Texas Trip Home: Austin

Our friends (ironically our old Emerald Falls neighbors who happen to be from Brighton) the Streeters graciously offered to let us stay with them while we were visiting Austin, so we headed to their house when we got to Austin on Monday.  Unfortunately, we got slowed down at the outlet mall on our way, and we were later getting into town than we planned.  This caused a problem for Tanya who had to answer 2-year old Tilly's "where are the big girls" question every hour. 

Luckily, we finally made it to Austin, and here are the highlights:

• Staying at the Streeter "resort" and getting to catch up with our good friends.  Seriously, Paul is a very talented builder, and their house is amazing and their hospitality can not be beat.  It was really hard to leave!
• Swimming with Tilly because it was the only way to stay cool in the heat.
• Getting to see family - Kirk, Jeanette, Kaeden and Kiera.
• Trying (and sadly failing) to fit in visits with all of our friends in Austin.
• Moving to Hotel Larson mid-week.  Thanks again Claire and Mary Lynne for giving up your beds.
• Running on the Lake Pointe trails.
• Finally getting to have a movie night with Megan.  I forgot how good popcorn, Jr. Mints and Pibb Extra taste.
• Getting to ride around in Megan's new convertible (how did I not get a picture of that sweet ride?).
• Going to the Cheetah Swim Party at the Turner's house.
• Sloane getting to go to Camp Champions with the Stecks to pick up Maddox and visit Walker.
• Sutton getting to have an Austin day with Anne Marie.
• Sutton and Sloane getting to have slumber parties with all of their best friends from home.
• Date night with the Larsons at PF Changs.
• Catching up on old episodes of Saturday Night Live that the Larsons taped.
• Visiting Lake Hills Church.
• Getting to have lunch with some of our old Life Group after church.
• Sweating in the record-breaking Texas heat (OK, that might have only been a highlight for me).

Tilly with the "Big Girls".

Me and Tanya. 
Just guess which one of us is the world record holding athlete.

The girls with their cousins Kiera and Kaeden.

Keith and his brother Kirk.

Mexican food with (part of) the Larson clan.

The Cheetah (Sloane's old soccer team) Swim Party.

Ladies' lunch with Kim, Megan and Natalie.

Tim and Keith (at least they didn't take their shirts off this time).

Sutton and Annemarie.

Sutton her betrothed Colton.

After church lunch with the Turners, Larsons and Ferrells.

The men.

The kids.

Me and Megan before we left Austin.
There were some tears that followed this goodbye.

Our trip to Austin was amazing, but it just went by too fast.  It was impossible to spend enough time with everyone we wanted to catch up with, but we did our best.  We might be living in England, but Austin and Texas will always be home!