Honeymoon

The plane tickets are purchased. The cruise tickets are purchased. The only question: is the Mediterranean ready for us? Probably. We're pretty tame.

That's right! We're finally going on our long overdue honeymoon (that's what happens when you get married on a Saturday in the middle of a semester, and have to be back to school on Monday). And we're doing it properly. A 6-day Mediterranean cruise! We were thinking of doing it in the Caribbean, but... no offense Caribbean, but after talking about it, we realized that neither of us actually like the beach that much. Sure, it's great for a day trip, but a week of sunburns, sticky salt water, and sand in my swimsuit is not something I want to spend 3 grand on. I mean, I do like the beach, but we wanted something different. Something we might not have a chance to do for many years.

And that's why we will be boarding a plane to Barcelona, Spain on May 13th. The relocation cruise leaves port on the 15th, and stops in Toulon, France, then in Florence/Pisa, on to Rome, then Sicily, and ends in Venice. We'll then board a train in Venice, and travel to Verona (home to Romeo and sweet Juliet). After seeing some sights, we'll catch a flight back to Barcelona, and fly back to our sweet baby Auri waiting for us in Texas, on the 24th.

We are so pumped! I'm already reading about money belts, and how to avoid being pickpocketed, and, in the process, getting increasingly paranoid. We're going to start learning some basic Italian together. Then, on to research museums, or whatever else you see in Europe (as you can tell, I haven't started that part of my research yet). It's still two months away, but I'm already so giddy. Jason and I laid awake in bed last night, trying to go to sleep, but way too excited. I didn't fall asleep until about one.

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In other news, tomorrow we'll be meeting a realtor to view a house we might be interested in renting in August. I don't know much about it except that it has a garage. I so dearly want a garage! I'm tired of having 3 bikes in the house (don't tell Jason). Right now, we have a closet, about a foot deep, and two feet wide, that we call 'the garage'.

          Jason: "Emily, where is that box where I put that stuff?"
          Emily: "Look in the garage, second shelf, behind the ice chest, inflatable pool, and dog food."

We have two bikes and the stroller in the 'dining' room, crammed in next to the high chair, and our dining room table that I don't think we've ever used. I'm really not trying to complain... just convey why I so desire a garage!

Well I hear Jason repeating Italian words over and over in the study, so it sounds like he's started without me!

Before I go, here's a picture for your viewing pleasure:

Tough kid. She doesn't let the tile floor slow her down for too long.

Home again, home again

Jiggity jig. We're home! We just spent the last week vacationing on the shores of Lolita and Spicewood, and we are feeling refreshed and rejuvenated after getting some quality grandparent time for Auri (read: a few extra pairs of eyes and arms).

At Oma and Opa's house, we had a lot of fun. Auri stayed with Oma one evening, while we all went fishing down off of Jon Alan's pier. Hailey caught the only fish of the day, to everyone's amazement. Auri had the best time chasing Otter up and down the grassy hills, with Oma and mommy chasing behind. That is one kid who *loves* to be outside. She also loves her puppy.

In fact, she would frequently go up to the clear, sliding glass door, and lean against it while looking longingly outside. One time, however, the door was open. She leaned, but there was no door to catch her, and she tumbled out the door, scraping her head and nose on the concrete. No teeth were hurt in that fiasco. She still has the scabs to prove it though, little trooper. So, in the pictures I post, when you see road rash all over her face, that's what it's from.

On Tuesday, we went to the Victoria zoo: a modest collection of some native Texan animals, and a few safari visitors (tigers, lions, and monkeys). It was the perfect size for Auri though, and it wasn't too crowded. Her favorite part were the Guinea Fowl that was wandering free throughout the zoo. She had a blast chasing them. They were always just a little bit faster than her, even at her top speed. We're looking forward to many more zoo trips in our future.

We enjoyed a great game of Dominion with mom {I won}, watched a good movie, had a very relaxing and warm camp fire, and a very exciting adventure with a mouse. About halfway through the week, we packed up and headed to Austin.

