Great Weekend in Ausin

The kids and I headed up to Austin this past weekend. We had a great time hanging out with Roger and checking out the area.

Our first stop was a preschool. I researched schools while we were in Indiana and this one impressed me and so it has been on my list as a school for Beckett for next year. But last week, Grant was especially sad about not having any kids to play with and so Roger and I decided to send both oth them for the month of May. So, both Beckett and Grant will be starting school next Tuesday and will go 3 days a week. Their last day is the end of May; I am hoping that we will all benefit from getting back on schedule and getting a break from each other. We are supposed to close on the house May 10th, so I am looking forward to the time so I can unpack and get settled before summer starts.

After visiting the school, we headed out to find a new park. So far the parks in Cedar Park are great. Here are some pictures from Milburn Park. There is a fabulous pool, a great playground and a BMX dirt trail in the back of the park. As you will see in the video, the kids climbed, spun around and ran all over the hills...all in all, had a great time.

Here are some pictures of the kids on a spinny thing...really no other way to describe it. The kids loved playing on this. There was a platform in the middle that they stood on and as they moved their weight around it would spin around...faster and faster. Very fun. :-)

Roger's apartment has a pool that's just across the parking lot. Here are some great pictures of the kids jumping into the pool. They have made quite the impression on the other residents. One mom came up to me and said she couldn't believe I had such daredevils! Their favorite activity - running all around the landscaping and then jumping into the pool. Oh, and I forgot to mention, the water is about 70 degrees. FREEZING COLD!

Saturday night we decided to check out the Austin Metro. We took the train downtown and then looked for a place to get dinner. The kids LOVED the train and we found a fun BBQ place on a creek. Nothing like picnic tables, red and white check tablecloths, paper plates and tea to let you know you are having true Texas BBQ! :-)

Sunday morning was bright and sunny so we headed out to another park. This time we went to Round Rock and checked out the Play for All park. All the features of this park are handicapped accessible. The planners did an amazing job. It really was unlike any park I had ever seen.

As you will see in the video, there is a town complete with a grocery store, library and school. Each of the buildings has posters full of information on what happens in each of the buildings. There is also a road that goes around all the buildings with stop lights, cross walks, and speed limit signs. Next time we will definitely bring the kids bikes. 

And finally, Sunday afternoon, Grant lost his other front tooth. It really hung in there for a LONG time. So now he has a big toothless grin that is just too cute. I will try and get a better picture later. Unfortunately, the gap has made his usually messy eating unbearable. I can't believe how much food he loses in that 1 inch hole!

Enjoying book time with Daddy one last time before we head back to Rockport.

Port A Beach

Today we all went to Port Aransas beach. Unlike Rockport beach, Port A beach has waves and the water gets pretty deep. The kids, Beckett especially, were bursting to get out of the van...didn't even really let us stop the car before he was out of his seat, ready to run.

The boys charged right into the water. I was worried about the salt water bothering their eyes, that they would be afraid of the waves and roughness of the water. Well, silly Mommy. Not only did they dive under the waves, Beckett was actually roaring with laughter. They really had an amazing time. Once we were able to get them out of the water, they chase seagulls with sticks and ran their trucks all over the beach. A great day had by all.

Beckett's arms really aren't sunburned. I think his sensitive skin must be reacting with the sand and saltwater. 

They were so cute in the water - holding hands and jumping the waves together.

Pure joy.

Aw man, I missed that one!

Beckett going through a VERY deep wave. He constantly amazes me.

Grant getting ready to dive over the wave.

Here is a quick video of them in the water. I was very nervous that I was going to drop my iPhone in the ocean. I didn't stay in for too long.

 Warming up after being in the chilly water...oh and the clouds rolled in too.

Howdy partner!

Classic Beckett

We stopped at a restaurant called Moby Dicks for lunch...right up the kids alley. FULL of pirates, fish and sharks. They loved it!

I absolutely love this picture. Now THAT is a Texas sized corn dog! And yes he ate the whole thing, along with his fries and pudding cup. I tell ya, I am scared for their teen years!  Their appetites are amazing!

Macie, Cap and the boys in the shark's mouth...an entrance to a souvenir shop across the street.

