Wacky trip to Austin

We are so excited that the Kenyons moved to Austin!!!  It is fantastic to have them just a few hour drive away.  We decided to go down and visit them over the weekend.  I was nervous about how Max would do on the drive but he ended up doing great!  He was great until about 2 1/2 hrs in and then he started fussing because he was hungry so we stopped and I fed him. 

Cute boy hanging out in his car seat

There was a really pretty sunset we enjoyed during the drive

Max is so cute that once he's out of his car seat it's hard not to get distracted and want to play with him for awhile.  We got in a little bit of cuddling before buckling him back in and getting back on the road.

We didn't get to Austin until later in the evening.   We just hung out and visited with Richard and Michelle.  Michelle gave lots of love to Max.  He was so happy with her.  He even sat calmly on Richard's lap for awhile.  I couldn't believe it.  Maybe it was the new environment or maybe it was hearing our voices while we talked, but Max was awesome!  He wasn't his usual fussy self.  AND THEN - - he slept through the night.  The entire night.  I woke up a few times to make sure he was still breathing because he has never slept through the night before. 

He woke up happy and hungry

I "won" tickets to Enchanted Springs Ranch at last year's Casino Night silent auction at work.  It is about 1 1/2 hours outside of Austin so we all got into the Kenyon's van and made our way to the ranch.  We weren't quite sure what to expect but Oprah did name it one of the best "Wacky Family Attractions" so we figured it couldn't be too bad.

Well, it was okay but it wasn't amazing.  We watched Pistol Packin' Paula put on a show twirling her pistols and cracking a whip.  The gun show was too loud for Makenna and Natalie (and Max) so only the Daddy's ended up staying and watching.  We went on a tractor wagon ride and got to see a bunch of animals from longhorns to reindeer.

Makenna and Natalie playing outside during the gun show.

Natalie kept covering her ears even though we had left the show.

Max and his buddy Michelle

On the wagon ride, looking at the animals

Nice horns, Michelle!

The Kenyons - Makenna, Natalie, Michelle, and Richard

Our family

We also walked around and looked at other animals.  It wasn't too long though before we were ready to go (and it was good timing because it was just starting to rain when we left).

On the way home, the Kenyons indulged me and let us stop at an outlet mall that had an outlet for my new favorite baby clothes store - Janie and Jack.  There isn't an outlet store close to us so I was thrilled to stop and find some cute stuff for Max.  It's so hard to find boy clothes that I like so when I find something I like, I go a little crazy.  ;)  There was a little hiccup on the way to the outlets though - we got a flat tire!  So there was a little detour while the men put on the spare.  Richard was so calm and collected throughout it all.  He's an awesome guy.  He went to a tire place while the rest of us shopped.

On Sunday we got up and visited some more until it was time for the Kenyons to go to church and us to head home.  (Max slept well that night again - not quite through the whole night but still pretty good.)

The girls just loved Max.  They were so cute with him and wanted to hold him. 

Nattie, Kenna, and Max

Natalie and Max - she isn't much bigger than he is

Makenna and Max

Michelle and Max

Peter reading with Makenna

Max sleeping sweetly on the drive home

We loved our visit and can't wait until the Kenyon's come up to Dallas to visit us in 2 weeks.  And then we can't wait to visit them again some time after that.  It's great to be so close (about 3.5 hrs if you don't hit too much traffic), too bad it isn't only 2 hours away!