The Fun in the Pines Was Not Lost On Us!

(I did not proof-read this post... please don't judge! thank you!)

Evans Family vaca time!! Whoo-ooo, Whoo-ooo, Whoo-ooo... 

Earlier today we returned back to the Rock from the deep piney woods of Central Texas. In fact, it is not far from the deep part of the piney woods that made big news last year about this time when the Bastrop State Park nearly burned to the ground. Thankfully, the beautiful and oh.so.fun. Lost Pines Resort was spared! Had it not been then our family might have well just missed out on one of the most fun weekends yet... truly, the fun was not lost on us, or in the piney woods of Bastrop, TX!

It all started in the wee hours of Thursday morning when Justin rushed off toe the Doggie Hotel to drop of M&M and headed back home with breakfast and coffee in hand... does vacation start any better than that? Get rid of your dogs... check! Breakfast that you don't prepare...check! And coffee, served by a super cute barista of a hubby...check! Triple check!

We loaded up the car and headed out not long after we scarfed our breakfasts, respectively. In true Cox family (aka high maintenance) style we were packed to the roof... but not on the roof, thankfully! And we didn't forget the stinkers...always, a good thing! Kid #1...check! Kid #2...check!

In just a few short minutes... really just short of an hour... we were there! But compared to our more recent trips to Houston and to Corpus, Bastrop seemed like going to the grocery store and back! So in just under an hour we were there... and we were ready to par-tay!!!

Kk and Albi were already there and waiting, having spent the previous night out there themselves... and they had it all scoped out. They were ready to get those kiddos in their suits and hit the pool! WAY... back in 2009, Memorial Day, KK and Albi took Justin, Caden and I to Lost Pines... Caden was only 5 months old! We had great time that weekend so we knew we were in for an extra special treat this time around... with the cool-ish fall weather and the low crowds... we were hoping for perfection... and we very near got it...

The first day proved to be just what we had hoped at the pool...

Kaki thought it was mighty fine...

And my dudes were always on the prowl... food, balls, drinks... FUN!

And me... YES... me! I was there!

And Kk and Albi were there too, but let's just say that those particular photos weren't quite blog-worthy, amen? I might not have gotten to go on another family fun trip if I posted them! But don't worry... they'll pop up again later! I made a more concerted effort this vacation to snap some pics... granted they were all taken with my phone, but it's progress!

After lots of fun in the sun we headed back up to our rooms for naps... but Chade got to hang out with the big kids and did a little iPad watching... 

And Daddy just looked cute... while catching up on some stuff...

During naps, Uncle Josh and Aunt Emily got into town from Nac! Whaaaa-hoooo! We were so excited they were there and we charted out our plan...

Dinner...

Games...

Starting with Washers and Horseshoes...

But Kaki decided that those rusty, heavy horseshoes and the unfinished sheen of the washers weren't really her bag... so she and KK headed off to explore!

Meanwhile back at the washer pit... Uncle Josh was showing us all how it is done...

It's as easy as...

1...

2... 3...

You try Caden...

Albi decided that his girls needed some accompaniment...

After all, it can be hard on a girl to take all of those BIIIIIIGGGGG steps!

Next up... shuffle board... 

I didn't get many pics of this action because I was chasing around the wild child...

Also known as the purse snatcher...

She is one BUSY girl... so shuffle board in the bar didn't last long for the Kaki-pants! So I took her and the Chade back to the room for bath and bedtime!

Snooze... nothing like sleep on vacation...

Next morning morning snuggles...

Kaki girl was worn out and slept in a bit, but once she was up and the boys were off to play golf, she was ready and raring to go! GIRL DAY!!

Even her sweet baby doll Penelope made it to breakfast with us that morning... sweet Nell!

And Aunt Emily and Kaki (the dog lovers of our crew) LOVED hanging out with the hotel dog, Haus... he was HUGE, and fluffy and furry and really so very cute! Especially since I wasn't the one have the schlep up his hair every day! :)

After breakfast and a little exploring KK and Aunt Emily had their adventurous hearts set on touring the property via bike... and so Kaki and I went over to snap a few pics and wish them farewell on their journey! 

Aunt Emily was a natural... turns out it really is just like riding a bike...

Kaki was doing her Mckayla Maroney face...#notimpressed Aunt Emily!

But I was!! Aunt Emily and KK were pros... look at them...

After a bike ride... a little room cleaning... and 9 holes of golf for the Chade... we hit the pool! First, Aunt Emily and Caden had to stop-off and visit the horse... and take the obligatory "horse pic!"

Later on in the afternoon the boys joined us for a little family SLIDE fun!! 

OH BOY!!

Are y'all ready for the greatest pictures ever???!! Everyone was a great sport and indulged us in our picture taking, slide downing, pool splashing FUN! Everyone took a turn...

