outside the ballroom during the wedding since the kids were running around.  The reception in the evening was beautiful.  We got a kick out of the fact that they placed the Malayalees at one table - all 6 of us!

The next weekend we had a blast at Hyatt Los Pines in Bastrop.  Sunil, Julie, and Christian also joined us along with a couple of other families.  Very hot that weekend but the water park area was perfect for the kids with a little sand area as well.  Joshua was able to ride the slide and they both loved the lazy river.  We also did the tractor ride later and pizza and a surprise birthday cake for Arya and me.  Then smores and a late night movie that Joshua was too tired to watch.  We loved our stay here!

Then on Tue, Aug. 25 Joshua started kindergarten.  I've been talking about this day for years - anticipating it and thinking it was so far off.    I didn't sleep at all the night before - we all went to the school with us leaving the house around 7:00.  Joshua looked so cute sitting at his desk and in that moment he looked so grown up and at the same time looked so little.  How did my little baby grow up so much so fast?  I kissed him and hugged him so many times before we left and before Noah decided he was going to try to sit down and join the class too.  I was proud that I didn't cry and of course Joshua has been going to preschool for years so he didn't cry either.

He had a great first week of school and I think he likes it and is making a lot of friends.  I love Friday nights because we don't have to get up at 6 am the next morning!

The Samuels annual trip

The Samuels returned for another fun filled adventure in Austin.  We were able to catch up, watch the kids play, and relax.  Horseshoe Bay was a nice getaway with the kids enjoying exploring, miniature golf, swimming, and of course, ice cream and smores.

Every day we learned a little bit more about Ethan, Mia, and Eva.  Their personalities are so different and it was fun to see how the kids had changed and grown from last year.

The following weekend the Thomas' flew in from CA and we had a great time just catching up.  We just hung out Saturday at the house and watched the kids play on the Slip and Slide.  The next day we went to brunch at TNT, walked around at Zilker, and then had snow cones.  The kids later went to the pool with the guys while Betsy, Anita, and I had a nice date with some sangria.

The next day we went to LBJ museum, Pinthouse Pizza, and Gourdough's.  Then the Thomas' had to leave back to California.  What a fun weekend!  The next day we went to the Blue Hole in Wimberley and it was so relaxing and beautiful!  The kids loved wading and exploring the Blue Hole!

The next day we celebrated Ethan's birthday with an amazing capuccino trifle dessert courtesy of Betsy.  Happy 8th birthday to Ethan!

It's always sad at the end of two weeks when we have to say goodbye but we had such a fun time that I'll concentrate on those amazing days we had instead.

Christian's 2nd birthday!

This past weekend we went to Dallas to celebrate Christian's 2nd birthday!  It seems like the other day when he was born!  Joshua and Noah loved the Thomas themed party and had a great time playing with all the kids.  They also had a lot of play time with their cousins Daniel and Sarah.

July 4th Denver trip

We were able to squeeze a 48 hour trip to Denver on July 4th weekend to celebrate our 10 year anniversary.  The Jacobs joined us and we sure made the most of those 2 days!

We went straight to Snooze - an amazing brunch restaurant with an hour wait but no worries cause we had no kids with us!  The pancake flight was delicious!

The Renaissance Hotel is a beautiful restored bank building and we were upgraded to the top floor in a suite.  Loved the TV in our bathroom mirror!

We walked to the 16th street mall and then later went to the Great Divide Brewery tour.   Then we were off to probably the best restaurant we've eaten at in a while - Linger.  Amazing service and food!  Then we stood in a line for 30 minutes next door for Little Man Ice Cream.  The night was complete after some great music at the jazz club!  

The next morning we ate a quick breakfast and headed to Boulder to Chautauqua Park.  Such a beautiful drive towards the mountains and a great 2 hour hike with great views.  Definitely was my favorite part of the trip.

Then we had an early dinner at Ophelia's - also a great restaurant.  We finished the night with a Blues Traveler concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater on July 4th with beautiful fireworks in the background!

The next morning we were back in Austin - missed my two boys so much!

First month of summer

We've had a great half of our summer so far but it's going by way too fast.  We're trying to enjoy each day before school starts especially for Joshua.

Steve and I went on a walking ghost tour here in Austin the first week of June with my coworker before she moved back to Ohio. (Her request)  Regardless, it was fun walking around downtown getting the history behind certain buildings especially the Driskill Hotel.  The next day we took the boys to Alamo theaterwhere they had this fun event for kids to watch cartoons and eat pancakes.  They both loved watching Transformers in a huge theater eating Froot Loops.

The  next weekend was my first half marathon in Dallas.  I trained for the past month and Subin ran the Wounded Warrior half with me.  Pressy also ran - 20 minutes ahead of us!  We finished in 2 hours 13 min. - a 10.13 min mile.  I did have to walk a little at the end. It was so hot and humid that morning.   What an honor to run with my veteran brother.  Now I'm addicted and will probably do another one later in the year.

We also celebrated our 10 year anniversary on June 18th!  We actually had a nice dinner at Truluck's and left the boys with their first paid babysitter (my coworker's daughter)  We put them to sleep before we left so it was a pretty easy night.  God has blessed us with love and family.

The last weekend of June we went to Leena Aunty and Uncle's house and the boys had a blast!  They loved watching the goats and chickens and playing with Max the dog.  It's so serene out there - I completely understand why they live out in Elgin.