Texas Spring Break 2024

Kris' family lives in Texas, so we've visited many times, but each time is a little different. This time was the best!

Day 1

There's nothing like leaving the house at 1:30 a.m. for a 5:00 a.m. flight! The sense of adventure of heading out for a long drive with only three hours of sleep under your belt is WILD. It's just so much easier with teenagers than it is toddlers.

We flew Southwest, which we normally don't do, but since we took golf clubs and they don't charge for doing it, it was an easy choice. Southwest was wonderful. I feel like they really leave you alone and don't tell you what to do, and no one's trying to cram suitcases in where they don't belong because they let you check for free.

We got our rental car at the airport (super fast and easy, because we didn't have to wait the desk) and then drove straight to Lazarus Brewing to meet up with Kris' parents - Joanna and Mike, and our friends who were also on break - Destinee and Thom! 

We sat outside in the sun, and it had a lovely atmosphere and good food. We had dessert at Dolce Neve Gelato courtesy of Thom and Destinee (thanks guys!) - and at their recommendation. It was heavenly.

We walked the length of Austin admiring the murals and art along the way. When we got to the capitol building, we walked all through it and went to the very top. So pretty inside and out.

There were scooters everywhere for rent, and we thought...why not? So Kris rented us all a scooter and we zipped through traffic, along a trail, and across the city to make it back to our car. So fun! I love scooters.

We drove the hour and a half to Kris' parents' home in Burnet, which is in hill country. They live on a ranch that was divided into ten acre sections to form a neighborhood, and they built a home there in 2008. We had a bonfire in the back of their house, looking at the cattle in the next pasture. 

Day 2

I went running and saw horses, ponies, and goats! 

We all went golfing at the Lighthouse Country Club. The sky was so blue and it felt so warm and nice. The course was a nice mix of water, sand, and rocks. They had just aerated the greens and so when you hit them, your ball just stopped! It was really hard to putt, too. Just another challenge!

We ate afterward at Inman BBQ, where we had never tried. We got a mix of meats and sides. I loved the macaroni and cheese and brisket the most. The people who worked there were so friendly. 

Mike and Joanna had their friends over. The boys went to Putters and Gutters, an arcade and bowling alley, while we talked with them. Then we were treated to a perfect rainbow...which then developed into a double rainbow! It covered the sky. Nice show, Texas!

Day 3

The guys went golfing at Hidden Falls Golf Club, and I worked and went for a long run. It is so much easier to run when you don't have to put on two layers and wear gloves and an ear covering!

We then drove to Lake Travis Ziplining! This place was super cool. Some of the ziplines were a half mile and got up to speeds of 65 miles per hour. It really felt like flying. There were little hikes up rocky paths and there were beautiful views all the way. This was a real highlight, emphasis on the high!

We seven met up with Meghan, Jon, and their kids at Oasis, which was a giant outdoor complex overlooking Lake Travis. We ate burgers and took advantage of the free locks they had. You wrote something on the lock, locked it on the fence, and threw the key (littering, no doubt.) But Kris and I totally did it and it was romantic all the same! (I've seen this in many places including Paris but never have done it, so that was fun.)

We all headed back to the Wardins to watch NCAA basketball and go in their hot tub. The stars were big and bright. (Deep in the heart of Texas!)

Day 4

We hiked at Inks Lake State Park, and the bluebonnets - although great all over Texas - were absolutely breathtaking here. They were thick and deep as far as you could see, and they smelled so wonderful! I absolutely couldn't get over them. Wildflowers in general were great. I took pictures of so many I didn't know, and they were all so colorful.

We hiked for about two hours, and it was really great. I've been here before, and I love this place. 

In the afternoon, the guys golfed at Delaware Springs, and I hung out with Meghan and Anna as her boys slept. Anna and I walked on the path in the back of their property that Mike mows. 

All of us went over to Rick and Donna's house (their friends) to see their donkeys and chickens, ride in their ATV to see bluebonnets, play on the putt putt course, eat burgers at their outdoor kitchen, go in their hot tub, and celebrate Anna and William's birthdays!

We also did this photo recreation of the kids on the guys' shoulders...and then the guys on the kids' shoulders. We laughed and laughed as they struggled to hold each other up. I'm laughing just thinking about it now! 

Day 5

We left the house at 1:30 a.m. again and walked into our own house at 1:30 p.m. Home sweet home and back to school after a great spring break!