bubbles and splashes

When it comes to activities with the little guys, some are hits--like the hot air balloons last weekend--while others are complete misses, like Bubblepalooza at the Long Center this morning. Maybe it was a miss because I ventured out solo with the three in tow; or maybe because it was 93 degrees under a hot sun at 8:30am; or maybe because Tillie got bubble soap in her eyes two minutes into the adventure. Whatever the reason, we collectively gave Bubblepalooza a thumbs down.

However, we did have the foresight to pack swimsuits and visit the Liz Carpenter fountain at Butler Park next to the Long Center. So following our bubble fiasco, we didn't have to return home at 8:45am, defeated by the sun and soap. A short walk to the splash pad and quick change under the shade of a giant tree was all we needed to turn our morning around. And Tillie got to rinse out her eyes, so it was a win-win.

balloons take flight

It's summer break. The afternoons are scorching. At least one of my kids is up before dawn every morning. Normally these things together would amount to three strikes against me, but today they created the perfect opportunity to discover something new. Yesterday I learned about the Central Texas Ballooning Association (who knew there was such a thing?) and their annual Lake Travis flight, courtesy of my friends over at Free Fun in Austin.

In a nutshell, these balloon people gather once a year at Mansfield Dam Park overlooking Lake Travis for an adventure that takes them whichever way the wind blows. The flights begin at sunrise, which was around 6:45 this morning, and watching the balloons take off against the rising sun is an awesome sight to behold. Or am I the only one who dreams of riding in a hot air balloon someday? Either way, I thought it would be a great adventure for the kids, and the experience did not disappoint. I wish we had arrived a bit earlier--we pulled in around 6:30--to get a closer view of the action, but there's always next year (even though Scout called it boring...I think she was just disappointed that she wasn't going for a ride).

let's go fly a kite

If there's perfect weather for kite flying, then I guess yesterday afternoon would have been the definition. I don't know who first organized the Zilker Park Kite Festival in Austin, but someone 84 years ago knew more about the weather than our local meteorologist today. We didn't really know what we were getting ourselves into when we embarked on this journey with three kids in tow, but (to quote Alex) "next year we're really going to do it up." 

Step one in "doing it up" would be to actually have a kite to fly in the park. For some reason I had it in my head that this was some sort of kite flying competition put on by professionals (is there even such a thing?). Not so: amateurs welcome; watch out for diving kites. We saw Disney characters and sharks and dragons, kites stuck in trees and kites with broken strings. Scout got closelined by Tinkerbell, and I got tangled up with Lightning McQueen. But the weather was amazing and the kids were entertained, and when's the last time you had the opportunity to fly a kite anyway? Next year we're bringing a kite, a blanket and a cooler.

a picnic with peacocks

Since it's been 80+ degrees in February and it will be 100+ degrees all summer, I figured we should spend our time this week doing the fun, summery, outdoor activities that we won't be able to enjoy during Austin's sweltering months. Our latest adventure was visiting the Mayfield Nature Preserve, where peacocks run wild.

Scout stops to strike a pose while chasing a peacock down the nature trail. 

When do we get lunch?

You want me to stand by this red door?

Fine. Take my picture if you want to, but I'm not looking at the camera.

I feel like you never get to see this in real life. Awesome!

sunny days

Yesterday the weather was perfection: 75 degrees and sunny with a mild, light wind. Such an amazing afternoon left no excuses for staying inside, so I took the three to the Zilker Botanical Garden. Our adventure begins...

Catcher consults the map (which is not to scale and a little confusing in my opinion) and sets his sights on the butterfly garden. Scout, in the meantime, climbs on rocks and grunts.

After a face-plant (by Catcher) while running down the stone path, I suggest that the two hold hands and walk slowly. They listened!

Of course they had to stop along the way when Scout discovered that climbing under the railing would be a quicker way to get to our destination. Cautious Catcher held her back and kept her on track.

Scout decides it's her turn to consult the map. She heard the word "dinosaur" as we approached the prehistoric garden, so she starts roaring and takes the map from Catcher.

Distracted by a dinosaur on an island, Scout gives up possession of the map. Catcher is still set on the butterfly garden and thinks he knows the way.

We have arrived: the butterfly garden! Unfortunately none of us spots an actual butterfly, but we pause for a family portrait (Tillie in the red stroller in the background) while Catcher and Scout vie for top position on a butterfly sculpture.

Catcher discovers he can have his own butterfly but asks me not to take a picture (sorry!).

Scout finds her own butterfly, too.

Tillie snoozes.

A quick stop at the children's garden on our way to the parking lot. Catcher has dirt in his shoes; Scout wants to eat them.

Catcher is tired and wants me to rub his feet. Scout is sick from eating Catcher's shoe. Joking!

missing lights

This weekend there were exactly two tree lightings that I planned on attending with the kids as part of my guerilla effort to bring them the "hap, hap, happiest Christmas ever" (and hopefully instill a lifelong love and slight obsession with the holiday season). But after two strikes, I'm out.

The first tree lighting we missed was Saturday night at the Capitol building. After a cold and rainy day, the weather eased up in the late afternoon; however, Alex was delayed coming home from Georgia and we had to pick him up at the airport at the exact time the tree was set ablaze. (Truth be told, I didn't really want to brave the event by myself anyway). Here's a look at what we didn't see:

Austin Pixels

Last night we missed the lighting of the tree in Zilker Park. Another cold and rainy day, a late afternoon meltdown involving a certain three year-old and an intense 4th quarter in Packer football lessened my enthusiasm for the event. The famed Zilker Holiday Tree, where you did not find us:

Austin Parks & Recreation

Maybe next year...