Alaura in Austin

The Alamo- San Antonio

River Walk- Tex-Mex appetizers and a beer for Andy

Hahahaha. Love this pic!

Happy 20th Birthday, sister!

Tex Mex again! Mmm!

We had so much fun! The best part of having visitors (besides just hanging out with my sis, of course) is being a tourist in your own city! It was fun to show off our new home and hang out with my sister, and have a girl to shop with. Andy's good about shopping with me but if I'm being honest, Alaura is more fun to shop with. :-) I'm so glad today is Friday and I can stay in bed until the sun comes up tomorrow!

Austin Adventure #3, #4, and #5

We've been making it into downtown pretty much every weekend for one thing or another. Austin really is a nice city. Neither one of us have lived in a city before and something tells me I'm getting spoiled by Austin!

First of all, the weather is BEAUTIFUL. It's been nothing but sun and blue skies for the last three weeks. I'm getting a little anxious to break out my sweaters and scarfs, but I'm definitely not complaining.

A few weekends ago we went to Stubb's BBQ for a Black Crowes concert (Andy's favorite band). Stubb's is a great BBQ place that we discovered on accident the first time we visited Austin. It turns out they host tons of concerts there, too. Before the concert we went to the "Old Pecan Street" festival. It's like a huge art market type thing. I was so excited because I found the same sandals I have from Malawi there (I think they're made in Tanzania). I didn't buy any, but I was glad to know that I could get them here if I wanted (since my Dad's dog ate mine this past year). We also ate dinner at a Cuban restaurant. It was so delicious! I would post some pictures except we don't have any. I brought the camera but they wouldn't let us take it into the concert. Andy had to run a half mile, uphill to put it back in the car....oops.

Two weekends ago we went back to Barton Springs for a Jazz festival. I love free live music! I also went to Whole Foods (which is almost the size of a whole city block) and bought a pair of Tom's shoes. I know, I'm so trendy. But seriously, I love them.

This weekend we went to the Austin Book Festival. We heard a few authors and browsed through lots of books. We drank over priced lemonade and enjoyed people watching on the lawn of the Capitol building. I was excited about taking some pictures because the Capitol building is really cool (and, as the Texans brag about, is taller than the Capitol building in DC). However, the batteries in the camera were dead. Sad days. Next time.

I'm starting to enter count down mode until Thanksgiving. I'm ready for a break from school/work. Things are going well though. I'm starting to build relationships with my students and figure out what makes them tick and what they need from me.

My sister comes in 5 days!! I can't wait!

Any other takers to come visit? We have lots of floor space (especially since we don't have a dining room table yet).

Favorite Quotes from working in schools...

"Mrs. Passwater, I really like your name. Know why? Because I like the color blue," announces the second grader. "Yeah, I like your name too because....because I like water," adds another second grader.

"Weren't you wearing those same clothes yesterday?" (to Andy)

"I just love my class because they are all silly just like me. I fit in just right!"

"How do you always know it's me whistling?" (We tried explaining that the puckered lips are a dead give away).

Andy says elementary school is growing on him. He'll be starting to meet with more students this week. I'm starting to get into the swing of things at my job. I really enjoy the second grade class I work in. I really don't enjoy the drama that goes along with working with all women. Such is life in an elementary school, I suppose.

Blog about last weekend's Austin adventure AND this week's (which hasn't happened yet) coming soon...