Happily Ever After

My South Carolina vocabulary doesn't have quite have words to describe the hill country landscape that was the setting for the wedding. It reminded us of our low country--but on a hillside. With cactus. Far from the ocean. The only word really needed is "beautiful." See for yourself...

Baby Sister enjoyed the evening as much as any guest there.

But soon after the dancing started, her eyes got heavy 

and it was time to leave the rest of the party to the grown-ups.

As I carried a very sleepy baby to our car, 

she looked up into the dark Texas sky and reached up as high as she could. 

"Uhhnnn.." she groaned as she stretched hard and then harder.

I wasn't sure what she was doing.

And then Baby Sister said, "Moon."

She was trying to touch the moon.

I hope she always reaches high.

Deep In The Heart Of Texas

To understand how big a deal this trip was to us, you have to know that Granddaddy and I had not flown anywhere together since our honeymoon. And it had been so long since Granddaddy had flown, that he was the only one in the airport with no wheels on his luggage. Times have changed since he flew a lot for his job years ago.

It was a real treat for us to see a part of the country we had never visited. We arrived at Horseshoe Bay, Texas just after dark last Thursday evening. So it wasn't until the next morning that we could really see where we were. And it was beautiful.

While Mommy and Daddy were busy doing wedding things for a couple of days, Granddaddy and I worked as baby wranglers. (Isn't that what we should call it since we were in Texas?)

We had good help from Big Sister, who also served as photographer for much of the trip. 

Baby Sister loved the huge 6-inch section of the heated pool.

And she loved being with her sister. 

And Big Sister loved spending time with the little one.

We all spent a good bit on time on the activity field. 

Daddy tried to explain a little about football to Baby Sister, 

who mostly liked marching around with the ball.

Big Sister is a terrific jumper and Baby Sister watched and tried to copy.

Dragging the rope behind her was as far as she got this time.

Lots of watching and learning. 

Next time Baby Sister will be ready to play.

There was something beautiful to look at everywhere we turned.

We had never seen so many butterflies. 

Baby Sister did her best to touch one.

It's a good thing the grown-ups outnumbered Baby Sister. 

It took all of us to catch her and turn her around every couple of minutes.

I'm sure Baby Sister won't remember any of this.

But we will. Such good memories.

Coming next:  The Wedding.

Away We Go

We loaded everyone into the car---Mommy, Granddaddy, Big Sister (who was the most experienced traveler among us. Thank goodness for all her help.), Baby Sister and me. Every inch of the car was packed with our few suitcases. And all the multitude of other stuff that you have to take when you travel with a baby. Then off we headed to the Atlanta airport. 

We all hoped that Baby Sister's first plane ride would go well but didn't really know what to expect. But she travelled like a pro. She was on pacifier #4 by the time the plane took off. Pacifiers are gone from her daytime routine but was a special "airplane treat." We weren't prepared to grab them as quickly as she could throw them. 

It was quite an experience. As we waited at the gate before boarding, Baby Sister and I made the rounds, letting her walk as much as possible before she had to sit still on the plane. The airport is so different with a cute baby in tow. A very distinguished businessman played peek-a-boo with her. (He started it.) An elegantly dressed lady stopped reading to pat-a-cake with Baby Sister. We're pretty sure they were grandparents, too. Baby Sister waved to everyone sitting there and blew kisses to the most friendly. She had lots of friends by the time we boarded.

When we landed in Austin, Texas the young daddy-types seated near us all talked to her and told her how good she was on the plane and asked how old she was. And then told us the ages of their children. Think they were missing their own little ones. 

Baby Sister stayed in a good mood on the last leg of Thursday's journey--another hour's drive to Horseshoe Bay which is near Marble Falls. We don't really know where we were. Just somewhere deep in the heart of Texas for the wedding of someone dear to us. 

You know more of this trip is coming but I have to rest first. We got home in the wee hours of the morning. The camera and I both need to be recharged before I can post more photos.