JAMSquared

Sunday, August 8, 2010

James, Jessica and I went down to McDade’s Emporium, the little pastry & ice cream parlor near the lobby, and picked up some breakfast tacos. We then wandered outside to enjoy our breakfast on a bench under a massive oak tree. We then returned to our room to change into our swimsuits.

At the pool, we floated the Crooked River, the resort’s registered name for a lazy river, with everyone except Jason’s family who had already going swimming and went to take a nap.

Everyone then met up for lunch at Old Buck’s Place, the poolside cafe.

While Jessica napped in our room, and Cameron and Trevor napped in Jason and Julia’s room, the adults played a round of Balderdash in Mom and Dad’s room while Aspen played on the floor. Jason won. He had a real knack for guessing the real answer.

After nap time, Cameron rode a pink tricycle that was still too big (it was smaller than the blue tricycle).

And Jessica and Trevor talked to each other in their strollers.

Jason, Julia, Aspen and Dad went swimming some more.

Jessica then rode the horse in the lobby.

We drove into Bastrop and enjoyed dinner at Nancy’s Steakhouse. The bacon wrapped shrimp and chicken appetizers were very good.

Back at the beginning of August, we went on a mini vacation getaway with the Dzubinski side of the family. I tend to be really picture heavy in my travel blog posts, so I’ve decided to do separate posts for each day. Check out Julia’s post here and Sarah’s posts here and here. I apologize for the delay in sharing our trip. James and I are making some behind the scenes changes to our website and I had hoped to be finished before posting about the trip. Alas, grout sealing has taken up our time until recently so the web changes are still not in place yet.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

After partying with Aspen at her birthday celebration and Jessica’s afternoon nap, we arrived at our travel destination, the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa. Granted, the destination wasn’t far from home, off of Highway 71 just west of Bastrop but it was a perfect getaway. Everyone settled into their rooms. Sarah’s family’s room was on the 3rd floor while the rest of us were on the 4th floor. Dinner was then eaten at the Firewheel Cafe, one of the resort’s six dining facilities. They had a buffet that everyone decided to try. I tried a variety of dishes including salmon, prime rib, and a cauliflower au gratin that would have tasted better if the cauliflower pieces had been more uniform in size. The dessert table of the buffet had many delicious choices. I loved how many of the desserts were bite-sized or small so you could try multiples desserts without feeling guilty.

After dinner, we walked around the grounds a bit. Cameron tested out the covered wagon.

We scoped out the pool. Then we let the kiddos play on the playground.

Don’t you love that little tongue sticking out? Ever since this trip Jessica has been sticking her tongue out a lot too. I don’t know if it is because she saw Trevor doing it or what, but it sure is cute.

Last weekend, James took Friday off from work and we traveled up I-35 to Keller to visit my sister and her family. The main purpose of the trip was so Sarah and I could go to the Great American Scrapbook convention in Arlington, but we did a bunch of fun stuff outside of the convention too.

Friday afternoon, the kiddos had fun playing together.

Babies don’t quite understand the concept of sharing. Fortunately, there were two of those orange things.

I even got a rare picture of Jessica and me, courtesy of Sarah. Of course, Jessica isn’t quite looking at the camera. That’s tough to do sometimes.

Jessica enjoyed Trevor’s piano walker toy.

Here’s a little video of James playing with Cameron and a puppet.

After dinner, we took a walk and stopped at the swings. There was only one baby swing, so Trevor and Jessica had to share. See the cute pictures of the two them Sarah posted on her blog.

Saturday morning, Sarah and I took the kiddos to Homestead Farms. There were three baby goats, a rabbit and some chickens. The farm wasn’t quite what we were expecting, but they had a great produce stand. We got some unusual squash you don’t see at the supermarket and some peaches. Sarah made Trevor and Jessica some peach baby food and Jessica loved it. I thought it tasted pretty good too.

After lunch, Sarah and I left for the scrapbooking convention. We had a ton of fun doing a workshop, wandering the vendor fair and then cropping the night away. It was nice getting to spend some sister time together. I plan to post what I worked on during the crop night soon.

While we were at the scrapbooking convention, James and Brian took the kiddos to Brian’s parents’ house to go swimming. It was Jessica’s first time. James said she did okay. The next time, I bet she will enjoy it even more and I will get some pictures.

Sunday morning, Jessica got her first hair cut. Sarah did the cutting and I kept Jessica from moving, well moving too much. James took the photos (I was very impressed with the quantity of photos he took).

Afterward the kiddos played together. Apparently Jessica’s hair cut gave Cameron ideas as he wanted to cut his mama’s hair with his toy pliers.

We went to lunch at Rosa’s and then headed home. It was such a fun weekend. I’m glad we live close enough to have this kind of weekend.

James took Friday off from work and we traveled to Midland to celebrate Mother’s Day with our Moms. Jessica did pretty well in the car. This is a beautiful time of year to drive to Midland. The wildflowers were gorgeous. The stretch between Llano and Brady was especially vibrant. There were red and yellow, orange and white, pink and purple wildflowers and even a few bluebonnets (usually this is too late for bluebonnets). Some fields were covered with only one type of wildflower, making one field look like it was dusted with snow there were so many white flowers. Other fields were covered with red and yellow wildflowers giving the impression they were on fire.

