Remember the Alamo

and the other 4 spanish missions too!

Richard and I enjoyed a great three day trip to San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country while we were in Dallas last week.  This "babymoon" was a great getaway - our first in 15 months just the two of us.  I had never been to San Antonio and couldn't wait to see the Alamo!

In addition, I had heard about the "Mission Trail,"  a loop including 4 other Spanish missions that we thought would be fun to see.  http://www.nps.gov/saan/index.htm  It really was history in our backyard and felt like we were in another country.  We decided to rent bikes and to the mission trail this way - about a 16 mile loop.  It was awesome - one of the coolest things we have ever done on vacation (zip lining in Costa Rica might still beat it!).

From the National Park Service:

"The legacy and history of San Antonio and this region began with a simple ceremony when...

in 1718 Franciscans and Spanish representatives established the first mission. Within 13 years, five were located along the San Antonio River. The missions’ purpose? To acculturate and Christianize the native population and make them Spanish citizens. Today, visitors can retrace the footsteps of the mission Indians and friars. And, possibly, meet descendants of those first inhabitants.

The Alamo - Mission San Antonio de Valero

we went to the alamo twice - this time not on the bikes!

The six flags of Texas

Mission Concepcion

Mission San Jose - the "Queen of the Missions"

Mission San Juan

Mission Espada

In addition to our great bike ride, we also relaxed on the River Walk, ate Mexican food three times and drank a few yummy margs. 

Our trip continued with an evening in Fredericksburg, Texas - where we went on our honeymoon 4 years ago.  We walked the pretty main street, ate dinner and had an awesome breakfast at Rather Sweet - an adorable bakery.  On our way out of town, we stopped at Wildseed Farms to enjoy the wildflowers in bloom and pick up some seeds to try back home.

What a fun trip!  Thanks to mimi and grandad for spending 3 days with little brooks!

The Big D

we spent a wonderful memorial day weekend back in the Big D with friends and family. it was a jam-packed fun weekend with family parties, a wedding, and my 6th annual "wake girls" weekend all in the mix. most of all, it was a weekend for Brooks to meet and greet in texas - he was a superstar!

Richard, Stefan & Brad at David Murrell's wedding.

Richard & Mimi Kathryn at a Memorial Day BBQ

Brooks & Mary

Baby George & Baby Brooks hanging out at the park

George, Xander, Ruby and Brooks all together for the first time

Brooks & his "aunt" Brooke

Brooks with Grandad and Mimi relaxing in the backyard

the last few weeks

well, we got a new camera so the updates should come a little more frequently now. here are a few shots from thankgiving in dallas, the university medicine christmas party, girls night out at our church, our christmas party and our cute pups who love to pose for the camera!

30+ weeks

thought this would be a fun pic to share - i swear i look more pregnant every time i stand up! it's hard to believe we only have about 2 months to go - this has been a joy so far!

this baby is sure loved

Thank you to Brooke and Karen for such a wonderful baby shower this weekend in Dallas! With friends of mine and friends of the Fuquays, we celebrated baby fuq and he was certainly showered with amazing and beautiful gifts. The shower was an incredible way to start a 10 day visit to Dallas for Thanksgiving!

a handmade original from grandmother Kathryn - how perfect!

It was great to see my friend Allison from Fort Worth

I don't know if i will have more fun playing with the animal toys or if the baby will - this elephant is adorable!

baby fuq's new wardrobe thanks to brook and karen - precious little pieces - i especially love the one on the left.

with grandmother kathryn

thumbs up

congratulations to brad and lindsay garrison! what a wonderful wedding weekend in dallas, tx!

this weekend we had a great time catching up with so many dallas friends and hanging out with richard's family. pedicures with brooke, lunch at chip's, skeet shooting, whataburger, west end, playing pool with frannie and watermark church on sunday - all the good things in just two days!

here are just a few of the fun times!

i like texas

while it might seem that the fuquays have fallen off the face of the earth . . . we haven't! but september did prove to be busier than either of us had expected. the labor day telethon, the "wooden open," Wyldlife leadership weekend, a week of working nights for richard, and the highlight, a trip to dallas!!

2 weeks ago we spent a weekend in dallas for the Highland Park 10 year reunion and Cullum Brown's 1st birthday party! we had a great time visiting friends and family, and the best part is that i probably knew more people at the HP reunion than at my own in July!