Marathon for kids

Today we took Alex and Ben down to the Mike Myers stadium to start their 'marathon for kids'. they have to walk, run, hop etc, 26.2 miles in 4.5 months. The final lap of the stadium on 21st February next year will earn them a medal. 54,000 children have signed up to do this in Austin, so it was a great morning. you needed some enthusiasm for all the yippee's and general congratualtions that go on to start any event. We must have clapped most VIP's in Austin, but once the event got under way it was well organised and although we were one of the last groups on tot he track- they had us sitting in the stadium in school alphabetical order, then they started with Z and Alex and Ben go to Baranoff, so D - A was the last to be hearded to the start line! I would have to confess to many 'when is it our turn' to be uttered while we waited, which was not helpped by people not wanting to wait so just moving sections, this frustrated A and B quiet a lot, but Allan and I were quiet happy to sit and wait for our turn. The frog Ben is holding is one he had to take home from school this weekend and look after, so 'Froggy' came with us. The man out front with the children on the Flag lap is Lance Armstrong, we also had the Chief of Police running and the Mayor. Alex managed to get a high five from Lance as we did our lap, although I would say he is oblivious to who Lance is at the moment - he will learn, Austin is very proud of him.

Our weather

Another great day

Thursdays weather

Another great day, although they are forecasting rain with enthusiasm for next week. we have a warm front coming in and our low temperatures are going to increase.

An extra at the table

While we were eating on the patio this evening Allan noticed we had company, and we thought you all might help us identify our new friend( or foe!) . We have looked up our Texas bug book and can not find it, so I think that most probably means it is not too worrying, but it is always nice to know who has joined you for dinner. I might add Jack did not share any of his 24oz steak with our guest!!! I have added a new label of wildlife in Texas and will be adding to it, although we are getting familiar with certain wildlife, I thought you might enjoy seeing it.

Wednesday weather

Another great day, I am still not bored of sun and warmth( heat in the afternoons!!)

San Antonio Riverwalk

Back In August we went down to the Alamo, at San Antonio. we did not manage to see so much as the temperature was over 100F, and the children were not happy about wondering around in that. It is only an hour away, so we will be going back now the weather has cooled down some. whist we were there we went down to the River Walk, and it was so beautiful. I will taking all of our visitors down to see this part of San Antonio, the outskirts is awful. A mass area of concrete buildings put up with no care for how they looked. You drive through the outskirts for about 20 minutes wondering if any part of the city is nice, and then you come across this amazing area in the centre. The Alamo itself is very tranquil considering it is the centre of the city. We have the DVD of the Alamo- John Wayne version and Alex and Ben are now hooked, they keep playing it and are keen to re-visit. We will wait until the afternoon temperatures are down to low 80's, it is not fun taking children sight seeing in the heat( or not my children anyway!!!). San Antonio is now the second largest city in Texas, after Houston, as Dallas and Fort Worth have now offically seperated. Austin is a small city in comparision and much more appealing- honest

Tuesdays weather

Here is the weather for yesterday, just want to keep you up to date with how hot we are. Ben put on a light fleece today to go to school, as he had been told it was cold now in the mornings. I did suggest he might not need it, but once he went outside, he came straight in and took it off, declaring" it is not cold out there". They are softies these Texans. We are still in shorts and T-shirts, and AirCon is still needed during the day. We do have a fire placew and heating in the house, but we are not expecting to need it.