Almost Six Months In....

After returning to the UK for two weeks many people asked me how did I feel to be back in America? Well I am pleased to report I feel glad to be back in Austin for numerous reasons, we missed my husband, the weather, the lifestyle and we feel we have built some great foundations for us to live here very happily.

Our third set of visitors have arrived and its always such a buzz to see family after months of Skype calls. Even though we have our favourite haunts now we did some research and off we went one night to the Broken Spoke its self proclaimed the "last of the true Texas dance halls". We probably wouldn't return for the food alone however it opened in 1964 and claims to not have changed its interior ever since so well worth a visit to see the interior alone plus all the photos on the wall of its famous visitors through the years...

My first birthday in America is here and I enjoyed a day being spoilt, by evening the babysitter arrives and we head off downtown to our first stop La Condesa a modern Mexican restaurant which provided a fantastic menu mix of meats, rice, veg, salads, salsa and lots more, we finished off the night dancing to a mix of old and new tunes at the Hanger Bar.

After an interesting, fun and crazy 12 week summer holiday the girls are finally due to start back at school what a lovely shock to the system those 6am starts are for all concerned 😳😴 I'm driving the girls in for now I just can't quite build up the courage to let my new 5 year old kindergartener get on the school buses just yet...

We have also enjoyed our youngest daughters 5th birthday during the first week of school, it was an interesting morning opening presents, cards, breakfast, getting dressed, sun cream, packed lunches and all out the door for 7.30am. We did it though just, and there I was in assembly with my camera to capture my daughter stand up in front of over 700 pupils when her name was read out by the Principle to say Happy Birthday to her.

As her birthday was midweek I booked her party for the weekend and I was able to invite a mix of pre-school buddies and new school  class mates along to the Build A Bear Workshop at our local mall along with an extremely large cookie cake from the Great American Cookie Company

Our visitors had taken a week off from us and did a road trip to New Orleans and Orange Beach, they are now back and as this Monday was Labor day in America (basically a bank holiday to us Brits) we went for a drive to Krause Springs this is a camping and swimming site founded in 1955 in a place called Spicewood. It had slightly treacherous terrain as several natural springs feed the pools making the rocks mossy but deliciously cool water to swim in even though it was a very murky colour!

Austin is known as the 'Music Capital of the World' so on one midweek evening we found the Cedar Street Courtyard in downtown Austin for 15 years it has been pairing two of Austin's favourite indulgences nightly live music and sumptuous cocktails. We loved the humorous band's eclectic dress sense and outstanding, addictive live music mix...definitely a place to visit again.