Keep Austin Weird

Austin is a unique place. We have been couped up doing projects at home since we moved, so we thought we would finally have some fun for a Saturday.

One thing Matt and I love about Austin, is that everyone is always outdoors, and there are a million places to enjoy the fantastic Texas landscape. One of those place is smack dab in the middle of Austin. The Greenbelt. There are several places to enter it, but most are off a couple of the main highways through town.

You would never know you were in almost the heart of the city. People love to bring their mountain bikes down here to ride, and walk their dogs. It is shady and the trees are stunning.

The weather couldn't have been more beautiful.

I love these little unexpected beauties. It's little things like this that remind me of God's presence here on earth. These beautiful berries were so vibrant and there were just little patches of them scattered here and there.

They were fun for throwing too! I had told Colby a story about how his mom used to pick all the holly berries off her grandma's bushes and have holly berry wars with her cousins. It didn't take long for our own berry war to start.

Matt and I knew we were walking to the twin falls, but we had forgotten about this awesome little swimming hole. Darn, should have brought our swim suits!

Who needs swim suits? They are boys...right? We tried to keep them from getting too wet, but you know how that goes.

I had so much fun, and it was pretty awesome to share with them all the fun stories about how my mom and dad took me to do things like this all the time. We grew up in the woods, no I am serious, we really did grow up living 95% of our childhood outdoors. It was so much fun, and I am glad that they got to experience a little piece of that.

After naps, we continued the fun, and took them downtown. Austin prides itself on its "small town" feel, and love of all things unique. In fact right before we left 5 years ago, the city was trying to keep a new Super Walmart from being built and they succeeded. Aside from a few necessary chain stores (and I do love Walmart) there are lots of fun one-of-kind eating and shopping experiences here. Every where you go, you can buy shirts that say "Keep Austin Weird."

Matt and I had been wanting to try this little place called Home Slice Pizza...we will now be regulars. The wait for the actual restaurant was too long so we went right next door and ordered from the to-go window by the slice. It is seriously the best New York pizza I have had. Yep, ate right there on the dirty sidewalk. Totally awesome. The boys loved it.

This was our view across the street. All the fun shops on Congress. And...better still live music. Austin is all about live music, and across the street someone was singing at another restaurant so we got to hear that too.

After dinner, we walked just one street up to all the mobile food vendors (very popular here - and totally awesome) and had an amazing cupcake at Hey Cupcake! Once again there was a guy with his guitar playing and singing (he might have even been homeless). The food and music were fantastic and the boys got to experience what we love so much about this city!

I'm all about keeping Austin weird!