Labor Day in Wacky Waco

We spent Labor Day Saturday in Waco, Texas.

Q: Why in the world Waco?

A: We wanted to see our friends from Dallas, the Wallis'. We did not want to fight traffic all weekend. We determined that halfway from Austin & Dallas is - WACO. 

We built up a list of solid adventures to keep us occupied for the day.

1st Stop: Baylor University

A real gem in Waco. A private Baptist university with beautiful grounds,  2 real bears on-campus (Baylor Bears) & a new business building that is breathtaking:

New Business Building

The Baylor Welcome Center had a fun photo booth ... with props. 

Brother & sister shenanigans caught on film.

 Next Stop: Lunch @ Vitek BBQ

Cultural Stop: Dr. Pepper Museum

Lauren finally gave up with Kit as a pillow.

 Last Stop: Magnolia Market - from HGTV's Fixer Upper. 
(Apparently we missed a visit from Former First Lady Laura Bush & Chip & Joanna Gaines - stars of the show - by just a few hours!)

I'm loving all the old county courthouses found here in Texas:

McLennan County Courthouse

Bell County Courthouse in Belton, Texas 

Lauren: 5 Months

Rolls from back to stomach & gets stuck . Hair is filling in on her head . Constantly watches Mom . Gets a little diva-ish when we are eating & she is not . Likes to watch football with Dad & Kel . Getting better at napping . So alert & curious - doesn't want to miss out on a thing.

Watching Sunday football 

Feet are awesome

1st Day 3rd Grade

Happy Keller. Happier parents. We all survived summer.

Keller gets to ride his bike to school nearly everyday & loves it.

Summer 2015

Our Summer 2015 List:

What we accomplished:

ICE CREAM PARTY {Family Fun Night w/friends}

ROUND ROCK EXPRESS TRIPLE A BASEBALL

FIND A GREAT BAKERY

Cupprimo: They competed on Food Network's Cupcake Wars

GO TO A RODEO {We scored some great tickets to a PBR Rodeo close to home}

Other Summer Adventures:

Georgetown, Texas

Most of the Texas counties have beautiful courthouses.
This is the Williamson County Courthouse.
We took a tour, went to a street fair & ate at Monument Cafe.

360 / Pennybacker Bridge

Visited St. Edward's University {Austin}

St. Edward's University

Visited the Austin Zoo

{I would hardly call it a 'zoo'; more like an animal rescue. But - it kept us busy for an afternoon.}

Found the BEST 'New Orleans' style sno cone stand on South Congress in Austin

Spent a few days snacking on treats, in PJ's, playing games

Celebrated National Cheesecake Day at the Cheesecake Factory 

{Try the new Smores Cheesecake - Will not disappoint!}

Played with friends

{This was Candy Science Experiment Day}

Had our own version of Cupcake Wars one afternoon, this was the aftermath in the kitchen:

Went swimming ... LOTS

Tagged along the youth in our ward to see Hairspray at Zilker Park

Hosted a taste test of the newest Lays potato chips:

Took an overnight trip to Dallas: Stayed with our friends - the Wallis', visited Ft. Worth, rode a trolley in downtown Dallas, drove by Mark Cuban's house, played at Nickelrama and a few other adventures:

Had to stop at Bucee's in Temple - 1 of the largest convenience stores EVER.

Visited/toured The Money Factory {The US Department of Engraving & Printing}.
Learned that half the US paper money is printed in Ft. Worth, Texas. Who knew?

On the way to Dallas I took the backroads & my heart was happy.
My grandpa always says, 'Never go the same way twice.'

Had a marching band power right through our neighborhood one Saturday morning

Visited Laguna Gloria - The Austin Contemporary Museum

And many other activities that included reading (Keller read 800 minutes with the Cedar Park Library Summer Reading Program), watching movies (introduced Keller to Space Camp & Donny Osmond's Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) & playing with Lauren. It was indeed a busy summer.