Waco & Fort Worth, TX

Summertime is for exploring Texas. This weekend we visited Magnolia Market in Waco on our way to Fort Worth to see the Stockyards and stay at Great Wolf Lodge.

Excellent cupcakes from Silos

As a fan of Fixer Upper, Abby loved Magnolia Market. She thought the style was so pretty and charming.

Having delicious bites from the food truck.
Biscuits & strawberry butter. Chicken orzo soup. 

Checking out the shops.

Live Stock Exchange aka Wall Street of the West 

Longhorn Cattle Drive
Fort Worth-a cowboy town with cowboy murals

Within walking distance from our downtown hotel, the Water Gardens had 3 pools, a mountain and a stage.
 
Quiet Pool
It looked cool from Abby’s POV

I blinked, and Abby had hopped down to the bottom of this active pool.

In the morning, we walked the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens

There were 15 LEGO builds throughout the gardens. Some blended right in with the habitat and some were larger than life.

   

Lydia got to see and feed koi fish in the Japanese Garden. They were little piggies!

There is a LEGO duck family hiding behind the leaves. (the egg is walking)

Fox & rabbit LEGO photo stand-in
May you both never stop being goofy.

Then a stop at Jamba Juice in Sundance Square in Fort Worth before heading over to Great Wolf Lodge!

 

We made it to Abby's favorite vacation spot!

 

We got enjoy the entire outdoor park and then still play indoors when it stormed the next day.

 It's been a great kick-off to summer!

5th Grade Celebrations

Lydia worked so hard this year. We’re so proud! After adapting to this crazy year, there’s nothing she can’t do!

But what’s the best thing about Sampson?

Friends!

Kenzie, Cameron, Lydia

Last ride to school

Lydia loves Mes Brandon and gained confidence in math

Water Day

Principal Mrs Motzney

5K to 5th Grade

😁

Distinguished Honor Roll

And behind all the 5th grade classes were high school graduates that went to Sampson. “In 7 years, that’s you in a cap and gown!”

Team work with Ryan

Wax Museum

Stallion

Mom Visit

Playing games and spending as much time outside as possible.

Her first time flying since last October, BTW.

Tex-Mex after church!

Happy Mother's Day!

Great weather for swimming and hanging out by the pool.

M/D time with Pedicures at Tiffanie's on Thursday, then more shopping.

Fun on the watermelon island!

Got to celebrate my (37th) birthday on Friday with Mom here with Pizza, West Concert & Cake.

Saturday morning: in the strawberry fields.  Isn't she cute?

They also had pick your own flowers!

Drove my mom to airport on Saturday.  No matter how old you get, you will always need your mom. 

Sunday morning: When Abby walks carefully in with hot coffee, Ben walks in with my plate, Lydia smiles in with a card, and Abby beams in again with paper handprint flowers, and then they hang around... it's just precious! 

I love our Mother's Day breakfast in bed tradition.

Happy Easter/Caddo Lake

We decorated eggs, made ressurection rolls, and egged our neighbor before our 2 nights camping.

Saw Mill Pond

 

Wild flower season

We had a good site with good neighbors! 

Bella and her family moved from WI to the Austin area 2 years ago. The kids ran back and forth between our sites, we hung out by their fire, and the dogs even had enormous fun!

Boat tour on Caddo Lake.

 Guide Rich ("Are you Rich?") showing us that in October, all the creepy bald cypress trees are beautiful orange. It was a little cold, so we didn't see any alligators.

The flea market is 1st and 3rd weekends and very interesting! We all found a thing or 2, even Rio!

A hiking trail had lots of bridges and spring green perfect for a "nature bath."

Our new tent was wonderfully spacious. On Sunday morning, the girls found eggs all over the campsite.

Some eggs were easy, others difficult to find. The girls loved cruising down hill from the bathrooms on their scooters.

When we got home, we unloaded, found baskets (Peeps!), and watched prerecorded service on YouTube. 

Happy Easter!