Roadtrip Summer '09

Road Trip!!!!

One of my favorite things to do is take a road trip with Ruben! No matter how many hours we spend together couped up in the car, we always have good music and great conversation to keep us entertained! On July 1st Ruben and I set out for Kerrville TX where the Jenson Family Reunion is held every summer.

On the road again!

Day one: Chicago to Lawton, OK [15.5 hours]

Unfortunately the Inn of the Hills Hotel doesn't allow dogs, so Ruben and I decided that we would take the dogs with us as far as Oklahoma, and leave them with Rubens mom, Catalina. As usual the dogs were great on the trip! They're old hats at this by now! :)

About 5 hours down the road is St. Louis. It's our first big city on the trip, and since Ruben was driving I took the opportunity to snap a few photos.

Isn't Nikon cute?

They're taking a nap together in the back, while Canon and I hung out in the front. :)

Day Two: Lawton, OK to Dallas, TX to Kerrville, TX [about 8 hrs.]

On our way down we decided to catch up with my friend Leslie and her son Mason for lunch. It was a short visit, but was so great to see them! Mason is so cute!
He sat next to Ruben like a big boy!

Here, Leslie is enjoying a tasty burger from Fudruckers. I haven't been there in years and it was a tasty burger.

Here we are all together. Leslie is very pregnant with baby no.2, Mallory. She's due July 14!

After lunch, Ruben and I killed some time shopping at some thrift stores in Irving. With out even trying we found a strip of them! I love thrift store shopping it's like looking for buried treasure. :) At this Salvation Army, Ruben found an awesome print that was framed AND half off. We, of course, got it and brought it back with us!

After that we stopped by Ruben's brother, Angel's house and hung out with them for a little while. Ruben quickly got his nephew Michael and niece Hannah involved in video game. :)

The trip from Dallas to Kerrville took longer than we thought and we got into Kerrville around 11pm that Thursday evening.

The next day was full of Jenson reunion festivities!

The usual cut-throat domino's game.

Nap time. :) (aren't they cute!)

Time with the cousins laying out and swimming in the pool.

And general frivolity!

Friday night was cousins bowling night, which started off the Jenson Family Olympic Games.

Zach got his best score ever!

Jared and his wife Hillary are always enthusiastic to kick some butt!
I just mingled and took some pics. I'm not very good and bowling. :)
Look at Kyle, he's getting to be so handsome!



Matthew was the winner! Stealing the trophy from Jared's win over the past 2 years!

Here, Mom is playing video games with the boys! He first time using the wii. lol she was really funny!

Here we are Saturday, getting ready for the HELL tournament! I always suck! At least this year I was in the final round!

Me and my beautiful cousin, Heather!

Always loving to get her photo taken. Aren't they cute!

More games.

The weekend flew by, and on Sunday morning we were making our way back to Oklahoma.

I do love that Texas scenery! Mesquite trees bring back memories.


On our way to OK, we stopped in Granberry, TX to see Rubens other brother, Rick and their family.

And, of course, Ruben does the uncle thing and initiated a video game with the niece Allie and nephew, Ethan.



Ethan beat his uncle Ruben! lol



The family fixed us burgers for lunch.

We has so much fun visiting them!

But we had to head on down the road, all the while enjoying a great Texas sunset!

Shortly after the sun went down, we were attacked by a swarm of bugs. Within miniutes our windshield was covered!

On Monday, we spent the day with Catalina at her house. Ruben had hurt his back during the trip and we decided we need to give him a day to rest before heading back into Chicago

The dogs had a great time hanging out with Catalina during the weekend.

Here we are..."On the Road Again!" Look at Ruben's beard! He hasn't shaved since we left home. :)

We spent the day on Tuesday taking turns driving back. The dogs were doing great, but during the last hour, everyone was ready to get out of the car.

Here, Nikon seems to be saying "are we there yet?" His paws are on the framed print we brought home from TX.

At about 8:30pm on Tuesday July 7th we made it home. It was such a great week!

I still have one more Texas adventure this month when I head down to Ft. Stockton for my 10 year high school reunion. More pics and stories to come!