kapachino

Tag: travel

  • hill country getaway

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    David and I took a trip to a small town in the Texas Hill Country called Fredericksburg for two nights over the weekend (but didn’t get any photos together – fail). It was to celebrate our fifth anniversary, and our primary objective was to spend time alone and relax. We chose to stay in a private cottage, and we could not have had a better experience. We were pampered, given lots of privacy, ate great food, did a little shopping, talked about Meredith a lot, watched movies, sat in the hot tub, slept in, and basically reconnected. It was so good for us.

    After a rough drive home (lots of traffic, and I was car sick) we were so happy to pick up our little girl. She did perfectly staying with both sets of grandparents (one each night) and I was so proud. When I saw her again she seemed so old! I can only imagine how huge she will seem when we bring home a newborn. I was still feeling sick when we got home in the early evening, but thank goodness she was tired too and we both fell asleep around 7:30 and slept through the night.

    Today I’m home catching up on chores, going to dentists appointments (for me and Meredith) and unfortunately dealing with car trouble! I’m waiting to hear back from the shop what the damage is. Back to the real world already!

  • project life 2012 : week 38 (our kansas trip)

    This is from October 14 – 20, which was entirely taken up by our road trip to Kansas.

    I think this week was the easiest to put together because I wanted it to be almost all photos. Since it wasn’t a sightseeing trip – we basically just hung out at our friends’ houses – I didn’t need to journal much.

    For the date card I used a photo of the typical Kansas landscape outside my friend Ellen’s front window. On this first page I included a few pics of the journey, Ellen & I + our girls, and one of Meredith in motion at a library story hour. The journaling card on this page sums up the whole trip.

    On the right side is more photos of us just hanging out. I love them all. The morning we left I realized I hadn’t taken any pictures of Becca & I and of course I had to have at least one to include here. The background was dark since it was so early so I just cropped that part out.

    It was nice to be able to just slip photos in and be done, but I like the look of my pages a little better when they’re more a mix of photos, journaling, and ephemera. Still learning as I go here!

  • on the road

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    Right now we are nine hours into what should normally be a ten hour road trip, but we are turning it into something like twelve or thirteen. All of my strategies for driving this far with a 15-month-old toddler only get me so far as she has decided not to nap any more than usual. It will be good to arrive.

    We’re spending the week with some of my best friends, meeting babies & showing ours off, visiting my alma mater, and just generally enjoying fall in the Midwest. I am so excited. And so grateful to David for bearing with me.

    When I come back to real life next Monday the blog will be in full swing again. Thanks for hanging around as I got my bearings; I feel refreshed and excited about what’s in store for this space.

  • Saturday Road Trip

    On Saturday our little family took a road trip. One of my best friends, Carmen, and her husband Steve are moving from Austin, which is about three hours away from us, to Vermont, and we wanted to be there for her going away party. We decided to drive there and back in one day – it’s easier than packing for an overnight stay. I documented the trip on Instagram (@kapachino) with the hashtag #roadtripday, and here’s how it went:

    6 am – Meredith wakes me up and we have breakfast, then I shower and get dressed.

    7 am – I start working on chores like laundry, dishes, floors, and a general tidy-up because I don’t want to come home to a dirty house.

    8 am – Meredith nurses and takes a nap in my lap.

    9 am – David wakes up and gets ready while I continue working. Meredith gets some morning walking practice in.

    10 am – David gets us kolaches. Yum. This is my second breakfast, if you’re keeping track.

    11 am – David takes Meredith for a drive so I can really get some things done. I clean the car, sweep the floors, and pack our bags for the day.

    12:15 pm – We are in the car, but first stop for cheap drinks. Dr Pepper for him, iced mocha for me. Meredith is already asleep.

    I spend most of the drive working on cross stitch and reading magazines. Finished this, which is the first of three. Eventually it’ll be “home sweet home,” framed and hung.

    1:45 pm – We stop for a bathroom break and Meredith is awake. I take her out to give her a break from the car seat and she’s happy with her sippy cup and a snack.

    2:15 pm – Back on the road and M. is fussing quite a lot now, so I climb in back with her and keep her occupied with snacks.

    3:30 pm – We made it! I realize I forgot to pack swim diapers so David goes out to get some. Meredith takes to Carmen right away (they haven’t seen each other in awhile).

    We eat delicious food, talk, listen to music, and swim. It’s Meredith’s first time in the big pool and we have a blast.

    7:15 pm – I wish we could stay longer, but we have to get back. On the road again.

    Tip: listening to the 90’s pop station on Pandora makes the time go by extremely fast.

    9:30 pm – We’re home, and Meredith is asleep. But she wakes up! And wants to stay awake! So I put our stuff away and carry her around and nurse her and play with her.

    11:50 pm – She’s finally asleep, and I follow soon after. It was a good, full day.

  • We Survived Our First Camping Trip

    Back in January, my husband David received a bunch of awesome camping gear for his birthday. We originally intended the gear to get its first use in the spring when the weather was nice, but then a bunch of terrible things happened to me and I was kind of a wreck for a few months. We had invited some of our siblings along, and this past weekend was the soonest we could get the trip together. Ninety-five degree weather? Who cares! We were going camping.

    Cleo wanted to come along, but I had to tell her no.

    The Prius was a champ, and we packed her full. Probably overpacked, but we were like first-time parents worrying about every possible little thing. You can never have too many towels or batteries! we said to each other. Turns out that yes, you can. But it didn’t matter.

    We chose a shady little spot just a few steps away from the bathrooms and the lake. Prime.

    We set up camp and then got busy relaxing.

    We played games and cards.

    We went on a guided nature hike.

    We saw a crazy flying thing.

    We cooked yummy food, like my classic hobo meal. Tip: when you’re going to be cooking your meal which is wrapped in foil on the coals of a fire, make sure you a) choose a sturdy brand of foil, and b) double wrap it.

    And there were s’mores, of course. I don’t even like graham crackers or marshmallows particularly, but there’s something about a s’more that is irresistible, wouldn’t you agree?

    We read, we talked, we swam (at least I did), and of course enjoyed the company. David’s brother Scott, his wife Vanessa, and even my nephew Lucas came along.

    He was a little trooper.

    My brother David and his girlfriend Maggie came too. Maggie can go ahead and be my personal chef as far as I’m concerned. The food she made for us was practically gourmet.

    We survived the heat by staying mostly in the shade, and we made it through the night thanks to some fans we brought along. I don’t think any of us would choose to go camping again in the Texas summer, but it was worth it.

    Just watch, one day we’ll either buy an RV and travel the country, or go hard core and hike the Appalachian Trail. Either way, it all started here.