Photo Adventure: Downtown Austin in late December

Today my parents are celebrating their 23rd wedding anniversary, so we ventured around downtown Austin together and got lunch at the Driskill before I photographed them in front of 2 Austin murals of mom's choice. We also gave ourselves a bit of a tour of Saint Edwards university as well as the Texas State cemetery.
I need to back up this operation though and tell you the beginning of the story.
Dad likes to hold people in suspense, and so he refused to tell me where we were going, except that is was picturesque and outdoors. He then pulls up at the Texas State cemetery. They're celebrating their anniversary. And dad thought a cemetery would be a good idea. Did I mention it was freezing cold? Freezing. Yesterday it was 75 degrees and I was wearing shorts. Today it was 40 degrees and I was shivering while wearing a thermal long sleeve under a long sleeve, all under a hoodie. (I am bough to just beg central Texas weather to quit being so moody and make up it's mind about what is going on, because all this wishy washy, warm then freezing cold 12 hours later business isn't floating my goat). Ridiculous. So ridiculous that I refused to take pictures.
I told dad that he had to make up for his outlandish idea of fun with a warm drink in a warm room for my mom, so we headed to the Driskill Hotel for lunch. I enjoyed a Texas pecan waffle before wandering about and enjoying (and photographing) the residual Christmas decor.

Next we went to the "you're my butter half" mural. 

Followed by the "I love you so much" mural located at Jo's coffee, which was decorated for Christmas. 

Our next stop was Saint Edwards university, which was empty due to Christmas. We just assumed that it would be all locked up, but we found an open door so we headed inside one of the buildings. 

I then found an open door so we went in, and here's what this beautiful red door looks like from the inside. (ignore the reflection of the light on the door) 

The inside wasn't utterly elaborate, but it was nice with it's curves. 

And, of course, throughout the day there were all sorts of fun little things to observe and capture. 

This tree has a face. I find that exciting.

I guess that's about it. I have to admit that this whole post is just pretty humdrum compared to the beach and the mountains, but really our time downtown was fun and calm. 

But mostly my point here is to wish my mom and dad a Happy Anniversary. They're pretty cute together and awesome parents. I'll be super cliche for another minute and tell yall that I hope to one day have a relationship that resembles theirs. They are calm, loving communicative, responsible, and collaborative people, and I appreciate that.