Auri enjoyed multiple jeep rides, dipping her feet in the lake, chasing Aunt Michelle's kitty Louie, and lots of swing time. Jason and I got quite a bit of time to ourselves (Thank you Debba!). We went fishing with Buddy on Saturday morning, and I caught the biggest bass! My only fish, but it was {apparently} a good one! They weren't biting too much, but I've been promised that we'll go back out when the water warms up a few degrees.

On Friday, we used our free tickets to a UT baseball game (I know, I know), and it was actually pretty fun! We got {overpriced}hot dogs, and watched the moon rise over the field. In fact, the moon got more attention from us than the game did. We made it to about the 8th inning, until we decided that baseball wasn't our thing. Jason braved downtown Austin traffic, and spoiled me rotten by taking me to Melting Pot. We had the most decadent dinner of French Fondue and Milk Chocolate Creme Brulee. Our waiter asked us if we were celebrating any special occasion, and we just looked at each other and said "Nope!". It's fun to be fancy for no reason. Downtown/6th street (which we had to cross to get back to our car) was crazy. It was Spring Break, SXSW, and run over from St. Patty's day.

Last night, we watched a very suspenseful movie. Jason squirmed the whole time. Then we packed up, and made the journey home. Then spent all our money on groceries. It's nice to be back.

We've got a lot to look forward to the next few weeks! This weekend, we're traveling up to Dallas to help Bryan celebrate his birthday. Then next week, it's the big Number One for our favorite little girl! Then, we get to go back to Austin to help Bryan and Laura get married, and join the ranks of awesomeness. THEN, we have Auri's birthday bash, and I get my ring! After that, we'll be inches away from summer. Jason and I are planning a big honeymoon-esque vacation for ourselves, and we have the Big Browning Bayhouse Bash, and possibly even a trip to Colorful Colorado. Much to look forward to!

And now, I'm going to have another glass of wine, and spend my last few hours of Spring Break with my wonderful husband, whom I love SO much!

A place for stories

Mainly, I needed a place to write down stories that A) I don't want to forget, and B) might want to share. Most will probably be about Auri, and any future additions to the Knight Clan, but occasionally, I might share the dumb things I say and do. Often, I'll have longer and multi-faceted stories that I don't know how to share on Facebook, because they wouldn't fit into a status (or else my friends would start to block me). Also, Jason thinks I need some mental stimulation, after nothing but talking to a baby and a dog and reading ten page board books all day. His idea was for me to write short stories/a novel. Thus, why I started a blog.

A few things that nearly gave me a heart attack today:

Auri learning how to get out the back door by herself. Who knew that a 4 inch change in elevation would be such an obstacle? I guess, when 4 inches makes up a sizable percentage of your total height, and there's a giant slab of concrete that you might bash your face against if you mess up, 4 inches isn't something to sneeze at. And yet, Auri stands on the stoop, not holding onto anything, teetering back and forth, admiring birds flying by and dirt on the ground. It's all I can do to not be a helicopter mom (always hovering, ready to swoop in for the rescue).

She actually did bash her face today. Her mouth to be precise. Was standing in the tub, (presumably on the small slippery space between the rubber no-slip mat, and the side of the tub) splashing in the water she had poured on, and over the side of the tub, and BAM, next second she had slipped and hit her top teeth (those poor teeth!). I have never heard such a heart-wrenching, terrible cry. I was sure she had knocked out her front teeth. But nope, those heroic teeth are still intact.


Lastly, the most terrifying of all. Perhaps I should be more of a helicopter mom. I was in Target today, and Auri was riding up front, all strapped in. I stopped the basket in the middle of the clothes section, and was looking through a rack. I had given Auri my phone to play with (more on that later), and she was having a fine time, talking to herself, and doing all sorts of destruction. When I glanced over my shoulder, my heart stopped as I saw that she had worked her way loose of the lap restraint, and was standing up in the child seat in the front of the basket. Not only was she standing, but she was trying to work out how to put her leg over the edge of the basket and "swing down" to get to the ground and run away. I swooped in for the rescue, planted her bottom firmly on the seat, tightened the belt, and steered the cart quickly away before anyone saw. I certainly learned my lesson today. I thank God that she didn't hurt herself.

In the meantime, she had thrown my phone to the ground, and a chunk of it broke off, never to be seen again.