Cookies for Santa (and us!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BBQ road trip. Go west, young men.

The President tapped the US oil reserves, not because of a political move, but because we told him we were heading to Llano in a Tahoe and needed gas to be 3 cents cheaper per gallon. While it's not usually tapped except for times of war and natural disasters, BBQ road trips also fall under the national emergency umbrella.

Llano is on the outskirts of the central Texas barbeque belt. It's actually that notch on the belt that you loosen when you want it to feel comfortable.

Mark and I have hit Louie Muellers and Snows with the boys as well as City Market in Luling with a couple other playgroupies, so Coopers in Llano is a logical next step. We fired up the Bat Signal to see if anyone else wanted to join us, but could only get Dax and Reese to come along. Good thing because he's got the wheels to seat 6.

Henry and Simon in the way back acting cool and calm... but we haven't left the driveway.

Two peaceful hours later we arrived with a short line.

Hmm, yes.  One of everything, Garçon.

One of the things that sets Coopers apart from a lot of the other places is that Cabrito is an option as you'll see in the pic above.  The brisket, pork and beef ribs were also top notch.

The great Thomas Petty once lamented "The waiiiiiiting is the hardest part."

It's even harder when it's right in front of you.

When Jennifer heard there was cabrito she made a b-line over from Burnet.

From Coopers we followed Jennifer over to go swim over at Camp with her and Tyler. Once we got there, everything was awesome for the guys (and us too).  From the golf cart:

to the lazy river

complete with waterslide that only Mark and Tyler's six year old nephew could figure out.

Dax pulling him and Reese down by hand.

Animal pettin' time.

Mmmmm... Future cabrito.

And then the quiet time bell sounded which was our cue it was time to go home.  Frankly, I'm ready to do it again next weekend.

Hondo with our Homeboy

What's that?  We're invited to a friends' ranch with three other couples?  Only one-year olds and younger are coming?  It's when Miles is supposed to be getting baptized? Well that's an easy answer.

I cut out of work early last Friday so that Erinn, Miles and I could head west of San Antonio to Brian and Sarah's family ranch with Gage.  Both Simon and Henry were taken by grandparents so that it could be just the little ones.  Joining us were Will & Stephanie and their new baby Posey (a girl?  what's that about?) and Joe & Kelley and their new Newb, Hayes.

The perfect setting for relaxing with friends.

Any game where you throw/ move/ slide an object to get it close to a target is my favorite game.  Shuffleboard, horseshoes, bocce, petanque, washers, ladder golf, beer pong... these are the games of the gods.

If this picture had been taken one year prior, there would probably be a beverage in Joe's left hand.

It was especially nice to get to spend time with just Miles.  We don't really ever get a chance to do that.

Here's Miles listening to Joe.

Miles watching Gage sit upright.  I don't know if it's possible, but Gage might be more smiley than Miles.

All weekend long, big ol smiles from Gage.

From youngest to oldest.

Proud Mommas.

Spent a lot of time doing things I really enjoy, which is what a vacation is about.  Just doing things like...

 Check out small town High School Stadiums... Go Owls!

 Smoke an unplanned brisket ....

Let Miles watch me prep dinner...

Research Children's Literature inside a deer blind...

 See deer from deer blinds...

Help to remove a nuisance...

Pose like Teddy Roosevelt over your kill...

(It's like looking in a mirror.)

At the end of the weekend, it was good to get back to Simon.  This was a much needed respite that all four of us benefited from.  Loved the opportunity to spend time with friends that I don't get to see as often as I'd like.

When 'pizza night' follows 'chili night'

Natch...

 Before.

After.

As I was taking a picture of it, Erinn said "You are not putting that on the blog."

Then she tasted it.