Lola leaves Texas - Day 7

This morning was tough mainly for Lola, as we all knew that Lola was heading on an airplane to go home with Brown Puppies.  I had told the twinkies in the car as we were heading for supper, to give them time to really enjoy the brown puppies and comprehend that all 3 of us would be leaving today.

So this morning, T is up, peed, washed his hands, had a little trouble putting his cloths on (as he wanted comfy pants, but it is still way too hot in Texas for sweat pants).  But then he asked sucker Lola, if he could watch the ipad if he got ready.... I said, yes, we have to get dressed, brush our teeth, brush our hair, and put on sun screen.  He was super cooperative (unlike B who was tired and still snoring when T was making this deal).  We got that all done, and the ipad came out and we watched a little of The Lion King, just pushed play and it was when Nala finds Simba again.  Once "can you feel the love tonight" was completed it was time to go to school.  B made it for the last 30 seconds, but we still had a good cuddle on the couch.

T went and put his shoes on, gave me a good hug, and away he went into the car.  Once B realized she had to give Brown puppy another big hug before leaving... she went and found him and gave him and Lola the sweetest hugs and off to the CRV she went as well.  Well that went better than normal.

The rest of the morning, lola and MbMell did some chores, and chatted with DD when he came back from drop off.  When he came back and told us what T told him as he left for School.

"It was sure a very special visit with Auntie G, especially with her red iPad"  - that kid is cracks us up.

Lola and Brown Puppies left notes for the kids....  T now wants it to be November tomorrow.... don't we all kid... well the texans would like some cooler weather.

Lola Packed up, and had to reorganize as her suitcase was full of rice pasta and clothes and a few things bringing back to Manitoba for MbMell.  Brown puppies had to come in the Carry on.

Lola and MbMell headed to a fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House - Central Texas at a neat venue down town Austin.  MbMell's friend and mother of the Twinkies Gymnastic's buddy was speaking at it.  It was a Red Shoe Luncheon.  We put on our red shoes and away we went.  MbMell had  hard time walking in hers, but she was a champ and made it!  The Luncheon was super organized and wow were there a lot of people wearing red!  We had a great time and Lily spoke wonderfully.  It was over by 1 sharp and we had some time to kill.  As we walked by we saw all the ladies waiting for the valet parking....

Table 16! (missing Lily's mom and husband)

We tried to walk to a Starbucks just to sit and have a drink, but it was closed for renovations, so back to near the car, Lola had a juice and we sat and chatted.  Then we walked back to the Tesla up 7 floors of stairs.

Off to the airport we went.  MbMell kindly dropped me off, we said our goodbyes and into the airport i went. I have nexus, so i was TSA pre-approved, dropped my bag off, and walked through security without stopping, didn't have to take shoes off and didn't have to take the laptop or anything out of my bag, it was glorious, I was probably through security before MbMell was off the airport property.

I got some Salt Lick Bbq while I waited, as lunch was not so "corn" free and i thought i should eat.  Boarded the plane, and made friends with my seat partner (we had a nice empty seat in the middle between us).  But he forgot his headphones, and I happened to have a spare pair.  I lent them to him, and also made him move once so I could go to the washroom, so we were even.  Will have to disinfect those when I get home.

Airport outfit change.

wish i knew this baby, as i would have hung out with her on the flight. 

It was sure "foggy" in the plane as we boarded.

big plane as we pass it on the taxiway

boeing 747

The guy i borrowed my ear buds to.

cool clouds on the flight 

excited to get a snack on the plane!

Letting my pups breath a little under the seat

Flying over the outlet mall south Minneapolis.

Flight was pretty uneventful to Minneapolis.  Once arrived, i had way too much time to kill, almost 4 hours. Still working on waiting, but good time to blog.  Once arrived, twinkies were home from Pre-K and excited to try on mommy's red shoes as well as find the notes!  Walked around for a while, got some food, and now blogging, while still waiting for my seat assignment.

It was a great 7 days, and now back to reality tomorrow, work.  Also found out AA is going on quite the adventure in the next 2 weeks... so keep your eyes posted on the blog for his ventures (if has times to blog, but he possibly is traveling to 5 cities in the next 2 weeks)... doesn't he know it is my birthday month?

Well this is Lola Signing off for now.  It was a slice, and can't wait to get to bed, as I am running on 4.5 hours of sleep.

Hope you all enjoyed following my Texas Journey for the 5th time!

Lola.