Friday night, James’ Mom hosted dinner at her house with my parents, James’ parents, James’ grandparents, James’ sister Tami and her boyfriend Randy and our nephew Dawson. It was a full household and I didn’t get any photos.

For lunch on Saturday, we headed to Tampico with James’ family. Afterward, we visited back at James’ parent’s house.

Someone’s getting sleepy.

James’ Mom had gotten out some of Dawson’s toys from when he was a baby and Jessica had a grand time playing with them. She especially enjoyed this little musical piano.

Dawson enjoyed playing with Jessica.

We went over to my Mom’s house for dinner Saturday night and she got to feed Jessica her dinner of butternut squash. Jessica is really starting to like butternut squash, of which I’m really thankful.

Before we left Sunday morning, Jessica got to play some more.

We stopped in San Angelo to visit with James’ Uncle Chuck. We took Jessica to the Sante Fe East Park, which is across the Concho River from the Visitor’s Center. The park has a toddler section. She enjoyed swinging, going down the slide with her Daddy, and riding a little pony.

Sunday night after we had gotten back and Jessica had played, eaten dinner and had a bath, we took some more photos.

Overall, it was a lovely weekend.

Wednesday, December 23rd

For Jessica’s first Christmas, we traveled to Midland. The trip was about 7.5 hours, which normally takes us about 6 hours (when we stop for lunch). We stopped in Eden for lunch and to feed Jessica. We stopped again in San Angelo so Jessica could meet her Great-Uncle Chuck. About 20 minutes from my parent’s house, we had to stop again, because Jessica didn’t want to sit in her wet diaper any longer. Except for the strong winds and rain the last hour of the trip, it went relatively smooth for Jessica’s first long car trip. After arriving and meeting her Aunt Sarah, Uncle Brian and cousins Cameron and Trevor for the first time, she went down for bed.

Thursday, December 24th

What do 8 adults, 1 toddler and 3 babies equal? A chaotic but wonderful Christmas Eve. The day was spent enjoying each other. The guys and Aspen put together a puzzle. My Dad, Sarah, Julia and I ate lunch at Taco Villa (nacho fries, yum!) and then took lunch back to the house for everyone else. Some naps were taken and not just by babies.

Everyone except my Dad, James, Jessica and I went to the children’s service at St. Ann’s. We then ate dinner and my Dad left for choir practice before the 8 o’clock and midnight masses. Normally, we would have opened all the gifts together Christmas Eve, but with my Dad in the choir, the little ones going to bed and an over-abundance of gifts under the tree,  the adults opened most of their presents and some of the babies’ presents after dinner. My Mom and I then went to midnight mass (held at 11 o’clock with 30 minutes of music beforehand) to watch my Dad sing in the choir. James was going to go with us, but since Jessica had been fussy being put to bed, we didn’t want anyone to have to get up to soothe her should she wake up. Of course, she didn’t wake up.

Friday, December 25th

The morning started out with all the babies in the matching sleepers my sister got for them. Jessica (10 weeks old), Aspen (4.5 months old), and Trevor (7 weeks old) looked so cute. Cameron (21 months old) had to of course join Papa and the babies for some photos.

We also took a number of photos with just the 2009 cousins. It is quite difficult to get 3 babies to smile at the camera. I think Aspen wanted more room.

Jessica got some great presents: clothes, books and toys. Daddy opened most of them for her as Mommy was busy photographing the opening of gifts.

Even though she didn’t technically open any of her presents herself, she decided that opening presents was tiring and decided a nap in Papa’s arm was in order. See that little headband with the red bow? That goes with the cutest little sailor outfit she received and will be wearing this summer.

After getting Jessica dressed in her Christmas outfit, we went over to James’ parents’ house to have lunch and open gifts. Jessica got to meet her great-grandparents and Aunt Tami for the first time.

Saturday, December 26th

After breakfast, Cameron convinced his Uncle James to take him for a walk in the new wagon Santa brought him. Of course, it didn’t take much convincing since it was James’ idea. His wagon is pretty deluxe. It seats two with cupholders for each and one of the seats opens up to hide some toys.

After lunch, Sarah and her family left to return home. Jason, Julia and Aspen had left before James, Jessica and I woke up. They are early risers. I’m so thankful that Jessica is not an early riser. Of course, it helps that we put her to bed 1-1.5 hours after Aspen goes to bed allowing her to sleep 1-1.5 hours later.

Sunday, December 27th

We went to church with my Mom (Dad left early to sing in the choir). After lunch, I went with my parents to visit my grandmother, who is in the later stage Alzheimer’s unit at Manor Park. I’m so glad my Grandma has such a nice place to live. After that, we went to visit at James’ parents’ house.

Monday, December 28th

After breakfast we hit the road. Jessica did fabulously in the car.