Move 'em out.

Who knew they were cowboys at heart?







We had the chance over the New Year's weekend to travel to Texas to visit my extended family: my grandmother, my aunt Beca and uncle Clyde, my cousins Collins, Holly, Gordon, and Kristin, and their kids Zachary, Casey, and Julia. It was a positively wonderful 3 days - save for the flight down. See here for that story. Connecting with this side of the family is something we don't get to do often enough, and they all showed us a wonderful time. I can't say enough about what a good time it was. The boys had never met many of this clan, and they hit it off with everyone, particularly the other boys their age, Zach and Casey.

Here's a shot of most of us waiting for the train to downtown Dallas. 4 generations!

For pictures and to see what the boys were up to down there, check here.


This shot is from the end of the trip. My aunt and uncle gave Shawn and the kids these key wardrobe items. They wore them all the way home, and I think they walked with a bit of a swagger, too.


This was the boys' first flight - they'd never seen an airport like Dulles in DC.

The boys on their first airplane. We had originally planned to drive this trip, and Jacob kept asking, "If we were driving, where would we be right now?" "Still in Virginia," we would say.


The crew heading to the Big D: Uncle Clyde, Aunt Beca, Grandma, the Cagninas, my cousin, Collins and his wife, Holly, and their kids, Zach and Casey.


At the top of Reunion Tower in Dallas with my aunt and uncle.


The boys hamming it up at Reunion Tower. These guys were instant friends.




At the JFK memorial in downtown Dallas. The boys all got their history lesson.


Burning off energy at the park that's an easy walk from my aunt's house. Everything about their house is so suited for 2 small boys - from the nearby park to the scooters that were waiting for them in our rooms.


Sightseeing in Irving. These shots were taken at the "Mustangs of Las Colinas" statues.

And we can't show you horse statues without paying equal tribute to cows. These were less impressive artistically, but far more approachable and fun to climb on.