Saturday Payton and I ran some errands while Ashly and Presley relaxed at home. We all four headed to the Hill Country Galleria (outdoor mall and amphitheater) around 4p.m. b/c Santa was there for "free" pictures! That was the shortest Santa line I have ever seen. There was no one in line...woohoo! Santa had been there since 12 so I guess everyone had already come and gone! We let the girls run up and down the steps of the outdoor amphitheater. Every time we eat at Iron Cactus (which is right in front of the outdoor amphitheater) we let the girls run wild for a little while. They love it! Around 5:30 we ate dinner at Iron Cactus (our favorite).
Payton before we left to go visit Santa!
Presley told Santa she wanted a Barbie Castle and Payton said she wanted a Barbie!
Running wild at the outdoor amphitheater.
Climbing up the steps (seats) of the outdoor amphitheater!
The big Christmas tree behind the amphitheater's stage.
Payton and Presley eating at Iron Cactus!
After dinner their was a performance at the outdoor amphitheater called "Simply Christmas"! It was a jazzy little musical evening that included Christmas carols by Free Chapel (nearby church), complimentary hot chocolate, little kids passed out candy canes and "a touch of snow." The snow was from a foam sprayer. The girls had a BLAST!
Payton and Presley being goofy while eating their candy canes!
Presley playing in the "snow"!
Presley being her silly self with "snow" on her face and hair!
Presley threatening to throw "snow" on Payton!
After we got home our friend, Carter and his girlfriend, Lauren came over and we baked Christmas cookies, put the girls to bed and watched Ultimate Fighting! A movie would have been my choice but I was out voted! So we enjoyed each others company while watching Ultimate Fighting!
Sunday morning I volunteered at the church during the first service (in the infant room). I love holding those newborns. Unfortunately it is still giving me baby fever. They are so precious at that age. Ashly, the girls and I attended the late service. Payton was invited to go to The Nutcracker with her friend Sofia. She spent the day with her and had a wonderful time.
A little side note...Ashly and I have been hanging out with a sweet couple lately, Fred and Karen. Ashly works and works out with Fred and they really have a lot in common. I met his wife a couple of weeks ago and really like her as well. They moved here from California a year ago and their story is real similar to mine and Ashly's. They have been together since they were in high school also and they have two little kids, Hayden (girl, age 7) and Owen (boy, age 3).
Having said that, Karen called me on Sunday and said she needed a break and wanted to get out of the house. So she picked me up and we ate lunch at a cute little restaurant in Westlake called, The Grove! We sat on the patio, ate delicious food and talked forever. We then went to Barton Creek Mall to get a little more Christmas shopping done. I was just excited that I was really connecting with a new friend.
Ashly spent the day with Presley. They went to lunch with Fred and his two kids. After they ate they went over to Fred and Karen's house so the kids could play and they could watch football.
We all arrived back home late yesterday afternoon, ate dinner and folded laundry while watching the Cowboy game! Overall we had a wonderful fulfilling "family" weekend. We spent a lot of quality time together. That is one thing Ashly and I have come to realize since living in Austin, nothing is more important then spending quality family time with just us and the girls! It is the best feeling in the world. We are so blessed to have each other.
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