Drum roll...

Please...

Chade and Daddy...

Caden tried earlier by himself... not.a.fan! A little too much action for the little guy... his nose enema was not so fun!

Next up... Aunt Emily, who manages to look like she dancing as she glides into the water!

Uncle Josh... Joe Cool... laying back and taking life as it comes... 

Lou-Lou... she went twice and loved it! The thrill seeker that she is! :)

Uncle Josh is getting cute... belly slide...

And his brother in law is going to keep him humble!! SMACK!!

And me... sportin' the token OH THIS IS SO FUN Mommy face! 

Hunky hubs' turn to get cute...

Sweet Kk! The first time she went to screamed the whole way down... it was hilarious! Albi said he could hear her from across the pool! She loves a good thrill!

And Albi... the I don't like carousels or see-saws or heights... he did it... and loved it! I think?! :)

We had the slide to ourselves and just kept going and going and going! In this case, the kiddie fun was definitely being enjoyed WAY more by the adults! We loved it!

If we weren't racing down the slide or sitting pool side sipping yummy drinks and eating scrumptious food, we were taking it easy on the lazy river! It was amazing! Justin and I decided that instead of pools people should build lazy rivers in their backyards... I mean think about it... around the playscape, between the trees, watch out for the grill, and hop out at the back door... sounds good to me! :)

This girl found vacation life pretty great...

 She insisted on only drinking her drinks through a straw...pool diva in the making! yikes!

On Friday night we celebrated Aunt Emily's 21st birthday! :) Okay so maybe she's 21 and come change... but nonetheless it was her celebration and we were excited to be a part of it! KK and Albi treated us to a yummy dinner... one of the best we'd had! And such fun for all of us!

A little round the table action...

The three stooges...

Okay, so they may be too cute for stooges, but these three did have a fun time this weekend! Aunt Emily got WAY more of an education about all things Baylor Band than she ever wanted to! But she pretended to love it and that is what makes Caden tick!! :)

A girl and her Daddy...

And KK's phone... which is never too far out of reach!

A boy and his Mommy! :)

And the two who started it all...

Well done you two... well done!

No birthday celebration is complete without a candle...

And a perfectly-timed action shot of the blow!

Group shot... minus our photog, Justin... fun times!!

After a yummy dinner, fantastic S'more making in the outdoor firepit and a fun night of Baylor Bears watching and Aunt Emily celebrating... we woke up the next morning ready for a hike around the grounds! And I use hike loosely... :-)

But we looked pretty official...right?!

The ants go marching two-by-two hurrah, hurrah... anyone?

After our morning walk/hike we were just sweaty enough to head to the pool for our last day of fun in the sun...

And boy did we ever have fun...

And got just enough sun to give us each the glow we would need for family pictures later that evening!

YES! You read that right... professional family pictures! I know, first a blog with actual pictures from an Evans family vaca and then professional pictures to boot! Call us butter...

More on the prof pics later... I'm sure I'll be sharing some when we get them! I'll give you some hints... navy, mustard and a boy who fell in love with his photographer!

After pictures we headed to chow down on some yummy bar food... nachos, wings and the like...

And then our little fam hit up the ice cream shop for our night cap, while the others did the same thing on the other side of the hotel with the real stuff! :)

Nothing says Happy Vaca like a cup of hand-dipped Blue Bell!

After our night cap we transitioned to bed like we did in between all of our vaca events... with the long jaunt down the hallway... Caden running literal circles around Kaki and us saying, "Slow down Caden... Come on, Kaki! Don't tackle Kaki, Caden. Come on, Kaki! Come ON!"

Last night Caden and I decided to have a little slumber party and sleep in the same bed... and I think Daddy was pretty excited about that himself... bed to himself! And about half-way into the night I was re-thinking my decision... but regardless of feet in the back I love snuggling with this little man more than anything! Someday Kaki will have to join us and then I'll be surrounded by feet and be none the happier! :)

Today we woke up and had one last breakfast before we all departed to our separate corners of Texas... East, Central, South...

Kaki was thankful we were going by car and by...

horse... she was born for such a time as this... :-)

One more picture to sum up our weekend in Bastrop...

Caden and his buddy Haus... the big, friendly, fluffy dog of Lost Pines! 

What a treat! What a fantastic way to spend a long-weekend... family, fun, new friends, fabulous food, fruity drinks and festive celebrations! We couldn't have imagined any better than it was! Thank you Kk and Albi for hosting us this weekend! We had such fun and enjoyed spending time all together as a family! We love you two!! And you too, Aunt Emily and Uncle Josh! Always so fun to hang out with our hip, cool and silly Aunt and Uncle from the REAL Piney Woods!! :-) Love y'all!