LA LA LAND

Here are some pics from our trip to LA LA Land for the UCLA vs TX game.  We flew out with the McMillians on Thursday and we stayed at the new hotel Mr. C's in BH.  As soon as we arrived we headed to the Ivy for lunch (my mom's favorite) and had gimlets and really good food.  I know this place is touristy but the food is great and the service is even better...so we don't care.  After lunch we went shopping on Robertson and then had dinner at Hamasku on the west side.  I honestly think it is the best sushi in LA and I have eaten a lot of sushi in LA.  I would eat their ponzu sauce with a spoon.  Friday my mom and I had facials at Verabella and there is not a better facial in the country.  Then we headed to shop and eat at The Grove.  

Friday night we had a mini LA friend reunion at Jenny and David Groom's house.  Which is in east Burbank and overlooks the entire valley.  It's a gorgeous house and it was so fun to see everyone...it seemed like no time had passed except that everyone was married, or seriously dating, and some of us had kids.  Not to mention that I never thought any of us would own real estate in LA!  Congrats Grooms!  

Saturday was the game and it was so fun tailgating before.  Then it got hot but the horns kicked ass.  Meanwhile the Joyners had flown in for the weekend from Dallas to watch the girls and they ended up getting DOUBLE EAR INFECTIONS while we  are gone.  I felt so bad for everyone back in Midland.  I can't thank the Joyners enough for doing such a good job with TWO sick kids.  And they didn't even complain!  They thanked us for having them out!  

Saturday night we ordered take out and ate at Jim's place and all watched Bama kill North Texas.  Sunday it was back to Midland...goodbye paradise.  I sure do miss LA LA Land.

Lunch at the Ivy in BH

Nice Eyes Dad

Dinner at Hamasaku.  Best sushi in LA.
Jim couldn't join because Tosh was shooting live in AZ

Tailgating with the Texas Exes at the Rose Bowl

Jim made it to the game!

Love these girls

Happy

Singing the Eyes

Hook Em

About to head into the game.

Labor Day and Football

Labor day weekend was a blast with my parents and Andy and Amanda Torres down at the ranch.  We ate amazing food and hunted every night.  The weather was oh so nice and the Branum clan even met us for a Sunday hunt.

This past weekend we headed to the ranch on Thursday night around bedtime and wanted to see if leaving at that time would help them to sleep in the car.  Wrong...they were so excited about being up past their bedtime and riding after dark.  They did not sleep...and were very tired the next day but amazingly weren't that cranky.  So Friday morning after breakfast and before naptime we headed to Austin.  We had to make a swipe through target for a few things we forgot and then we headed to Phil's icehouse/Amy's ice cream on Burnet road.  They have great burgers and an awesome play ground.  Willa loved the sweet potato french fries and Fay of course did not.  Sweet Willa likes food...like her mama.

We had the pleasure of staying at my good friend Katie Coleman's new house in central Austin and it beat the Four Seasons in my opinion.  The house had SO much room, the girls had their own room, we had a very comfortable bed, and most amazingly she has a screened in porch/deck that the kids played on every second they were awake.

Friday night the three adults went to dinner at Uchiko and it was the Joyners first visit.  Very good but I have to say it didn't beat CA sushi which is my measuring stick.  The service was great but they take themselves a little seriously.  I would go back though...

Saturday morning we hit the trail as a family at town lake and everyone really enjoyed being out with so many people and dogs to look at!  Next up was lunch with the Ryans at Shady Grove and it was really fun to get both sets of kids together.  Mary Mae won best behaved :)  That afternoon Lauren our babysitter came over and I swear God sent her from heaven.  She is literally studying to be a rocket scientist, is a young life leader, a tri-delt, and is gorgeous.  AND...she got both kids to sleep with no issues and they slept though the night!  She was a wizard.  I was a little nervous about leaving them with someone new that had never put them down before and especially in a strange place but they loved her.  Meanwhile Dave and I had headed to the BYU game.  I wasn't able to really enjoy the game until Lauren told me it had gone so well, but when I got the text that they were fast asleep...I started to have a great time.

My parents have four tickets in the north end zone club and you can drink and eat all through the game.  It is the best way to watch college football.  Winning by one point made things a little too exciting but it was worth the drive in.  Sunday we headed to the ranch for lunch and to let the girls play a little and then we headed home.  They did very well on the way home...especially because Willa has a new car seat!  And she gets to face forward.  Life is so much better in her book.

Also, CDO started last week...here are our first day of school pics.

The remodel continues...they have started to rough in the new plumbing which is very exciting and we have selected and ordered most of our fixtures.  I can't wait to be back in our room, with a new closet and bathroom.  I just have to keep my eye on the prize...because remodeling with two little kids is stressful!

Camp, Dallas, Remodels, and Baby Steps!

Since I last blogged a LOT has happened.  Willa said her first word "mamamama" and took her first steps!  She is a very early walker and has been standing up in the middle of the room for quite some time and this week she had the bravery to take a few steps.  The first time she did it, we could tell she was shocked that it actually worked.  So, she has been trying to walk all week...three steps is about the most she has taken in a row before falling down.

Fay is still obsessed with her shoes and being outside.  Or "soutside" as she says it.

A few weekends ago the Ryans joined us at the ranch Friday night and brought sweet Mary Mae.  She is beautiful and looks just like Zach!  Carrie took Willa's pictures, which turned out amazing!  I can't wait to post them.  It was great to see good friends and they are definitely in our same boat.  We have missed them...kids have a way of taking up all your time.  After Willa's photoshoot the Ryans headed back to Austin and we headed to Inks Lake!

