Tuesday, December 19, 2017

November, A Great Time for Texas

November, A Great Time for Texas

We planned a November trip to Texas with our Seattle family. Our daughter insisted to stay three weeks since flying her 1 year old toddler girl and her 4 year old go fast boy would be to difficult to load up and fly just for a 1 week stay. So we all enjoyed Texas for the last 3 weeks of November. Turns out that is the best month of the year since it is a rainy month for Seattle and Texas was sunny and dry. We made the most of our time in Texas with a family road trip to Ft. Worth for a three day visit to the Great Grand father Big Dave. Then lots of time to visit my Sister Ginger, Brother Dave, Our sons Graeme & Kendra's family, two awesome granddaughters along with the awesome Thanksgiving Holiday at the other Austin Grandparents home, Richard and Karon Harris. 
A couple of dinners and a lunch at Guero's and several lunch's from Taco Deli filled the tex-mex cravings, I just missed getting an Amaya's breakfast.



We brought pictures from a Seattle Art studio to our granddaughter Ella who is a Graduating Artist from Anderson High School. She does fabrics and shared the creative ideas with her teachers. Rebel Girl very timely in 2017.

Lia used her airline miles to upgrade us all to 1st Class. made the trip with two redheaded children much better. I used the navigation app Navionics on my iPhone  to keep up with our flight progress.

The OLD Ridgemar Mall in Ft. Worth was headed for demolition when some creative person came in and re-purposed the space for family centered events. We spent a few hours each day there entertaining the kids, did it all. the train ride, the little kids rides scattrered around the mall, laser golf, and the Aquarium.

We had rented a Tahoe but they only had a Surburban so they upgraded us and its a good thing since we used all that space. The fuel prices are kind to us so it all worked out. Our daughter ordered take out one night for us from Guero;s and then we found time to eat there two more times during our stay.

Neighborhood parks, making mud pies in the back yard, fun at the Thinkery, and Barton Springs Putt putt golf filled the other parts of the Texas sun days.  

We stayed at a rent home in the Allandale neighborhood with is central and gave us easy access to the parts of Austin near family. Got a good look at the upcoming super moon early one afternoon.

November is a big Birthday month for the Steakley's, with Kendra, Liv and now Clara celebrating Birthday's

Our Son rented a bounce House for the occassion...great idea for two redheads, friends and family.

And this year the Cousins are now living in Austin so we got to spend time with Ft. Worth Family coming to Austin for this event.

This boy knows family immediately.

The Admiral with Ella and Graeme. 

We found time for long walks around Lady-Bird Johnson Lake. What a treasure.

We have more than a few stories about the Great Stevie Ray Vaugh, the austin skyline is dramatically changing.

A Trip to the Texas Museum of History on the UT campus.


MUSTANGS
They carried the men who made Texas.

Picnic on dinosaur bones.

Ella says come and get it! What a very special Thanksgiving hosted by the Harris's. One of the best and most relaxing family times ever.

Ella is graduating this year and headed for University of  Texas. Proud is an understatement.

A rare time to relax with Lia, we are usually just busy keeping two redheaded children pointed in the safest, most fun direction.

Enjoyed two nights at the Zilker Christmas tree

Drew got a lighted toy that launced from a slingshot and Clara a lighted star. Twirling under the tree was the highlight.

Twirling
see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfL-p60v1A0

Mozarts Coffee Roster Christmas Light Show
see: https://youtu.be/EL62c5g5A0c

Back in Seattle we had 12 straight days of Sun and warmer than normal temps. The morning's would be foggy but the fog and clouds would dissipate by the afternoon leaving total blue skies and great sunsets. Still some fall leaves hanging on.