Christmas 2010

Here is the kids gift from Santa it was filmed using Matt and I's gift. 

Swimming Not Skiing!

While our friends and family were cold and suffering in Utah and around the nation during the week of Christmas we were swimming at Barton Springs Pool.  I am going to insert most of this information from the City of Austin's website.  But here are some of our experiences.  It's a "topless" pool meaning nearly nude - women can sunbath and swim without a top yes, breasts exposed.  Yes, just as we were created beautiful and natural in my opinion, but my kids were a bit weirded out by the concept.  We didn't see any "boobies" while we were there but we did see some interesting swimming attire.  Long Johns, Underware, Panties, Bras, and even Denim Overalls. Crazy! I know you are thinking.  But guess what.  Here . . . people are people - they are who they are.  Isn't that AWESOME.  Isn't something about that freeing and liberating.  Makes me want to join in - minus the boobies part. I love living here.

We can't wait for you to go with us. Enjoy the pics.  Oh yeah, it's in the heart of Zilker Park (see previous post) and admission was Free!!!! I love free!!!!

(City of Austin Insert) Within Zilker Park's 358 acres, lies one of the crown jewels of Austin, Barton Springs Pool. Three acres in size, the pool is fed from under ground springs and is on average 68 degrees year round. Over the years, Barton Springs Pool has drawn people from all walks of life, from legislators who have concocted state laws there to free-spirited topless sunbathers who turned heads in the seventies. Even Robert Redford learned to swim at the pool when he was five years old while visiting his mother's relative in Austin. Today, Barton Springs still attracts a diverse crowd of people.

Millions of years ago Barton Springs, the fourth largest natural springs in the state, was created as a result of a land shift that created the Balcones Fault.

Named in honor of Andrew Jackson Zilker. "Colonel Andy", as friends called him, donated the land now known as Zilker Park. In 1884, at age 18, Zilker, who had left his native Indiana to seek his fortune, came to Austin with only 50 cents in his pocket and got a job at an ice plant, which he eventually bought. He then became the first Coca-Cola Bottler in Austin. Shortly after Zilker bought the land in 1901, he built a small concrete pool and amphitheater for members of his Elks Club organization, at the site of one of the three springs, where people had gathered for centuries.

Native Americans called them the Sacred Springs and came there to heal their wounds. Spanish friars believed to be the first European settlers in the Austin area set up three temporary missions at the springs in 1730-31 before they moved to San Antonio. In 1837, William "Uncle Billy" Barton, built his rustic cabin on a tract of land which included the springs. Since he owned several adjoining tracts, the area came to be known as the "Bartons". He named the three springs after his daughters Parthenia, Eliza and Zenobia. The largest spring became known as the main spring at Barton Springs Pool. Another spring feeds the Elks Amphitheater pool that Zilker built near the present day Barton Springs Pool. A third spring bubbles up from the Sunken Garden on the east side of the park.

Between 1917 and 1934, A.J. Zilker donated his land along the south bank of the Colorado in stages, to the Public Free Schools of Austin on the condition that the city of Austin buy the tract from the public schools for inflated prices. School officials placed money from the sale in a trust fund for manual training for what is known today as the school-to-work-program.
Barton Springs Pool has been a popular swimming hole for decades, but even more people showed up once it became part of a city park in 1917. In 1929, workers enlarged the irregular-shaped pool to 1,000 feet long by building a concrete lower dam and sidewalks on both banks. In 1932, the city added an upper dam. Over the years the springs has been the site of a flour mill, a source of drinking water for many citizens and a popular location for baptisms, family picnics, social gatherings, musical performances, fishing and swimming.

Many approach a dip in Barton Springs Pool's chilly 68 degrees water with a religious zeal. Devotees relish swimming in the roomy expanse of spring water, framed by century-old pecan trees. Those who plunge down under the diving board to look at the main spring, which pumps an average of 27 million gallons of water a day, say that the pulsating action reminds them of a steady heartbeat.
In 1943, Jean Parker was the first women lifeguard at Barton Springs. Members of the Texas Pool and Beach Association decided at the conclusion of their annual conference of park and recreation authorities to allow women to lifeguard, because most eligible men had entered the armed forces. This was the beginning of the change from the traditional "big husky lifeguards watching over the flocks to beautiful girls gracing the lifeguard towers over the nations pools."

Our First Texas House - - -

Is Horrid!  Since we've moved in (starting day 1) we've had problem after problem.  Let me just say the other day Matt wrote out a 3 page list of problems we've had with this house.  These are problems and not things that are aesthetic.  Ranging from the most disturbing major issue of rodents - yes my friends Rats and mold down to orange gelatinous sandy mass pouring from our faucets and every thing that you could possibly imagine in between.  Needless to say our Landlord and Property Management company finds this house a money pit and is pretty reluctant to make the "livable" repairs.  We have a fantastic law suit established, if we want one.  But ya know, I don't really want to go down that road. The time, the energy, the frustration for what? a few dollars - not worth it.  So of course the management company is voiding our lease and allowing us to move - stating they'll refund our total deposits.
We've put an application on a lovely beautiful home and I truly hope we get approved.  I fell in love with it.  I can't stop thinking about it.  I feel obsessive and like I am going crazy thinking and dreaming about it.  It is larger and more open then our Utah house (which I love) and so much more than this cracker box we are "living" in now.  It's new and modern and updated and just fantastic. If we get approved we plan to move within this month.  We are all so done with our current house and it's only been 2 months.
Here is the problem - the kids have to transfer schools.  I hate that idea, even though I don't love Alora's school.  I just keep trying to think of it as - better now than finishing out this lease then moving when they are more settled.  We (Matt and I) keep trying to talk with them about how they feel about it and really the only concern that comes up from any child is from Alora. She doesn't want to be the new kid again - which I totally understand.  I remember being the new kid like a hundred times! I really don't want this to effect her long term since she is at such an important age in her life. She is so busy figuring out who she is and where she stand socially.  What I do know, is that academically and economically - the new school prevails. What choice do I have but to move them? I know that long term they will be so much more happy in this other house. 
So let's say this other house doesn't pan out.  We still plan to keep looking and to move. We just can't stay in this place. Every day I hate it more and more. And I am not a hateful person . . . but I do hate this house.  I am attaching photos of this house but I really can't wait to post video of the new house! Cross your fingers and say your prayers. Wish us luck.

First Day of Texas School

Here are the kids on their first day of school here in Texas.  Alora went from being in the top of the school in Elementary in Utah to being at the bottom of Middle school here.  The boys attend the same Elementary school.   Something else that is new. . . the kids ride the school bus.  In Utah our kids have always walked to school so riding the school bus is a total new adventure here.  I am afraid to say that since we may move - there may be a new post "2nd - 1st Day of Texas School.