Travel Catch-Up: Friend Visit + Family Birthday

February 23-25: Las Cruces, NM

My good friend, L, splits her time between Sac (where we met at the now-closed Capital Athletic Club) and New Mexico. I've heard so much about her "other life" and was honored to be welcomed into her home in Las Cruces for a quick weekend visit. We had a lovely time together as she showed me around the area. Lots of quality time to chat in addition to a yoga class and a movie (Madame Web -- not awful but not recommended). I'm so glad she felt comfortable hosting me and sharing this part of her world!

March 1-3: Austin, TX

The following weekend, Mr. E and I headed to Austin for an early birthday celebration for C and me. This is the year that C enters the "double digits" as he turned 10 years old! We had a relaxing family evening on Friday, starting with Happy Hour oysters with C at Shore and then our usual DIY dinner at the house, followed by a game of Clue, which C had learned earlier this year during a visit to Great Uncle J. 

On Saturday morning, C and J were up and out early for his academic competition followed by a soccer game. B and M headed out to a birthday party, and Mr. E and I took advantage of the lovely weather to walk down to Shore to try out their breakfast offerings. Yummy tacos, Americanos, and an indulgent coffee cake muffin. Then we met up with the rest of the family in the early afternoon at C's soccer game. A couple of hours for everyone to relax in the afternoon before B's sister K came over with takeout from Eurasia for our joint birthday dinner. Once M's sitter E arrived, the rest of us headed to the Bass Concert Hall to see the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. It's been several years since Mr. E and I saw the troupe at the Modavi Center in Davis, and they were just as amazing and impressive and awe-inspiring as we remembered! C managed to make it to the second intermission before snoozing on J's shoulder.

I was up in time on Sunday morning to say goodbye to C as he and B headed to Top Golf for a meet-up with a friend. Mr. E and I had some breakfast at the house and then said our goodbyes to J and M prior to our late-morning return flight to Sac. Despite a bit of delay, we were home by the early afternoon and spent the rest of the day doing laundry, grocery shopping, and kitty snuggling. A quick but fun family birthday trip!