Austin Park

yesterday they went to Austin park for the afternoon, I am waiting for some photos to put on teh blog for you, but all had a great time, they did water rides, bumper cars, lazer tag, rock climbing and had a free buffet and unlimited drinks for the entry price...which was only $20, so good value for there money.

Today they are off to the Alamo and Riverwalk, down in San Antonio, I will have lots of photos to show you when we get home.

We are having fun with cameras, i down loaded Thomas's pictures the other day and he had 242 photo's on there, not just texas, but wow and yesterday we had to do Alices and put them on a disc, in her first week she has taken 366 photo's...so more space has been made on her memory card and the pictures put on a disc. they are snap happy, so glad it is now digital...

Last night, the older one ( although not Alice she stayed in with us and got her diary upto date) went out to freinds of Cara's, for band practice...they came home around 11ish, but I expect I am going to need to rallly them soon for todays trip out. Tomorrow is quieter for them, As Issie heads home to UK and so we will have a lazier day before she leaves for her flight.

I hope you are all enjoying the blog and seeing the photo's...

The bats take flight

So after walking Tex and Thomas swimming, we meandered up on to Congress bridge to watch the bats take flight, one of the colonies was taking off as we walked underneath the bridge, but we still saw another one go when we were on top.

here is an assortment of photos from the evening, showing us all I think.

The Bats

We went down to Zilker this evening so we could watch the bats fly at sunset, and left early so we could walk Tex and let her have a swim in Town lake.
Unfortunately Tex got bored before we did and preferred playing with the other dogs than fetching the toy we were throwing in for her.

So Thomas kindly got in the lake and swam to etch it...Thank you Thomas, not quiet sure if you are going to live down the teasing , but i was grateful...
he bought back a stray tennis ball as well as the toy blue bone..




I managed to get them to pose together, not easy, but they did it for me..I told them their mum would love it....












Alex in the back ground trying to catch Tex, the older ones quiet happy chatting
















A group photo..

















Cara and Ellie posing next to Stevie Vaugn.. might have to check that spelling and come back to you.

paintballing

So, they go paintballing for the fun of it. Apparently they might go again next weekend....why I ask myself when I see the bruises on both of them.
















Jack took two other friends as well, and they met someone from shady Hollow..which is the part of Austin we live in.











Doesn't Allan look good..this is after a very late night before at the pool party, i am not sure he was legal to drive, but would like to think he was.










A thoughtful Jack

















jacks friends Justin and Colin, Thomas was the only one with a camera, so we have no pictures of him, I will rectify that if they go again at the weekend.













Thomas's birthday present from Texas...sorry Alison and Paul.

The Pool party

So Londa and Jay kindly invited us all around for a play in the pool..Cara and Issie were out babysitting so joined us much later. Thomas and jack had to finish building Thomas's paintball gun ready for todays adventures on the paintball field...photos from that soon, Thomas has to download them for me..

So we all went around about 7pm and stayed until about 1am, so tired is what we are today..

Lots of fun was had, frolicking in the pool is sooo much fun, the men were all having a competeion on doing cannon balls...men will be men..and the boys will be boys.

The Salt Lick

The salt lick is a local Texas restaurant that has a huge grill, they burn wood which is stacked inside and they cook all the food in front of you, it is an amazing sight. The menu is limited and meat is the order of the day...but they did offer one vegetarian dish...coleslaw and potato salad.

here is Ellie enjoying her ribs..










Cara also enjoying the ribs..















Thomas on my iPhone trying to help Ben with a problem...


















I am trying to get the whole table view for you..my camera skills need work.

Enchanted rock

Doesn't he look happy!!!

Allan took all the kids to The Rock this morning, I was on dog duty and got to do more crafting...

It meant they had to get up early..well not really, 7am and be on the road by 8am, so they were at the rock by 10am...it is not a long climb, maybe 30 minutes, and we did not want them doing it in the heat of the afternoon.

I got them all up and moving, breakfast and sunscreen and then they left spot on 8am..i was proud they were wondering what the day held.





views from the top

Where have all the other photos gone...now have got to find them..computers and me do not get on






Ok, here they are, had to go into edit..obviously been watching Allan sort out my cock ups for far too long!!!!

heading down.










At the bottom is this hut, with a water fountain..Allan assures me they all had drinks to take up on the climb.















Ben doing the American peace sign..and that is the honest truth..

Allan tells me he is actually trying to look cool














Starting the climb...they are still looking happy, I know from Allan that whinging did start quite quickly. Only Jack and Thomas and Ben seemed to really enjoy the experience.










It does get steep, short but steep, that is why they were told to wear trainers.















So they look happy...don't they????










The last picture is the last shade before they started the real climb.