San Antonio

In June we took our first "real" family vacation.  We finally made it to San Antonio.

What a fun trip.  We loved the house we rented, and it worked out perfectly - Colin's parents and sisters all came with us, too.

The first day it felt a little warm in the house, but we didn't think much of it as we unpacked everything.   Colin's family was stuck in south texas trying to get a rental car after their car broke down.   Turns out the AC wasn't cooling properly.   By the next day, it was fixed.

The kids couldn't wait to get in the pool, so they got right in without suits not long after we arrived.

The drive there was good - all three boys are a dream in the van.  They get to eat, color, and watch movies.   Life couldn't be better for them!   Maggie, on the other hand, screamed.   ALOT.  Not in a sad, pathetic way.   More like a demanding/mad scream.   We went through a million snacks, but she wasn't really happy until we got there. 

 

Loved having our "own" pool.  

It made us really want one in our yard.   

Well, want one in the future when Maggie and Charlie can both swim well, too.

And when $50,000 falls from the sky.

 

We went to the zoo ...

Ladybug

The train ride was really fun. 

That afternoon we went to Gloria and Holly's house.   We had a great time - swimming, visiting, and eating a delicious dinner!  However, I took not a single picture : ( But here are a couple we got of the boys when we arrived at their house. 

Love that Jackson still had his marker in hand.

And Cooper had fallen asleep holding his sandwich.  The best part was when we woke them up, Cooper immediately lifted his sandwich and took a bite. 

He didn't miss a beat.

On Monday we went to SeaWorld.   It was a great day.   It started not so great - when Charlie commented on the way (literally pulling onto the street in front of sea world) that his ear hurt.   We stopped by Walgreens and picked up some swimmers ear, assuming that was the problem because we had been swimming.   He has tubes.   This was not a good idea.   Long story short, I put the drops in his ear (like an idiot) and it really hurt him.   For about 2 hours he could barely cry, he was in so much pain.   Finally, I looked over at him while Colin was holding him (he kept trying to fall asleep because he was in so much pain) ... he had goop running out of his ear.  So, his tube had been blockec (he had an infection and the pressure was really hurting).  When i put the drops in, it stung really bad.   The only good thing was that it opened up the tube and all the gunk drained.   Poor, poor Charlie.   He was good for the rest of the day, but man.   I felt TERRIBLE.   Still do.   But I feel like I need to record this so I can continue to feel bad for the rest of my life.  HA.

 Poor Charlie.

And Jackson was throwing a fit because it was too bright.

 

 

Jackson, Colin, Cynthia, and Kevin rode Atlantis.  

I can't stop laughing at Jackson's face in this picture.  

On our way across the park, we stopped at Elmo Rocks.   Charlie was enamored.   Jackson was a little too cool for it.   But everyone else enjoyed cooling off for a bit.

Cooper, Jackson, Colin, Kevin, and I rode a water ride together - can't remember the name.  We told Cooper we wouldn't get too wet.   He was adamant that he didn't want to do it, but we knew he would love it.   And we were wrong.   We got really, really wet.   Like I had to buy a new shirt wet.  But we were right about Cooper - he LOVED it. 

Lastly, we saw shamu. 

 We were really, really hot.  

It really is an incredible show.  

The next day we took kids to a mini-golf course.  

Later that day we headed to the river walk.   We took a boat tour.   Our tour guide, Juan, kept us laughing.   The kids loved it.  After that, dinner, and then ice cream.  IT was a fun evening, and no one fell in the river, which was great... Considering the walkway is rather narrow and no rails.  

 I' m so thankful we got to take this trip.  We had a great time, and it wouldn't have been possible to do half of what we did without Kevin, Cynthia, Alison, and Courtney.   6 adults to 4 kids is alot easier than 2 adults to 4 kids : )    Especially when it came to Sea World, getting food, swimming, well .... actually pretty much everything was so much easier with their help.   I know the boys had a great time.   I hope they remember some of it, at least.   We're looking forward to the next vacation. 

Aunt Trudy, maybe Colorado Springs?  : )