Nick and I packed our bags and headed south to find sunshine for Christmas this year. We spent the holiday with his family in Austin – biking, running and being dorky tourists. It was my first Christmas away from my family, and though I know starting new traditions is a good thing, it was sad to not be at home-home watching Grandpa inhale three platefuls of lutefisk, singing Joy to the World at church while Mom played the organ, eating smorbakkels, and partaking on our annual Christmas Eve tour, all of us piled into Dad’s truck.
That said, we had a wonderful time in Austin! We soaked up weeks’ worth of sunshine while biking and running around the city, ate really tasty food (king and snow crab Christmas Eve! brisket Christmas Day!), visited the capitol and the Alamo, and got as much Mason time as we could (Nick’s adorable nephew).
Here’s our trip in photos… thank you, Mary and Amanda + James, for your welcoming hospitality! Can’t wait for our next visit 🙂
there’s a first time for everything… Nick bought headphones out of a vending machine at MSP.
getting ready for a Christmas Eve day ride at Mellow Johnny’swith espresso and Kosmic Kombucha.
the SUN! no lie, it hasn’t been out in MSP for most of December.
refueling post-ride at Bacon… they were out of chicken and waffles, but the bacon… so good.
a super sunny Christmas Day run along the boardwalk… got my speeds shorts fix!
and when you can’t be home for Christmas, you skype! Niece Finley and hound Zoey even chatted (though not pictured).
cloudy during our ride, but it cleared midday… 70 degrees has never felt so nice!
post-ride eats… chicken and waffles and 24 Diner! can you believe Nick ate all that…?!
being tourists at the capitol.
soaking up more sun during a little nap in the grass.
i saw this graffiti during our last visit, but we didn’t have time to stop, so it was a must-do this visit (along with an iced turbo from Jo’s Coffee). no one else I’d rather be a dorky tourist with ♥
one of the best tacos I’ve ever had… from a tiny drive-thru called Lolita’s Café in San Marcos.
being dorky tourists again at the Alamo. Minnesota cold all day… i was FREEZING.
Looks like an amazing trip and just what the heart and soul needs before enduring a few more months of winter in the midwest. Thanks for soaking up some sun for me 😉
What an incredible vacation and Christmas! I would love to travel to a warm place over the holidays once the boys are grown up. I wouldn’t miss the snow and cold at all. I had to google lutefisk…oh my, that sounds, ummm…different.
I love it! I totally know how hard it is to leave traditions behind but what a fun adventure you had! It will be hard when that day comes for me, I know it. Glad you got to travel some place a little warmer and got to see the sunshine. 🙂 You and Nick look so frickin’ adorably cute! I love it! Merry Xmas friend!
the graffiti photo is adorable. new christmas traditions can be so great, but also hard and a little emotional. glad you were greeted with sunshine in tx!
This is getting me excited for our trip tomorrow! Looks like you had a blast (and lots of good food! yum, good ideas 🙂 Oh and funny – I just was looking at the graffiti “I love you so much” yesterday, maybe I’ll have to go!
I loved Austin when I went many years ago. In fact I got a tattoo when I was there. Pretty sure I was 24. Lol! Super fun touristy stuff is my favorite. I hope you asked about the basement at the Alamo…
Looks like you had an amazing Christmas! It can definitely be hard being away from home, but making new memories (and riding bikes outside in the sunshine!!) can be fun too 🙂
What a fun Christmas!! I love Austin and San Antonio!!! I am so glad you guys got some sunshine and some good outdoor exercise! Happy 2015! Wishing you lots of FAST miles!!!
I’ve never been to Austin but I’d love to. I’m sure it felt great getting out of the cold. After 8+ years together, we are finally starting to split holidays. It is different and tough sometimes to ‘give’ a little but always fun starting new traditions as we become a new little family.
Such adorable photos here, Erin!! Looks like you had a great time in TX over Christmas:) I’m extremely jealous that you got to feel the WARM sun AND right your bike outside!! That must have felt amazinggg.
[…] Building my (winter) running base, soul searching (#thirdlifecrisis), those nameless moments, the #24HourRelayForAaron, yoga at the James J. Hill house and Christmas in Austin. […]
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Looks like an amazing trip and just what the heart and soul needs before enduring a few more months of winter in the midwest. Thanks for soaking up some sun for me 😉
Looks like an amazing trip, how fun! Mason is super adorable 🙂
What an incredible vacation and Christmas! I would love to travel to a warm place over the holidays once the boys are grown up. I wouldn’t miss the snow and cold at all. I had to google lutefisk…oh my, that sounds, ummm…different.
I love it! I totally know how hard it is to leave traditions behind but what a fun adventure you had! It will be hard when that day comes for me, I know it. Glad you got to travel some place a little warmer and got to see the sunshine. 🙂 You and Nick look so frickin’ adorably cute! I love it! Merry Xmas friend!
Looks like a fun Christmas!! I love all the lululemon in this post 😉
the graffiti photo is adorable. new christmas traditions can be so great, but also hard and a little emotional. glad you were greeted with sunshine in tx!
Looks like a fun visit! Sun!!!!! The riverwalk looks beautiful as well.
This is getting me excited for our trip tomorrow! Looks like you had a blast (and lots of good food! yum, good ideas 🙂 Oh and funny – I just was looking at the graffiti “I love you so much” yesterday, maybe I’ll have to go!
I loved Austin when I went many years ago. In fact I got a tattoo when I was there. Pretty sure I was 24. Lol! Super fun touristy stuff is my favorite. I hope you asked about the basement at the Alamo…
Merry Christmas!
10 degrees in Green Bay…and reading this I briefly felt some of that TX warmth :-). Happy Holidays!!
Looks like you had an amazing Christmas! It can definitely be hard being away from home, but making new memories (and riding bikes outside in the sunshine!!) can be fun too 🙂
Happy New Year!!
What a fun Christmas!! I love Austin and San Antonio!!! I am so glad you guys got some sunshine and some good outdoor exercise! Happy 2015! Wishing you lots of FAST miles!!!
I’ve never been to Austin but I’d love to. I’m sure it felt great getting out of the cold. After 8+ years together, we are finally starting to split holidays. It is different and tough sometimes to ‘give’ a little but always fun starting new traditions as we become a new little family.
Looks great Erin, and great photos as usual 🙂 Pat has bought headphones from that vending machine at MSP too!
Such adorable photos here, Erin!! Looks like you had a great time in TX over Christmas:) I’m extremely jealous that you got to feel the WARM sun AND right your bike outside!! That must have felt amazinggg.
[…] Building my (winter) running base, soul searching (#thirdlifecrisis), those nameless moments, the #24HourRelayForAaron, yoga at the James J. Hill house and Christmas in Austin. […]