This month has brought with it many family events and trips. We have traveled quite a bit and because of that, I have been behind on my blogging. So this is going to be a long post filled with lots of pictures.
July started off with a bang...we spent the 4th of July weekend at Port Aransas at the Fernandez family reunion on Eric's side of the family. We take this trip every year, so you have probably seen a couple of my posts about it already from previous years.
I look forward to this trip every year because we always have such a fun time and I always get to visit with family that I don't get to see that often. I always say this, but I feel so lucky to have married into such a welcoming and accepting family. I truly feel like I have known them all my life and that we were meant to be family from the very beginning. I am blessed.
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This year, Eric and I got down to the coast on the 4th and spent Thursday through Sunday at the coast. Awesome. Unfortunately, Eric's brother, our sister in law, and our nieces weren't able to go this year since they had just had sweet baby Avery, but we got to spend a lot of quality time with all of Eric's cousins kids, which we don't get to do that often. Those babies are so much fun to be around. And they are at such a fun age! I always wish we could see them more often.
We spent the whole weekend relaxing on the beach, playing with babies, visiting with family, eating lots of fabulous food, and laughing our butts off. As usual ;)
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| Celebrating the July bdays in the family. |
We started the day by going to my favorite restaurant in all of DFW, Whiskey Cake, where we drank bloody Mary's and mimosas and ate too much food. [side note--if any of you Dallas folks have not eaten here yet, then it is imperative that you go this weekend. They are phenom.] They also are known for their whiskey cake, which we took home with us to use as my bday cake later.
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After Whiskey Cake, we went home, changed into our swimsuits, and hit the pool. It was scorching outside, so we spent the majority of the afternoon submerged in the pool.
We also decided to dive into the Whiskey Cake mid-day...
We also decided to dive into the Whiskey Cake mid-day...
We got super tired during the afternoon, but we managed to hit our second wind and went to dinner then Top Golf. This was my first experience at Top Golf, shocker I know, and let me tell you, it was a blast!! I cannot wait to go back. I keep asking Eric when we can go again.
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All in all, it was a great birthday! And I used my bday money to buy an iPad, so I would say it was successful :)
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| My parents sent me this beautiful and yummy basket while they were in Germany! |
The next weekend, we drove to San Antonio for our niece, Abigail's, 3rd birthday party. I cannot believe she is already 3 years old. It blows my mind. I feel like she was just born yesterday.
We went out to dinner for her actual birthday when we got into town Friday night. And then after dinner, we headed back to my brother in law and sister in laws place so she could open presents from immediate family. She decided she was "too excited for her party" to sleep, so it was hard to get her to go to bed. I don't blame her, she couldn't wait for her party the next day.
Saturday, we went over to help set up for the party early. Melissa did such a good job with the "rainbow" party for Abigail. It was adorable. And Abigail looked adorable as usual, dressed in her rainbow outfit with a blue feather bow in her hair to top it off (which I didn't get a picture of!). Too much cuteness to handle.
Since Melissa was busy doing party things, I got to steal Avery away and rock her to sleep. It was the greatest part of the day. I loved spending that quality time with her. Even though she won't remember it, I will and it was best thing ever.
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| Be still my heart. |
After I hung out with Avery for awhile, it was time for cake and presents. Abigail tore through those presents like it was her job. All her little friends surrounded her and helped out. I think it took only 5 minutes for her to get through all the gifts.
So funny.
She was exhausted after the party, but she fought it off and kept on going. She has so much energy!!
After the party, we got to spend some time with Eric's parents, which we haven't gotten to do in awhile, so it was really nice. They are about to move into a new house, so Eric helped moved a bunch of furniture and things, and we are planning on going back down to help them officially move into the house in August.
On Sunday, we went to see the new house with everyone and then went to lunch before we left to go back to Dallas. While we were at the new house, Abigail ran over to me, I picked her up and she wrapped her arms around my neck and laid her head on my shoulder. It was the greatest feeling in the whole entire world. We stayed like that for a couple minutes and I loved every second of it. I'm sure when I have kids, it will be an even more amazing feeling, but for right now, I will soak up every minute of these moments with my nieces. I seriously love being an aunt to this sweet girl. I feel so lucky to have her in my life.
On the way back, Eric and I stopped in Waco to get Common Grounds and to let the dogs out to walk around. We decided to walk the bear trail and visit the Baylor Bears.
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| Aren't they cute?! |
Now that we are back to Dallas, I started doing the last of my observation hours at the UNT speech clinic so that I can officially start being a grad student clinician at the clinic come September. SO EXCITING!!
We have a lot coming up in August. We are headed to San Antonio again, to my parents house in Conroe, and to Missouri with friends before school starts. So much going on!
Once I start grad school, there will be much less of the traveling happening.
Have a wonderful week!
