Weekend road trip to Blanco

We took a road trip down to Hill Country to see my sister Brenda and her family over the last weekend in March. Luckily for us, Jaden travels really well (in fact, he sleeps a lot of the time), so it really wasn't a lot different driving down than it used to be - other than all the baby stuff we were loaded down with!

On the way, we of course had to go to Wiseman House Chocolates in Hico, one of my favorite stops along 281. Not only is the chocolate tasty, but the house is just so CUTE!

Jaden and his aunt Brenda loved each other a lot. They spent lots of time together over the weekend.

This is the absolutely gorgeous (and yes, loud - I wanted it that way) quilt that Brenda made for Jaden. Love, love, love it! Jaden likes to spend time staring at all the patterns.

I coerced - I mean, bribed - my awesome niece Rachel into making scripture bags for my older boys while we were there, too. They're not only super-sturdy (seat belt straps that wrap all the way around!), but they're adorable! I was tempted to steal one.

On Saturday, we went to Pedernales State Park to see the falls. Brenda has suggested that we go for years now, so we borrowed a baby backpack (thanks, Mary!) and planned that as our main activity for the day. William was off on a killer long bike ride (60K!) and Rachel was working, so it was just Brenda and our family.

Jaden seemed to enjoy riding in a backpack. Here he is checking out a water bottle (that we had to move - luckily there were zippered compartments elsewhere on the backpack!).

Spencer posing behind a tree on the way down to the falls

Spencer contemplating the water. It's pretty cool that you can walk right up to and across the falls.

Colin trying to catch the little fishies (no luck).

Happy Jaden. He leaned off to the side like this pretty much the entire time - we're guessing so he could see past Greg's head.

Spencer and Colin poking sticks at the water and getting wet.

Greg was more adventurous with a baby on his back than I would have been.

Colin and Spencer liked going down between the high rocks.

Greg and Jaden finding a way across the rocks

Bluebonnets growing in the craziest place! They were all by themselves in the sand there. We saw a lot of gorgeous flowers on the drive down, but I didn't get pictures of most of them.

Hiking through the forest on our way back to the main path

Back home again - and it started raining. Brenda grabbed the boys and Rachel to go do a happy rain dance (especially since she wouldn't have to water the garden). I took a picture right as Rachel fell victim to the slippery grass.

The sunset was really cool - I liked this division of light halfway across the sky!

Greg trying out Brenda's cool trike. Spencer and I got to try it out, too. (Conclusion: Spencer is too short, and I need to work up to using something like that. Those hills! Oh my!)

The boys turned over a board and found this scorpion on our way out. Eek!

We went home via 35, partly so we could stop at Round Rock Donuts that we heard about from the Gees. Oh MAN were they good!!!! (Not pictured: Colin hugging the building because he loved it so much.)