'till next year...

It's always so hard to leave and head back home. We got up this morning about 7-ish and finished packing and loading the car. We finally got off about 10:00. Jason and Cathy were headed back to Dallas to meet the youth group from their church for a trip to Six Flags, so we all stayed together until San Marcos. About 4:00 after looking around the outlet mall together with everyone, we said our goodbyes and headed on to Austin. We stopped at out hotel long enough to check in and get our stuff up to the room before heading off to meet Scott's parents and a family friend for dinner at the Macaroni Grill. After dinner I took the kids swimming in the indoor pool while Scott put Mandy to bed. Tomorrow Scott has a meeting in the morings then we are meeting Sue and Allan for lunch. After that we are heading home!

Here are a few more pics from our great week at the beach:

Grace and Mandy sitting on the balcony staring out at the water.This is one of my favorites from the week...Thomas looking too cool in his surfer shirt! Mandy loved the beach, she would run right into the water and sit down.

Parker looking cool in his new surfer shirt!

Blessings,

Leslie

Get on the boat....Banana Boat!

We had seen these passing by out in the water for the last couple of days, but today they were close to the condo. So....we all went for a ride! Well, everyone except Scott and Mandy. A guy on a jet ski pulls this big banana boat thing behind him while we all bounced around like crazy. It was a blast. You can jump off into the water if you want they circle back around and pick you up. Cathy, Grace and I had decided to stay planted firmly on the boat when we hit a giant wave and our minds were changed for us! The three of us were all bounced right off and into the water! I grabbed hold of Grace as we went in and managed to hold onto her the whole time. She was a real trooper about the whole thing. The jet ski guy was right there when we came up and put her up on the jet ski with him while I Cathy and I made our way back to the boat. Cathy and I had a bit of trouble trying to get back up on the darn thing! The whole thing was a blast! Thomas and Savannah didn't stop giggling and laughing the entire time.
After we were done on the beach for the day, we cleaned up and went out for dinner, ice cream and henna tattoos for the kids. We also drove down the island a bit and went out on one of the beach access roads so the guys could drive on the beach. When we got back to the condo it was time for the fireworks show they do every Friday night here in the summer. One of the guys from SHW told us to be sure and stand in the parking lot during the fireworks because it was hysterical. We found out why when we put the kids in the back of Jason's truck to watch them. The sound of the fireworks reverberate and echo off the walls of the condo next door and sound exactly like someone passing gas, VERY loudly. Needless to say, the kids thought this was hysterical...probably because their fathers were pretending to be the ones passing the gas. Nothing like a little potty humor to send everyone into fits of laughter!

All in all another great day at the beach. Tomorrow is our last day, we will leave early Sunday morning and drive to Austin for the night. Scott has a meeting there Monday morning and then we'll head for home!

Blessings,

Leslie

Let's Padre!

Today we spiced things up a bit and spent the morning at the pool, had lunch there, and THEN went to the beach! This evening after dinner we all went down and took the annual crab hunting photo:
The adults decided we needed a crab hunting photo as well, so Thomas and Savannah took this:

Then we all had fun posing and acting goofy on the beach.

This was the creation of the day...it was a group effort by the Scott's and Jason. They used little army men to stand century!

Scott, Patty, Colton and Parker have to head for home tomorrow. We'll all head to the beach early in the morning and have lunch together before they leave. The kids have all has such a good time together. I'm so glad that they will have the same great memories of playing with their cousins that I do of playing and growing up with mine.

Blessings,

Leslie

Life's a Beach!

Just another relaxing day at the beach! Here are a few pics from the day....

All of us under the tent enjoying a moment of shade! The guys all have their own things they do everyday....Jason rides the waves, Scott C. builds sandcastles, and Scott M. likes to try and catch fish with the fish net.

As for tomorrow's plans, well, we discussed doing a dolphin watching boat ride, going to Nuevo Progreso (Mexico), Schiltterbahn, fishing and after much talking we've decided to do....the same thing we did today and yesterday!

Blessings,
Leslie

Beach Bums!

This is it...this is what we did today! We spent the entire day on the beach. The kids have all had a great time with each other. They built sandcastles(actually Scott C. built castles), played in the water, rode the waves and made some sort of "crab trap" from a hole that Scott M. dug!

The adults have played in the sand, built castles, dug holes, relaxed under the tent, rode the waves, made sure no children drowned or wandered to far away, applied loads of sunblock to themselves and children...etc.

Note the big blue and white tent in the background...that's us!

Parker ridin' the waves!

Thomas, Savannah, & Grace in the Sandcastle they and Scott C. built.

Colton running in the waves!

This evening we will be crab hunting and maybe swimming in the pool. The guys are going to take their annual trip to Wal-Mart for beach and condo supplies after the kids go to bed. It's always interesting to see what they return with!

Blessings,

Leslie

We're Here!!

