Kayaking Barton Springs

Justinbustin's special request for his birthday was to go kayaking with his dad so he could get his own kayak. On Memorial Day we decided to all go kayaking - and he still got his own kayak. Shawners still has a little while before we make him paddle on his own, especially since this was the first time he didn't absolutely refuse to go! If you haven't been already, kayaking is the perfect activity where you can be active, still stay cool, and relax when you want to.

Especially amongst the gorgeous scenery on the way to Town Lake via Barton Springs.

Zilker Park Boat Rentals is the perfect place to rent kayaks from. We've rented from other kayak rental places along Town Lake previously, but I fell in love with Zilker Park Boat Rentals. The guys are friendly and conversational but aren't too picky about what boat, lifejacket or paddle you choose, the location is perfect to ease you into the water without sending you into deep water immediately and let you play in it for a few minutes to cool off afterwards,

the current gives you an easy lift to the lake,

and from there you can head west

or east

and see an abundance of equally beautiful scenery either way. We chose west, but we made sure to get plenty of pictures with the skyline in the background that you would see closer up if you headed east. Not to mention the scenery on the way to and from the lake is absolutely stunning in and of itself.

One of my favorite things is the boat entry is perfectly shallow and non-scary. No having to hold the boat steady in case you fall overboard into twenty feet deep water or floating docks that waver as you walk on them to get there.

The best part is if you go on Monday-Friday or before noon on Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays aka before it gets too hot you can rent one boat and get one free, or rent one boat for an hour and get an hour free. Our entire hour and fifteen minutes trip cost us a measly $11.75! Can't beat that and the scenery!

What would a trip to Barton Springs be without a milkshake and a hamburger from P. Terry's to round it off? Even better, is running into Kiley there!

Killer Weekend

We had such a blast this weekend! By 3pm on Saturday we had all already had a completely full weekend, and now we have just been relaxing.

Yesterday morning, my girfriend, KT, and I took Shawners and road-tripped to College Station for the annual A&M Veterinary Open House.

College Station

We listened to a lecture by an exotic animal veterinarian called, "A Day in the Life of an Exotic Animal Veterinarian". We learned they do surgery on fish, wallabies, tigers, cockatoos, bald eagles, and mice. And that's all in only one day!

The exotic animal veterinarian lecture at A&M

Some of the animals they work on.

After the lecture we stood in line to take a picture with Reveille VIII BUT before you get all excited if you're an Aggie, we realized after 20 minutes that is NOT what we came there for. When we realized it would be another twenty minutes (and we were going to have to deal with super awful lady behind us, telling her daughter she was going to knock her out) to wait for the picture and our legs were already hurting we moved on! Then we walked through the large animal clinic and learned all about how they do surgery on horses and cows, and how they move them about when they are anesthized with padded rooms, and three ton lifts.

After the large animal clinic, Shawners wanted to check out the agility dogs, so we did.

Shawners resting his feet on KT. Not sure why this picture is so small!

Our next to last stop was the hallway of dogs. There were at least ten different breeds of dogs, and at least thirty dogs in all. Shawners pet every single one.

Shawners was this way with every dog there.

After that we were going to stop by the exotic animal area, but when we realized the only exotic pets they had there were the ones that we go cuddle and hold at our local exotic pet store (ferrets, snakes, turtles, iguanas, etc.) we decided the thirty-five minute wait in a line wasn't worth it. KT suggested McAllister's for lunch and off we went. Man, was I almost as thrilled about lunch as I was about the vet open house, when I realized they have .99 kids meals with a full meal, side (chips, fruit, mac n cheese, or a billion other things), and graham crackers!! Dang! The best news is we have one in Austin, and I didn't even realize it!! So excited!

Being goofy with Mommy! Not sure on the size of this one either...

.99 Killer Deal!!

On the way home we honked at the cows and waved at them like we did on the way there (something KT's Dad always does, so we carried on the tradition), and while we were a little too tired to enjoy the view again, I did snap some pictures before I zoned out to music while driving home.

The pretty drive. Sorry these are so small!

While KT, Shawners, and I were road trippin' it, Brando took JT kayaking, to his art class, and to his flag football game. Unfortunately no pictures to show for it, but they had an awesome day taking two single kayaks out (JT is getting SO big!), kayaking with a three inch draft (how far the boat goes in the water) in a four inch depth. Brando took a nap while JT was at art class. Then, took him to his flag football game where he played a KILLER game and made two awesome catches and one amazing touchdown catch!

They got home at the exact same time KT, Shawners, and I got home at 3pm! I couldn't believe we got back so early with a two hour each way road trip! After San Antonio and this one, KT and I totally rock the road trips! We went our separate ways, showered all the gunk off of us and promptly relaxed the rest of the day (especially for me after staying out til' 2am the night before with my girl Genie at an art gallery showing of Peter Max's famous work at Russell's Art Collection downtown with complimentary Lemon Drops and Cosmopolitans, catered by NoRTH - Allison you would've SOO loved it!, then hitting 7th street for live music). Whew!