Destination: Driftwood

We took a break from our normal Austin routines and headed to the Kaye Kompound in Driftwood for summertime fun. The Cohans joined us on their way to CYJ. The Gildens joined us also for a few days. And then we just stuck around for a full week after to get the most out of our vacation with Nana and Zayde.

Spencer didn't want to take a nap at home on Friday because he was ready to go NOW.

Game on!

It's a good thing Nana and Zayde thought ahead about their space and how it could be used.

Our first evening greeted us with a beautiful red glow to set the mood for a great week ahead!

We went in Nana and Zayde's pool at least once every day we were there. Our first full day included TWO pool parties, a whole lot of cousins, and tons of smiles and laughter. It was great to watch the little ones get more and more comfortable and confident in the pool with each additional experience.
(DISCLAIMER: This blog post has A LOT of pool pictures. Every single one of them is obviously worth it. Love, the humble blogger)


Nana bought several new pool toys and inflatables to increase our pool joy during the summer. I don't know if she intended on them all being inflated immediately, but sure enough they were and were a big hit!

Digital technology provided some fascinating entertainment:

Some folks had a LOT of fun with the inflatables.

I love Gabi's form here.

These pictures mostly speak for themselves and the fun had together. (I'll caption some in case that helps certain blog audience members.)

Shayna, Aunt Syssa, Ethan

Mira, Uncle Jon, Jacob

Ethan and Spencer loved the watermelons and inflatable animal friends.

The kiddos enjoyed playing in the spa as well (unheated).

Gabi, Jacob, Mira

whale, Jacob, Gabi, dolphin

Good times and happy people!

Spencer and Mommy

Daddy and Ethan

Ethan and Mira

Spencer, Mommy, Aunt Sandi, Shayna

Mira, Aunt Sandi, Shayna

Aunt Syssa thought she could simply take a nice picture with Joey and Ethan... and then they turned into 3- and 4-year-old boys.

Team Cohen loved the pool snuggles:

Little Spenceman wanted to play and splash and jump and blow bubbles in the water, so he needed some help from his big friends.

fun with Mommy

learning to blow bubbles

Nana's turn with Spencer

Daddy rounds out the group of adults (for this turn) providing free entertainment to the ecstatic toddler.

After dinner that night, Aunt Syssa was surprised with some cupcakes for her upcoming birthday. Then, Nana surprised the rest of us with an unlimited amount of sugar options to help decorate the cupcakes including the brightest blue icing anyone's ever seen.



By the time Aunt Syssa got to her phone the next morning, she found a fantastic collection of bromance selfies.

And because "Why not?" we celebrated Aunt Syssa's birthday again.

Some of us MAY have gotten carried away with the decorations.

After the Cohan kids departed to start their CYJ adventures, we departed for Camp Ben McCulloch, a beautiful area 10 minutes from the Kaye Kompound. With an "interesting" history having been a reunion camp for Confederate veterans, it had a gorgeous, clear creek that we could wade in and explore. We loved it so much, we returned the next day!

close cousins

close sisters

Zayde and Aunt Syssa help Gabi, Joey, and Ethan float in the stream

Zayde, Ethan, and Gabi have water snuggles.

One can never have too many snuggles!

Uncle Craig and Spencer

Aunt Syssa and Ethan

I feel like there has to be a nursery rhyme out there about this. "There were 5 in the tub..."

True Love (17 years later):

We returned to Camp Ben McCulloch the next day for more wading and exploring, and this time we found tons of fish AND a rope swing in a deeper spot along the creek.

Jon checked out the rope swing first, and then he helped some big kids navigate it, each at his/her own comfort level.

pardon the cackle

special aunt time!

When an impressive storm came through in the afternoon and stalled our swim time, we had to distract ourselves creatively.

(not sure who was watching the kids at this point)

The storm cleared, so in the pool we went!

Joey and Ethan became super comfortable jumping in all by themselves.

Zayde and Spencer spent time together that afternoon, first scoping out foxes then jumping, splashing, kicking, and floating.

With everyone relying on noodles alone without adult assistance, this was a big moment for big guy on the left.

At bedtime, Aunt Syssa somehow got lucky (?) enough to offer bedtime stories to 5 individual kids who each picked 5 individual books. The toddlers lost focus though and took reading matters into their own hands.

Since we had clearly had plenty of time in the Driftwood pool, it was time to go to another pool.

Never fear, we were back to the backyard pool in the afternoon. Phew. The bromance was back in action.

(Note that they pop back up in opposite order as going in.)

By the next morning, the Gildens' Driftwood vacation had ended, so we had Nana and Zayde (and the pool) to ourselves. More pool = more opportunity for obsessive pictures of course.

First Zayde throws Ethan; then, he comforts him.

Then, Ethan finds a way to successfully bother Zayde's relaxation time.

On Wednesday afternoon, we visited the Farmers Market in Dripping Springs. In addition to great samples and sights, we enjoyed kettle corn and listening to some live music.

One morning, we braved the heat to hike and explore Dripping Springs Ranch Park.


Our time away was drawing towards a close. Some snuggles and rest time were in order after a long and great vacation.

On our last visit to the pool, Daddy and Ethan got pretty creative with their moves. At the beginning of the week, Ethan would only let himself swim if he was confident it was shallow enough for him to stand. By the end of the week, well -



Thanks for the fun, Driftwood! See you soon.