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While we were waiting for our wacky friends to show up and lead us to Texas, Matthew turned 10!!
Matthew had a birthday with all the trimmings.
He started off his day by receiving a rite-of-passage face painting from his sister who welcomed him into the realm of DOUBLE DIGITS!!
She then presented him with a contraband energy drink...normally forbidden by Mom & Dad.
The rest of his birthday was just as happy...
he received cards (with cash) from family, a present from Mom & Dad...
and a home made-to-order birthday cake (carrot cake with cream cheese frosting)!
Later that week the BNFs arrived and we got the party started.
Our base camp.
We got to hang out...
recharge...
relax on the Colorado...
and reflect.
One day we all headed out into the desert...
to explore the Hauser Geode Beds where you could dig up geodes.
After hours of digging and smashing round ball type rocks....
WE FOUND ONE!!!
After a week of fun and games, we felt ready to make the four day haul to Texas.
Matthew and Sunny riding in the BNF mobile. Someday ask him about the bathroom incident.
Well here we are...Texas!!
Much to our amazement Texas was not wasteland of tumbleweeds. Austin was a surprisingly green and tree covered place. It was beautiful!
Since we had committed to stay until New Year's helping the BNFs set up shop, we quickly set about getting to know this wicked cool city.
We visited the Capital and were treated to...
a marriage proposal! We were shocked when we saw this young man escort his girlfriend past the red velvet rope barrier. Music started playing out of nowhere, then he dropped to one knee and it became obvious what was happening. We later found out this guy was a freshman representative. It was so cute, Cindy got all weepy (what a shock)!
After that, Cindy held a press conference to answer any questions about parliamentary procedure.
With some guidance from the BNFs we quickly got in the swing of things, something was always going on.
We went to free concerts and met several cool musicians...
enjoyed a Dia de Los Muertos parade...
and went trick or treating in some awesome neighborhoods. (Maddie was a Tim Burton style rag doll and Matthew was Van Helsing)
We were even invited to a Halloween party,
it was lots of fun until some lady asked Cindy if she was Frida Kahlo!
"Do you see a unibrow, lady?!"
Greg's father, Jim and his new bride Jan, invited everyone over to their home in Wimberley for a barbeque. The kids fed the deer and we all had a great time.
We left about 10pm and stopped for gas before our hour long drive back home. When we pulled into the gas station we noticed the two sheriff cars in the parking lot. We were there maybe two minutes before one of the deputies approached us and started peppering Jim with questions about the Jeep. While Jim, Greg and deputy Derick chatted on and on about Jeeps, Cindy and Jen let the kids bombard the other deputy with questions like "Can we see your lights? Can we hear your siren? How do you release the shotgun?".
Finally, he had enough.
"You want to see my lights?!"
Matthew was scared straight.
After hanging out for two hours deputy Derick invited the guys jeeping the next weekend...
So they went.
October was Good Ya'll!!