Texas Trip

    After Christmas, we headed down to  Texas for a vacation.  Every year we have gone to Arizona after Christmas, but we decided to switch it up and go to Texas this year.  Any excuses to see our adorable nephews, we definitely take!
    The boys had grown so much since we had last seen them as newborns.  Their little personalities are really coming out.  They play and interact now which is so fun.  They are some of the most smiley babies I have ever seen.  They are the sweetest boys in the world and they are both so laid back just like their parents are.  We love Owen and Blaine so much and love getting to watch them grow.

Ashlyn cuddling with Blaine

    As I have mentioned many times before, Texas has incredible food and we always look forward to eating all the incredible food while we are down there.  One of our favorite places is Stanleys,  Stanleys has the best Texas barbecue and we always eat there at least once every trip.

Eating at Stanleys

Waiting for our food

This is their chicken sandwich which is incredible.  I'm drooling just looking at it now.  

   After our bellies were full from Stanleys, we headed to the nearby park.  The kids love this park and a lot of fun is always had.

Swing time

They had this really neat double swing that the girls loved

Aunt Jane even gave the swing a shot

   My parents where in Texas the same time we were.  They have an incredible shopping area that only happens the first few days of the month each month.  It is Canton, Texas and has some of the best shopping ever.  I hadn' t been in a few years and my parents hadn't been in several years.  So, we headed to Canton one day and we literally shopped all day long.  My dad was quite the trooper and even shopped with us.  Ashlyn came with us, and Joey took Dawson and Gracie to a local science museum.  Joey said the kids had a great time checking out the new museum.

Dawson loves puzzles

Checking out a body

Dawson found his love, Legos

This was a wind tunnel they stood in that is supposed to mimic a tornado

So much to do 

     Adam and Jane live about two hours away from Waco, Texas.  My mom and I love the show Fixer Upper which is filmed in Waco, Texas.  They have a store called Magnolia Market which we have been dying to check out.  On Friday, my parents and I made the drive down to Waco to finally go to Magnolia Market.  The drive was very scenic and we drove through lots of cute towns.  Magnolia was incredible and everything we dreamed of and more!  Fixer Upper is a very popular show, so the only downside was that it was absolutely packed with people.  My mom and I still managed to swim through the crowds and found some really neat stuff.  It was a great time and my mom and I are already talking about going back soon.  

The famous silos

In front of Magnolia

The really neat outdoor area to hang out in.   I think they designed it for the kids and men to use while the women shop.  

The inside of the store is breathtaking.  I absolutely love Joanna Gaine's design aesthetic and my dream would be for her to decorate my house.   

Not sure how many miles we traveled to Magnolia from Colorado, but it is a lot!

    On Friday night, we headed to a local brewery that Adam and Jane really like to go to.  With many young kids, we didn't get to stay long, but it was still a good time.  

Cranky girl

Texas pride everywhere

The outside of the brewery

Another shot of the brewery.  You can see Jane inside the door

Pretty girl

Brothers hanging out together

The kids hanging out with Gram and Papa at the brewery

   The boys were just starting on solids when we were out there.  We all had so much fun watching them eat and try new foods.  Their sweet faces were so priceless while they ate.  It was so fun to watch.

Owen eating some peas

Out to lunch at another barbecue place

The sweet boys just hanging out

    We were in Texas for New Year's Eve.  Texas has much different fireworks laws then Colorado.  They sell fireworks everywhere and they are legal to set off.  Joey went to the fireworks stand and bought some basic fireworks that didn't shoot in the air.  The kids seriously thought it was the coolest thing ever.  They got such a big kick out of watching them go off.  Joey said it was the best 20 bucks he has spent in a long time.  Lots of neighbors were setting off the really big fireworks, so we got quite the show just sitting in the backyard.  

Firework time

Our New Year's Eve party

So much fun!

I love Gracie's face

The kids even got to try sparklers for the first time

   Aunt Jane introduced us to a really fun trivia game that she plays with her students.  We spent the rest of New Year's Eve playing trivia with the kids.  It was a lot of fun.  

Trivia time

Our festive cookie cake

Ashlyn cuddling with Blaine

Sweetest nephews in the world

Owne showing off his skills

   While I was in Waco, Joey took the kids to a movie.  They have the really neat theater out there that brings food and drinks to your seat.  They saw the movie "Sing" and it was Graceyn's first movie at a theater.  Joey said it was a good movie and Gracie did well.

All the cousins

The brothers and their kids

Gracie loved reading to the boys.