Austin & Crolsoms

We met the Croppers on a warm fall night in Provo, Utah (even though we are all from the Rogue Valley) and realized we lived just a few houses down on the same street in the "Tree Streets".  It is rare that both the wives and husbands get along, and it makes for a fun time.  So, needless to say, we were SO SAD when they moved away to Boulder, CO and kept in touch, always talking about a future day when we could get together.

Then, Frontier had a sale on plane tickets to Austin.  Boom.  

The Croppers and Folsoms (or as Ian said, "our celebrity name is 'Crolsoms'") had a great time.  We spent an evening up in Austin, and the entire Saturday.  We walked around Town Lake, canoed across the lake, visited Zilker Park, ate at the hyped-up Magnolia's for breakfast, feasted on the Cropper's Franklin's BBQ leftovers, walked up and down South Congress, checked out the Whole Food's Headquarters...

Poor Ian.  He offered to stay behind and watch the babe since we were too large of a group for one Canoe.  But it was fun to learn more about what it takes to be a part of Crew from Ashleigh, and to hear about her experience at UP.

A fantastic day!  We couldn't believe it was winter and we were out in the sun rowing across a calm lake.  Maybe Texas isn't that bad afterall ;)

There were turtles everywhere.

Then, we journeyed home to San Antonio Saturday night and feasted on some homemade Korean food.  Then, like the night before, stayed up until midnight just talking and catching up, laughing about fun times or forgotten moments and opening up and sharing personal thoughts and struggles.  We ate too many donuts, got sick off of I Heart Chocolate Blue Bell Ice cream, taught them how to play Snarf, had a fun garage workout, ate Rudy's and Torchy's Tacos, and enjoyed a feast put on by Chef Ian (if I could hire someone to cook for me the rest of my life, it would be him).  We love being able to confide in and learn from Ian and Ashleigh, and can tell we love their company when we would skip any kind of movie or game, just so we can keep talking until our sentences become unintelligible.

Then, on our last night we went down to the River Walk, and Ashleigh offered to take some family pics, both so we could get some cute pics and so she could practice her new skill.  That is also something I am impressed by - Ashleigh has no fear.  She has created a wonderful card business (www.redaspenphotography.com ), continues to teach herself Graphic Design, and has now ventured into Photography and is doing GREAT.  We had such a fun time.  (The pics below are raw and unedited, and even though she doesn't want me to show them yet I have to share a few.  Even untouched they are wonderful):

We treasured our time with those two.  And look forward to more Crolsom fun!