Soaking Up His Marvelous Creation!

In January, Bry and I, and the littles enjoyed an overnight camping trip to Guadalupe State Park.  It was beautiful.  It amazes me that you can drive just a bit north of this crazy big city we live in--head into the Texas Hill Country and soon be wrapped up in some of God's sweetest handiwork!

See for yourself . . .

We had the most glorious sunshiny day . . .

perfect for a nice long hike . . .

with a short stop to swing on some vines,

as we headed toward the river!

I started to take a picture and noticed

my shadow on the tree--

so I summoned everyone to join me.

Aren't we tall?

Teddi finds a vine . . .

and then we find the river!

Breathtaking reflections!

Littles meet big . . .

a Texas sized tree, for sure!

So peaceful . . .

make that peaceful with a side of Teddi giggles.

Isn't God's attention to detail amazing?

I asked for a volunteer to hug the tree

so you could see how chunky it was!

(The littles were already two steps ahead!)

So much to explore . . .

a little boy doing what little boys do!

Look how clear the water is!

More reflections . . .

and then another . . . with ripples--

courtesy of Brogan!

We decided we liked the ripples!

Blue skies make me happy.

We heard some scurrying and found

ourselves being visited by an armadillo . . .

(look to Ted's left), he wasn't nearly as excited about us

as we were about him!

As the sun began to sink low 

it warmed the rock wall on the 

opposite side of the river . . .

 golden.

Pods dangling and

dancing in the breeze . . .

An old man tree wearing a large moustache .  . .

Creation at its finest.

A tenacious cactus thriving on the face of the rock.

Brogan makes a splash . . .

and Teddi adds her own.

So fun.  So simple.

So grateful to be absolutely surrounded,

 by beauty.

Like an all you eat . . .

nature buffet --

 feast for the eyes!

Our campsite was splendid and huge . . .

with some crazy big rocks

(and a cutie patootie lil' camper girl).

Bry + Camping = HAPPY, HAPPY man

The kids were excited to find this tree

with a secret hiding place--it 

reminded us of a Hershey's Kiss!

Cute baby cacti . . .

and the littles preparing the breakfast sausage.

Faithful companions

 to the boy (love the camping smudges) . . .

and the girl.

Life  . . .

in the slow lane . . .

at its finest.

Blessings from my nest~

Tina

A Fun Day In Downtown SA . . .

When Bryce was home for the holidays we managed a trip downtown to a great little restaurant that Taylor and Frankie had discovered, called La Gloria.  Oh yum.  It was a nicer-than-you-could-ask-for December day, and we were able to dine outside with a view of the Riverwalk (the newer extended part, near the Pearl Brewery if you are in the area and you want to look it up).  La Gloria serves Mexican "street foods", or as I'd call it "happy taste buds" food!  We had such a good time!

Hot, fresh baked chips and salsa . . .

little kid drinks . . .

big kid drinks  . . .

 and Ted's favorite-- sweet tea!

 (She's a southern girl, ya know

from southern China to south Texas)!

 My biggest and my littlest boy.  Happy together.

Teddi showing off her freshly pierced ears . . . 

a Christmas gift from a really cool big brother.  

  Thank you brother!

  Sisters.

So different on the outside, 

yet so alike on the inside in many, many ways.

"Eye love you, Mom!"

A view of the old Pearl Brewery across the way.

Posing by the river . . .

Smooooch!

Daddy and Brogan checking out the Riverwalk.

Love these big guys!

My beloved . . .

and the no-longer-Newlys.

Ducks!

Come back!

   Heading up from the river and over to the brewery . . .

which is a now a really cool retail 

and business office space.

A piece of equipment from
the former brewery, I assume.

Fun shots from inside the Pearl. . .

looking out and across you can see La Gloria.
Yum. Again.

We call this "Winder Shopping". 

Little girl. Big city.

Ever heard of "yarn bombing"? I hadn't, until we ran across this 60 foot long pipe wearing a beautifully knit "sweater" and I did a little research.  Yarn bombing (as described by the "Knitta Please" group of fiber artists, from Houston) is when Artists wrap public architecture with knitted or crocheted material in a mission to make street art a little more "warm and fuzzy".  Evidently there are yarn bombing projects all over the world, including the Great Wall!  This pipe project at the Pearl Brewery was done by the male run group, "Yarn Dawgz" of San Antonio, and it is really something to see!  It just makes you feel happy to see something so comfy and colorful covering something so mundane!

Delightful!

(My favorite)

If you look closely below you can see the covered pipe 

extending all the way out to the street!

We just so happened to find ourselves in front of the bakery run by the Culinary Institute of America, San Antonio-- so Taye and Frankie decided to meander in and buy some dessert to share!  The sweets tasted as good as they looked!  Aren't they pretty?  

Guess I should say, "Weren't they pretty?"

We had such a fun and relaxing afternoon--

no crowds,

no rushing around,

just hanging out, together.

So thankful for times like that!

Sweet memories made--

 to treasure in our hearts!

Blessings from my nest ~

Tina