A Rainy Hemisphere Park

First: If any of you know my family you know how rambunctious we can get when we are all together. This time was no exception. Now my whole family doesn't get together much. Not because we don't like each other, but because we are spread out through 5 different states with schedules that don't line up very well.  Anyways, my wedding was the first time in almost 3 years that my family all got together. Some people were meeting new little ones for the first time, others were being introduced into the family (my sisters fiance) etc.  So we had a party all week.

One of the fun things we did was go to Hemisphere park.

Lilly having fun in the back yard

Cindy getting a baby girl fix and meeting Raelynn

walking on the river walk...such pretty vibrant colors

Pop Pop and Jayden 

Even the big kids played on the playground

Karys having a blast 

Lilly exploring the playground

By looking at all the pictures above you might be wondering why the title of the post talks about rain. Well in Texas when it wants to rain it will, and you don't get much warning. Beautiful day at the park turns into RUN FOR COVER!

Dallin and Asher caught in the rain. 

poor Raelynn 

Run Kassy and Cindy! 

Shelter! 

Splash

Flying Jayden!

Asher loving the rain

Jayden didn't want to leave 

The aftermath!

Iceland

David's brother was getting married in Iceland, so of course we "had" to go. Man oh man did we have a blast. And remember that new camera I mentioned, WELL 3000+ pictures later we can officially say we love it!

Day 1: Nap time and some downtown fun!
Now its only a 5 hour time difference (only) but after leaving San Antonio at 6 am-a couple fights and layovers later-we land in Iceland the next day at 6 am. Talk about a long day. So a nap was necessary! Then we headed to some observatory that looks like a boob. Most of the locals we met even call it a boob. But I guess the real name is the Perlan and it's a cool observation point.

This is where I got my first taste of food in Iceland as well as their crazy prices. Then we headed downtown to play be lost tourists.

Find the creeper (me)

where's waldo?

The church. (Iceland is mostly Lutheran so all their towns are centered around churches)

Day 2: Spa Day
The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa that is also a huge tourist trap. But hey it was way worth it. We had an awesome time putting on volcanic ash mud stuff and looking like fools. And everyone of course knew who the loud obnoxious Americans were.

Day 3: Icelandic Independence day!
Everyone and their mom came to the capital to party! Apparently its a big deal :)

 Getting in the spirit! 

Day 4: Golden Circle tour.

A bunch of us went up to a geyser and an incredible waterfall. Iceland took my breath away quite a few times and most of them were on this day trip. 

 The continental drift in a cool artistic perspective :) 

getting a little Steamy :)

 Impeccable timing (okay we took like 10 pictures to get this) 

 Just before it blew!

 Amazing waterfall

I told you it was big :) 

Day 5: Travel Day

A long beautiful 5 hour drive to Siglo. Man did it take forever but we tried to play tourist as much as possible along the way. 

 On top of a crater with the pretty setting

 Ninja gentleman helping grandma

 Such a beautiful drive! 

 See even pretty flowers along the way

And we had to slow down for the sheepies that were crossing the road.

Day 6 & 7: Rest and exploration: 

It was pretty much the calm before the storm. We had plenty of time to explore the little town of Siglo and to drive to the next town (Akureyri) and look around there too.

 The tiny town of Siglo 

 Clear as glass

 sexy in our waders! Fly fishing here we come! 

 My fisher man! 

 Hello Handsome! 

 Touching a VERY cold Atlantic ocean

 Another waterfall (number 15 of 100000 a lot)

Day 8: Wedding day! 

Man did they pick a breathtaking spot to get married! They make a cute couple and it made me all the more excited to get married to my man ! 

 Our Smooch 

Their Smooch

Day 9, 10 &11: Travel, travel and more travel! 

So we drove back to Reykjavik, spent some more time there picking up the last of our nick-nacks and souvenirs and then started out trip back to the mainland. We had a long layover in DC so David and I met up with one of my old roommates and then the next day David, his mom, nephew and I went to the Air and Space Museum. 

This was such an amazing trip, but boy am I glad to be home sleeping in my own bed and eating "normal" food again. We were so blessed to be able to go on this trip and man do I look forward to so many more with this wonderful man! 

Galveston!

Since I am so good at posting ;) I thought I would do a half way post to ease the load because a lot is happening this month.

Towards the beginning of the month we had an awesome vacation in Galveston with David's brother and his family. Alex (David's brother) works in the hotel industry so he got us the hookups to stay at the Hotel Galvez for an awesome rate. The hotel itself was full of history, including a living through a couple hurricanes, having been there serving their guests since 1911. What I thought was the best part about the hotel was the fact that it was right across the street from the beach. I felt right at home. It was like living at the Bus Stop house all over again, just better and it came with housekeeping :)

We had a fabulous time just playing at the beach, hanging at the pool and getting into shenanigans :) One of my favorite shenanigans was renting paddle boards and just going for it. I (having lived on an island for a couple years) knew how to paddle board but for everyone else they had a new fun experience. It was fun watching everyone try and pretty much succeed. Had it not been such rough water I think everyone would have been pretty good at it. Jordan (Alex and Jackie's oldest son) was at it for hours and was having a blast.

Alex and Dylan partying on the paddle board.

 Cute little Callen

 David going for it 

 Me having some fun

 The whole gang! Some may not be showing it, but we were all excited to be there! 

Me and Callen hanging out by the pool

David and I also had a nice little date night while by the coast. We went to a little restaurant for dinner and had a fun time on Pleasure Pier (a mini boardwalk). And our date of course included a nice long  romantic walk on the beach :) 

It was so wonderful to be by the beach again. But it was even more wonderful to be able to spend it with "almost" family and to just relax and enjoy ourselves. I am so blessed to have all these new people in my life now!