“NO ONE CAN DRIVE US CRAZY, UNLESS WE GIVE THEM THE KEYS." Doug Horton

for someone who loves road trips,

i don't spend all that much time sitting in the DRIVER's seat.

i am a professional when it comes to the passenger seat

and i'm quite thankful to usually assume that spot.

i make a good dj, 

can reach items dropped by backseat passengers,

and open fast food packets with the best of them,

but DRIVING long distances is not my favorite job.

however, i logged quite a few hours DRIVING last week and didn't even go crazy doing it!

SUNDAY of last week kelli, caroline, adelaide, graham, and i hit the road to abilene.

there were a few reasons for the trip:

1) to see sara kate in her college element

2) to wish sk happy (early) birthday in person

3) to hang out with mom and dad

4) to introduce kelli and caroline to the greatness of abilene

5) for a fun adventure

and so the "girls plus graham" road trip began!

of course we'd do it all over again,
but i feel the need to mention the DRIVE to abilene took an extra two hours.
i don't think it was because i was DRIVING but rather due to the need for frequent stops.

traveling in my car were two freshly potty trained toddlers, a preggo, and myself. 

kelli put it best when she said,
"poor graham, we all should be wearing diapers, but he's the only one in them."

upon arriving we drove past all my college residences, 

spotted the cutest garage apartment (that was once evan and my first home), 

saw the best dorm room in town, 

then landed at my favorite house in town, the one i grew up in.

over the next three days, (MONDAY, TUESDAY, and WEDNESDAY)

we went to chapel, the bookstore, and the bean. 

we ate at taco bueno, hickory street cafe, and cajun cones.

we celebrated sk's birthday several days in a row.

many hours were spent playing at stepping stones preschool.
there was an attempted visit to the zoo and a successful trip to feed the ducks.
memories were made as we melted played at the park.
there was lots of sweet time spent with the kids' grandparents, great-grandparents, aunt, and cousins.

the time passed much too quickly,
and before we knew it i was back in the DRIVER's seat as we started our drive back to houston.
we were sad to leave family and the relaxing, fun times in abilene,
but it was wonderful to see our husbands/dads again.

we hadn't been home two full days when more fun was headed our way.
on FRIDAY four visitors came from austin came to houston.

1) bevo

2) michelle

3) rubey

4) fulton

bevo was the first one to cross our path.
he was here for the ut vs. rice game the next day.
we had a family outing to see him and took a few pics.
after dinner our long lost friend, michelle, came by to say hi while she was in town visiting her brother.
we hadn't seen her since adelaide was a baby and it was great to catch up!
then rubey and fulton had flight drama that unexpectedly landed them in houston for the night,
so at the last minute we had a surprise slumber party with them!

SATURDAY we didn't have to DRIVE far to go to the UT game in houston with jim and karen.
it was such a fun treat to watch a live game again!
the kids stayed home (thank you mel and austan) while we enjoyed the afternoon.

i had many flashbacks to the fun days of having season tickets as we cheered the longhorns on in person.

after the game we hit the road again. 

this time ev was in the DRIVER's seat as we headed to warrenton for labor day weekend. 

we had visions of time spent on the lake for one last hurrah of summer!

SUNDAY those dreams vanished,
as evan and i took turns battling a stomach bug the entire time we were there.
and unfortunately we shared it with others too.

MONDAY afternoon i DROVE us home again.
we all sipped gatorade and hoped to make it home sans sick stops.

it's been a good one,
and now here we are at summer's end.
ready or not fall, here we come!