Birthday
Lance’s birthday isn’t for another week or so, but while we were down visiting my parents we had a little party for him.
Mom was always the cake decorating guru as I grew up so it seemed like a great privilege to decorate my own son’s cake for the first time. Katie helped and came up with some of the little toppers. We did a “duck” theme because Lance likes his rubber duckie so much.
We invited his cousins – Abbie and Connor, as well as Jacob (not pictured).
We did bubbles but it was pretty windy so Abbie and Lance just sat there and watched them fly by. Later Brian helped Lance chase them around – boy was it funny to see his puzzlement as they disappeared right when he was about to catch one.
We all sang Happy Birthday while he sat there looking around and wondering why everyone was staring at him. He heartily enjoyed the cake however!
Next was the presents! Connor helps him open a card while Daddy and Aunt Katie watch.
Daddy and Papa spent all morning cutting and sanding this wonderful block set. Lance is going to have many years of fun with those! We finished the evening by making hand print cards of each of the kids – good and messy. Then the little partiers had to go to bed.
Romance
For those of you who prefer some of the more traditional types of romance we had plenty of that too.
First of all, a major road accident that rerouted the entire highway for miles (see this article) gave us an extra hour or better in the car to talk. 
On our way into San Antonio we stopped at a disc golf course and played the 18 hole course. (not romantic? Man you guys are tough!) Afterwards we stopped by my own ice cream place! It was like Cold Stone or Marble Slab and we each ordered whatever we wanted.
And after our long bike ride we cooled off at some beautiful fountains in Hemisfair park. We soaked our feet (briefly – it was cold!) ate some snacks and chatted for a while.
Of course, we spent quite a bit of time on the Riverwalk – even kissing on a bench at night (was that too much for the reader?)
All the walking around made us HUNGRY! So we meandered along the river until we found a restaurant that had a romantic looking table near the water and stopped for dinner – Mexican both nights.
The price of last nights dinner on the river sent Brian searching fountains for some extra cash! 
He got us a few pennies and we threw them back in to make a wish – I wonder if they’re half or twice as likely to come true? I loved all the angles in this picture.
At a mission and on the Riverwalk – just enjoying beautiful surroundings, gorgeous weather and the best company we could ask for.
On our way out of town the last day we stopped by the Japanese Tea Gardens for some amazing architecture and beautiful flowers!
After all of that, it’s no wonder I felt like a newly wed all over again!
San Antonio Adventure
Last weekend Brian and I dropped Lance off at grandma’s house and headed to San Antonio for a romantic getaway…
Bright and early Monday morning we packed a picnic lunch and hopped on our bikes for a 25 mile tour of the countryside to visit the five missions in the area.
The Alamo is the most famous of the five missions because of the part it plays in Texas history. The others were interesting however, and fun to walk around. This one – mission San Jose – was the best preserved, boasting a church that was still in use, walls that were in tact and even some paintings on a few walls.
Here’s another shot of the same mission.
Along the route we stopped to visit a dam built by the monks (and their Indian converts) that diverted water into a long irrigation ditch between the missions.
A little further down the trail was an aqueduct to carry the irrigation water across a gorge.
We picnicked at mission Espada then headed to Mission San Juan – the last on our tour. This one had a small nature trail that we hiked, hoping to see some alligators. Now we had to make the long trek back.
To break up the long ride (bike seats get pretty uncomfortable after a while), we took some side trips to explore anything that caught our interest. This huge culvert pipe was one such side trip.
We found some pennies in a dried up well and met the locals (maybe some descendants of the early settlers?). We also passed by a little rock climbing wall at a park and decided to use up our last bit of energy trying it out. Seven hours after we started, we drug back into downtown San Antonio with a really good sunburn.
What, you don’t think that was a romantic vacation? Tune in next time for the juicy details….
Stepping out
Lance has been working his way towards greater and greater mobility. First he figured out that some things can be pushed around – like chairs across a floor, or a stroller across the carpet. Of course, they only go so far before he runs into something and the ride is over.
Sometime last week Brian decided it was time for walking lessons and to our amazement, Lance took a few steps between us! It was a little scary for him but the more we practiced the better he liked it and now laughs as he goes between us.
Here he is with his Aunt Katie and Uncle “Dude”, showing off his new skill.
Then we took this video last night – he is really getting good! Watch out world, here I come!!!!