We got to South Padre about 4:30 yesterday. It took forever to get everything carried up the three flights of stairs (there's no elevator!) Afterwards, Scott C. took all the big kids to the pool while Scott M. watched Mandy. Jason, Cathy, Patty and I went to Wal-Mart to stock the pantry for the week. Three VERY full carts later we again lugged everything up the three flights of stairs! Let's just say we definately won't starve this week!

After dinner they all headed down to crab hunt. They found some gigantic crabs this year. I'll post again tonight with the pictures from today at the beach.

Blessings,
Leslie

Catching up...

I know I said I'd post daily, but I've already gotten behind!! We've been doing lots of swimming as you can tell from the pictures. They have bikes for the guests to ride along the trails, so the kids have been bike riding everyday. Today they played on the big waterslide for a good part of the morning.


This was Grace's first time to do a big waterslide like this one. She did really well and did it about 100 more times after this!!

There is a huge porch on the backside of the hotel. We sit there while the kids ride bikes. Mandy pretty much just wanders around and waves excitedly whenever one of them rides by!

Thomas and Grace keep asking every 5 minutes or so when their cousins will be here. Everyone is meeting here today and tomorrow morning we are heading out early for South Padre.

Blessings,

Leslie

Austin...Lost Pines Resort!

Wow...this place is huge. I swear we drove for 3 miles from the entrance to the hotel! We are WAY off the beaten path, but this place worth it. The resort is set on a golf course, has a full spa, many restaurants, walking trails, and an awesome pool. While Scott was in his meeting yesterday evening the kids and I wondered around and checked things out. After he was done, we ate dinner and Scott took the kids to the pool for awhile while I put Mandy to bed.
On the way to Austin we pass two of our Friends of Texas Public Schools billboards. These just went up a few weeks ago, so we stopped and took the kids (& Scott's) picture in front of one. I have to admit it is nice to finally see your work come to fruition that LARGE and on the side of the highway!!
The pool here has a monster long lazy river and a water slide.

The actual swimming pool has a "beach" at one end, so they got to play in the sand too.

Every evening at eight they do smores at the firepit out in back of the hotel near the river.

Scott will be in meetings (golf tournament) all day, so we are meeting Grandma and Grandpa Milder. Thomas and maybe Grace are going to see Superman while Mandy and I roam around the Barton Creek mall!

Blessings,

Leslie

On the road again......

Well, we are headed out once again for a near two week journey. We leave today for Austin where we will be until Sunday morning when we will head on to Padre Island. So, from now until the end of the trip we will be blogging everyday.

On Sunday we went with Dad to Legislative day at the ballpark. We took Thomas and Grace, and we met lots of legislators and lobbyists. The kids had a great time. We were in a very nice (air conditioned) suite--the best way to see any sporting event in my opinion! Especially an outdoor one at one'oclock in the afternoon in July in Texas. Thomas wanted to include this picture of himself in the suite with his Dr. Pepper. I really hope they don't get spoiled to this type of experience or it's gonna be a real let down when Scott and I take them and we are in the cheap seats in the nosebleed section!!

Anyway.....I'd better get off the computer and get the kids loaded up for Summer Vacation Round II.

Blessings,
Leslie

July 8, 2006

This morning Thomas and I headed out to Hunter's last soccer game. Hunter's team was undefeated and their championship game was today. Thomas chose to skip the birthday party of a little girl in his class so that he could be there to cheer on Hunter. Unfortunately, they didn't win. However, they played great. And their coach, David, is awesome with the kids. You can tell they really look up to him.















On the way home Thomas and I stopped off to see Erin and Larry's new baby girl, Sarah Kate. She was born yesterday and is so beautiful!
Afterwards, we went to Gretta's birthday party. Sleeping Beauty was there and did everyone's hair and makeup. They did princess limbo and she taught them how to dance. A great time was had by all. During all this girliness the guys swam!

Tomorrow we are headed to a Ranger game with Mom and Dad. Mandy is going to stay with Aunt Jane and Aunt Judy. I don't think I could control her at something like that. She's kinda all over the place lately!

Blessings,

Leslie

Thomas' REAL birthday....

Thomas wanted to go to the waterpark for his "real" birthday, so we met Christie, Clay and Hunter there and they all had a blast. You wouldn't believe how hard they all swam. He did the big waterslide for the first time. It's amazing how much better he is at swimming this year. He's so sensitive about the water in his eyes though that he wears goggles all the time.

Grace and Mandy had a great time too. They have a huge part where the water is only 2 feet deep and has playground type equipment that shoots water out of various places that Grace really enjoyed. Mandy liked being able to walk in the water and splash in the little fountain.














That evening we went to watch the fireworks in Sunnyvale. I think Mandy had the best time there. They had a live band and she spent most of the evening before the fireworks dancing on the picnic table. The guy singing even came over and sang to her! She was facinated by the fireworks and kept saying, "pretty" every time one went off.

Hope everyone had a safe and wonderful July 4th!

Blessings,
Leslie