catching up

i have been really bad about posting to my blog over the past month-plus...i had started on a couple of posts but never finished them, as things have been super busy at work.  we're not selling many houses, but things have just been busy!  so, here's a little recap since my last post...

went to charlotte to some training for work, which was very interesting and should be helpful in expanding my business here.  it was so fun to get to spend some time with the bards as well!  they were so hospitable, and i loved getting to visit and catch up with them :)

the following weekend, we headed to austin tx for a few days...billy signed up for a half marathon there, plus we thought it would be fun to visit his sister once more before she finishes up her program and moves back east.  that was a great trip!  we still LOVE austin and would LOVE to move there!  plus, we brought jefferson with us, which made the trip even more fun!

airplane dog :)

  

crammed under the seat in the carrier from target that "fits under most airplane seats" (even though we're seriously doubting that now)

austin is probably the most dog-friendly city in the us, so jefferson got to go with us pretty much everywhere we went.  we arrived on saturday, got billy checked into the race, settled in at kendall's apartment, and went to a great restaurant that night - guero's - where we listed to live music and hung out in a beer garden setting while we waited to be seated.  sunday, we headed out bright and early for the race.  jefferson and i walked several miles and got to see billy and renee in a few different spots along the course, and billy ended up finishing with a great time for a super-hilly course and beating lance armstrong :) 

i look a little rough in this picture, but we think it's funny how huge jefferson looks :)

fireworks at the starting line!

billy and a canadian marathoner racing to the finish...and billy won :)

we ate at abel's on the lake that night, which was so fun - we sat outside right on lake austin, and i loved it!  jefferson enjoyed getting to go with us too.  billy and i checked out the flying saucer bar and brought jefferson with us...it was so nice to be able to sit outside at night and not be freezing, and jefferson's dog friends from earlier in the day were there too, so that was fun!  the next day, we ran/walked on the lady bird lake trail, which we love, and then played with jefferson at the dog park for a little while.  they have the best dog park area...tons of open space, plus an area for swimming, which jefferson loved :) 

bevo

two jeffersons

family pic by the tower

kendall, billy, and j terrier

we ate at el arroyo for lunch and then moonshine for dinner, both of which we loved and were able to bring jefferson to.  we also went to barton springs again...only the part you don't pay to go to and can bring dogs to :) 

we tried to hard to get him to wave, but he was too hot and not wanting to be obedient

el arroyo catering bus

barton creek

porch at moonshine - such a cute restaurant!

  

that night, billy and i walked down sixth street in the hopes of listening to some good live music, but with it being a monday night, that did not happen.  maybe next time!  we headed back on tuesday afternoon after another trip to the dog park and lunch at shady grove. 

here are a couple of pictures of the many eclectic and strange people around austin...

nothing too much going on the next couple of week after our austin trip, and then, this past weekend, we celebrated my college friend ridgely's wedding at the beach.  it was lots of fun, she was a beautiful bride, and we enjoyed catching up with some friends from school and staying the night at the beach! 

billy's been sick with the flu (or a super-severe case of food poisoning) since last wednesday night, so we've been laying low.  and, i've been using his sickness as an excuse to not cook and be lazy for several days - ha!  i did a deep cleaning on our house on saturday, which was much needed, and walked with a friend and her dog, who is one of jefferson's bffs. 

this coming weekend is the shamrock marathon, so that should be fun!  hopefully billy will be feeling much better by then!  and, i get to meet my old roommate's baby, samantha, for the first time, so i'm really excited about that!!  we're going to walk at the beach while a couple of our friends run the 8k on saturday, and then sunday will be the marathon.  so, i get to spend two early mornings at the beach :)  i'll post pictures next week!