Dave was an awesome sport and went to alumni camp at CLH with me...and we had a great time eating chow, water soccing, swimming, showering in the library, sleeping in the wrangler up cabin, and floating the rio flojo.  I had the chance to catch up with some of my favorite CLHers and we got to attend Church Mountain which was the highlight for me.  I had not been back since Tex had died and it was nice to be able to pay my respects, and there was also a plaque for Caroline Gose, my roommate Marianna Gose's little sister who passed away while we were living together in LA, which I was really glad to see.  I hope I get a chance to attend again, it really is one of the best places on earth.

Here we are at the top of Church Mountain.

The next weekend we went to Dallas.  This was Willa's first D-Town visit and she LOVED it!  Gran Nan and Grandpa make everything so fun!  I had been dreading the drive down and it was all for not.  They did amazingly well!  We left after TGIF on Friday and everyone was so well behaved.  Saturday Dave and I went to North Park on "Tax Free Weekend" no less and the opening weekend of H&M which we did go into and I got a great burnt orange dress.

Saturday night we took the Joyners to Chamberlins in Addison and it was amazing food.  I have never eaten that much crab in my life and Nancy said it was the best steak she had ever eaten.  Lauren's nanny Angelica babysat for us and she was terrific.  I hope we can continue to use her for nights out in Dallas.

Sunday we went to church and ate Jimmy John's for lunch.  The rest of the afternoon we hung out and the kids and I took a nap.  I always sleep well in Richardson.  Monday we ran errands, fit in a trip to In and Out Burger, made a visit to Dr Eric's new offices, and headed to the Rangers game.  We sat in the Lexus Suite and had a waiter which I highly recommend.  It was a really fun group in our area and we almost got nailed by a foul ball.  Actually I would have been the one to catch it but I ducked, so the guy next to us caught it.

The kids loved In and Out.  French Fries, Stickers, and Hats=Toddler Bliss.

We have also started our bathroom remodel.  It has been a long time coming and it is not fun.  Hopefully it will be worth it!  Progress pictures to come.

I am so thankful for this life that God has given us...I am amazed every day by the beauty and bounty in our life.  Praise be to God.

Vail 2011

My parents took us and my sister Amy and her boyfriend Jim to Vail CO for a week.  And it was AMAZING.

Before we headed out and before Willa started wigging out.

Juice Box

Our new best friend Jim.

Pool Time at the Hotel!

Willa had a tough week.  Her ears (we later find out she has a double ear infection) were bothering her the whole time.  Here we caught it on film.

The Pirate Park is awesome.

Mommy and Willa on the plank.

Down at the stream by the Pirate Park which was a highlight of the trip.

Mommy and Fay onboard.

First night in town.

Everyone all together.

Aunt Amy and her twin Willa.

Happy Couple

Happy on his shoulders.  I think they look so much alike here..

Pool time in our awesome flap hat.

My goal was to get a picture of all four of us every day of the trip.  It almost happened.

Lunch with just us four at the pizza place in Lion's head.  This was a great lunch.

Drinks before dinner at the hotel.  The fireside lounge at the Four Seasons kind of became our own private hang out.  The staff was really fun and we hung out there every night before and after dinner.  Steve the beer guy and Tommy Wommy really helped make the trip.  The choclate sniper lives supreme.

Sushi Night.  Yama Sushi...so GOOD.

Post dinner Fireside Lounge.

Breakfast at the hotel

There were these really cool bears made of wire right under our balcony and they were huge!  Really cool art.

All four of us and Jim and Amy loaded up in the loaner car from the hotel and headed to Crazy Mountain brewery.  These were our flights.  The view from the brewery tasting room was awesome and they had lab dogs every where which the kids adorded and hula hoops!

Italian Dinner night

GRAPPA!!!

Willa was NOT herself on this trip.  She really was so fussy and we finally had to take her to the Dr. at Valley Medical.  Here we are waiting for Dr. Newman.  Her ears were making everyone miserable even though she looks happy here...she was not!

Lunch in Lions Head at the bottom of the gondola.

Fay playing on the steps in front of the gondola while we waited for our food.  

Lions Head gondola.

Lunch

More pirate park.  I love this picture.

Pirate Park!!!

And we had our own pirate!  This guy was there with his girlfriend.  I had to document it.

Jazz night in Lions Head square.  So fun and then dinner at Montauk.

Our 45 minute date alone which was cut short by my dad coming to find us in vail village because beaner was having a total melt down.  Did I mention that Willa's ears where bothering her!

Last night.  Top of the moutain at Eagle's Nest look out.  Breathtaking.  There was live music, trampoline bungee, rock walls, BBQ and STUNNING 360 degree views.  It was an amazing night.  AND I did the trampoline bungee after dark (that's why I don't have a picture.)  and it was so scary and fun and really out of character for me.  I am glad I did it.

After our last dinner at the top of the mountain we came home and took a picture with Caitlin.  She was our babysitter every night of the trip and did a great job.

Fireside lounge....long range baby monitor.

Trip home and it was like Willa knew.  This baby likes the flatlands.  She never cried.  Who knew someone could prefer Midland to VAIL!

It was a great trip and something we look forward to every year.  We swam, we ate, we hiked, we ate, we explored, we ate and we played...and then ate! The weather was spectacular and it even rained a little bit which we welcomed.  Jim and Willa were great additions and I think Vail is going to be somewhere we go for a long time.