Lola travels to Texas - Day 6

T was motivated this morning to get ready as soon as possible so that I could read him a book before school.  He went to the bathroom and washed his hands before anyone else was even out of bed.  B wasn't as motivated, and missed 3/4 of the book, but we had an excellent cuddle on the couch, and read the book before DD took them to school. 

The ladies today had a great day.  In the morning, Lola cleaned the fridge freezer that had a lot of ice in it.  She emptied, let melt, scrapped, cleaned and then reorganized the freezer to have fruits in one section, pie shells, cold treats (ice creams and popsicles), baking goods, vegetables and then miscellaneous containers with food in them.  This is a test to see if they can keep it that way :).  I told them I would send spies ;).  I know I have some readers that will be coming to visit soon....  I was pretty impressed with myself, and actually how fast it defrosted.

We both had showers, and then off on an eye glasses shopping adventure.  We went to Lakeline Vision, which was recommended by a lady from MbMell's Neighbourhood.  We walked in and it reminded us of focal point very much.  We had no idea how the insurance worked here, but MbMell, pulled the card out of her wallet, and hoped for the best.  Only had to call DD once to get a little more information that we didn't know.  They were like, we will try and figure this out, but in the meantime please browse the frames, and we will let you know.  So we browsed for a while, finding 2 pairs of sunglasses and a pair of regular glasses without knowing what coverage they had.  Finally after what felt like a long time (have no idea how long), they finally came back with the insurance coverage.  It was 2 packages with 2 pages each of what was covered. 

needing the texas sun to see her eyes through the lenses.

We then got to see Marcus (I could be wrong with his name but it is too late to ask MbMell what his name was).  He looked at the 2 packages, laughed and said... you can pick what ever you would like, as well as you have the 2 pair plan.... (hence the 2 separate packages).  So to sum it up, DD has great coverage through work and mell walked out of there ordering 3 pairs of glasses, for less than we are used to paying for one.  During this talk with the optician, he asked me where I was from because I said GarAge funny.  He went on to ask about Canadian Health care, cost of living as well as Canadian Gun control and wildlife, as well as what I thought of "American Administration".  We had a great time.  We also found out that american's get eye exams at 6 months, and if you do it before a year, it is free (so they do have something for free).  Needless to say, B and T are going for Eye Exams on Thursday, only a few years later than the american recommendation, but earlier than those usually do in Canada.  We had a great time there, and can't wait to hear how much MbMell loves her new glasses.  (I really love glasses shopping!)

I tried on some too!

From there we went to the Domain for lunch.  We went to Second Bar + Kitchen.  The food was very good, and building was very nice, and such high ceilings.  We had an awesome adult meal. 

After that we went and did a little shopping.  Lola buying something from CB2 for hosting parties, as well as some clothes from one of her favourites Athleta.  The 2 ladies that helped up remembered us from the last time (May) we had been there, and sure had a good time laughing at how we interact with each other.  We got asked 3 times in that store if we were sisters.  Also i was trying on a shirt and capri pants, as i am coming out, i said "wow i love this shirt, i wonder if it comes in burgundy", as we walk out of the change room we are both trying on jeans, and what does mbMell have on, but the same shirt in burgundy.  That sure made us all laugh.

we tried on a lot of clothes.

We came out wearing the same outfit (no prior conversation about what we were trying on first)

We headed home to make the promised smoothies and pick up brown puppies as promised to help get T out the door this morning, before going to school to pick up the Twinkies.  Once arriving at the school, the twinkies were outside, and their new Pre-K teacher was so excited to meet Auntie Gwen as we all think T may have been talking about me all day with her, well and also his Sloth Shirt from Texas State Aquarium.  Every other teacher we saw as we were leaving also mentioned that T had told them about his shirt today... I am surprised he would take it off this evening.

Before getting out of the school, T and B had to stop in the Front lobby of the school to each flip through a book in the coolest kids furniture. 

We went to Yardhouse for supper just the 4 of us, as DD had to work late.  It was good, the kids were a little crazy, but still a very good last supper with the twinkies.

Back to the house, where the twinkies got me to read 2 more books, and then to bed they went.  MBMell and I went to Book Club.  It was neat to meet all the neighbourhood friends MbMell has made, and I think they were excited to meet me too.

We stayed way too late, and then came home and finished off the ice cream.  Tomorrow is my last day, and we are all a little sad, as well as will only see the Twinkies for like 20 minutes in the morning, but we had a great visit, and MbMell and I still have a good chunk of the day to hang out, and go to a fundraising dinner where her other friend is speaking.  It should be good.

Sad to leave tomorrow, but missing AA too.

Good night. (Morning is going to come real soon.)