The Big Day... The Days After

After the wedding, the limo whisked us off to our retreat for the weekend - The Mansion at Judges' Hill. This is a gorgeous and fancy hotel right in the heart of downtown Austin. Our room was gorgeous and very welcoming to a tired new couple!!

On Sunday morning, we had made arrangements for The Winfield to have breakfast for our families. Also joining them would be Mike, Kara, Dylan and Kara's parents, Ron & Suzanne since they had all stayed at the Inn Saturday night. We just felt like it would be the last time many of them would see other for a long time (or ever). They had all come from Mississippi, Virginia, Georgia, Massachusetts and other parts of Texas. So, we felt we could at least give them a nice, relaxing breakfast before they all began their journeys home.  

What we hadn't told anyone attending that breakfast is that we would be making a surprise appearance! As difficult as it was to get up early on Sunday morning, we did it because we wanted to see everyone before they left. It just would not have felt right letting them all disperse across the country without seeing them again!! So, The Winfield knew we were coming... but no one else did! And our surpirse was a success!

After enjoying breakfast and saying some sad family goodbyes, Brad and I went to work loading up our cars with decor and wedding items left from the night before. After a couple of hours of organizing and loading, our Boston friends decided to take advantage of a small patch of Bluebonnets nearby. Unfortunately, it hasn't been a great year for them because of the drought conditions, so even a small patch is a find!! If you grew up here or spent any time in Texas during your childhood, you have pictures in the Bluebonnets... so an opportunity couldn't be passed for Dylan!! 

It was short-lived because Dylan (and Kara's) legs started to itch but at least we tried!!! Then it was time to say the final goodbyes as the Hines headed out to see some more Austin friends before returning to Boston the next day and the Burches hit the road back to Dallas. These two families are really like my own family, so it is always hard to say goodbye... we never know when we will be able to see each other next.

We left as well, got some lunch and went back to our hotel to rest for bit. Much to our surprise, we arrived to a room that had been prepared especially for us!! 

After a nice rest, we went to the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum and saw a movie at the IMAX Theater. We chose to see "Tornado Alley" which was a very interesting movie and the IMAX experience was worth it! It was also only about 45 minutes long which proved to be just right because Brad and both began to get a little sleepy!!! 

After some more rest at the hotel, we made reservations at a fancy restaraunt in downtown Austin called Eddie V's. It was definitely a splurge and one of the most expensive dinner we will ever have but it was YUUUUUMMMMYYY!!! As the Hostess took us to our table, she asked if we were celebrating anything and we told them we were newly married. So, for the rest of the night our Server called us "Mr & Mrs Becker" and they even gave us a dessert on the house! It was very intimate with such low lighting that the servers carried small flashlights so people can see enough to check how their steaks are cooked! It was one of the best steaks I have ever had and a wonderful evening. Maybe this could become an anniversary tradition for us!?!

We had both taken Monday off from work, so that morning there was ONE MORE surprise in store... this one was for Brad. I had arranged for us to have a Couple's Massage in our room before check-out. This was Brad's first massage and I think he really enjoyed it- I know I did and I certainly needed it!! As we began to check out, it was hard to leave our little hotel paradise and return to the world. It had been a FABULOUS weekend.

As we made our way home, we saw an 18-wheeler with a sense of humor. Behind is large load of construction equipment was this...