Parks and Chats in the Yard

The other day we were wondering where the kids were. My mom looked out and saw them in these chairs. They were just sitting there chatting about the trees and their day. So cute.

There is a new climbing structure at the Rockport park. Here is Beckett playing around.

Grant also at the park

The kids and I went to the Rockport beach the other day. Grant posing in the water.

Fun Weekend

During the same weekend we visited the caves, we also discovered a great trampoline company and a very fun theater that serves you dinner while you watch the movie. The kids thought both were amazingly fun and couldn't decide which was better. :-) BTW - if you have kids and haven't seen The Croods...it's a very cute movie.

Grant karate chopping the dodgeballs.

Video of Roger playing dodgeball with the kids. They are on the trampolines and he's standing on a platform. We weren't allowed to bounce. :-(

 Roger and the kids waiting for dinner and the movie. :-)

Cave Day!

Our first family trip to Austin occured over Cave Day - 2 days a week the state park service opens up some caves in the Austin area.

We only explored one of the caves. This one was amazinging right in the middle of a neighborhood. We were looking into backyards and the tennis courts as we waited in line...very strange. The cave was MUCH bigger than I imagined. Once we made it through the VERY small opening in the ground, we decended down a staircase and entered the cave. We had a great time and the kids thought is was very cool. :-)

Here Beckett is climbing into the hole. I was very nervous about the whole thing...of course the boys, not at all.

And there he goes.

Grant looking over one of the railings into the deeper parts of the cave.

I promise, Beckett was much more excited about the cave. :-)

Howdy Y'all!

I am excited to tell you that the Simmons' clan is all safe in Texas. It was a whirlwind process...here are some of the highlights.

My parents came up on March 18 to help get everything ready. The boys flew to Corpus with them on the 24th. Roger and I were supposed to close on the house and leave the next day. However Mother Nature decided to give Indiana one more snow storm...so we were delayed a day.

We arrived in Austin on Wednesday. After a couple of days looking at houses in the area, I am excited to report that we found a great house in a beautiful neighborhood in a northern suburb of Austin. Our closing date is May 10th.

So until May 10th, the kids and I are in Rockport with my parents and Roger is working in Austin. He is planning to come down this weekend and the kids and I are going up there next weekend. It's hard being apart - Grant especially misses Roger terribly. But all in all, we are doing well and are excited for this big adventure.

Here are some videos that we have taken since arriving in Texas.

This first one is Grant doing a commercial for a toy called Capsella. Capsella was Josh's favorite toy for years, so Cap is very excited to be doing it with Grant. After watching these, I think Grant has a future on QVC. :-)

Over the past few days, Grant has been making videos like crazy. Most of them are tours of the house and the yard and then back again. So I cut out these clips. The first is Beck jumping off the diving board and then the last 2 clips are very sweet - Grant talking to Roger.

The kids LOVE playing basketball. The other night, my mom and I noticed Beckett. He has a routine that he goes through everytime he shoots. Dribble...stick out the tongue....spin the ball a few times....shoot. It's so cute! Grant is getting really good at over the head shots.

Riley was very excited about the 8" of snow. 

Roger shoveling the walk and getting ready to shovel the driveway so that UHaul can pick up our PODS.

Oops - this one was too heavy. (Notice the back wheel off the ground).

All loaded up and ready to go!

Poor Riley, she was sure we were heading to a great park. No sweetie - we have 10 hours ahead of us and Texarkana is the destination.

This is a house that is for sale in Cedar Park...one of the suburbs we looked at. Couldn't resist taking a picture. Drawbridge? Check! Turretts? Check! Big imposing front door? Check! I can't imagine the boys reaction!

 Riley was so excited to finally be co-pilot! The roads from Austin to Rockport go from 80 mph to 40 mph. Everytime we slowed down, she hopped up and looked at me as if sayting....roll down the window! Roll down the window!!

Grant found a bandana and wanted to put it on like a pirate. I was busy so he said, I will figure it out myself! UM, more like a Russian babooshka! 

Today we went to pretty much the only park in Rockport. There is a great climbing area and the boys went nuts. Climbing as high as possible and, learning from other kids there, started vaulting the rocks.

And finally, here is a video the boys made for Macie and Cap of them vaulting and doing tricks at the park.