Back at Padre!

Yesterday morning, after talking to Celia, who manages Marisol, we decided to pack up and head back to the island. I know I planned to show you pictures of the aftermath of Hurricane Alex, but there really aren't any. Lots of palm frons (?) blown around and I saw one shingle as we moved back in, but other than that not a lot of damage here. Certainly not enough to live up the hype that those crazy weather reporters on the Weather Channel made it sound like! The first (& only!) casualty of Hurricane Alex were Scott's Krispy Kreme donuts that the wind blew out of the car when we opened the back to unload in the Marisol parking lot!! He was crushed. The biggest changes were on the beach. After moving all our stuff up the three flights of stairs a second time, Scott and the kids headed down to check out the beach. Tons of washed up seaweed. Looks like the water came in almost to the gate that leads from the condos to the beach. This morning they had big bulldozers and maintainers clearing all the seaweed off the beach. As the mayor said, they don't really like to do that because the seaweed is good for preventing erosion, but it's not very tourist friendly!

The kids read the last blog and couldn't believe I didn't mention the hotel pool. When Scott realized we were going to have to go inland for a day or two he found a Hampton Inn with an indoor pool so that the kids could still swim. I have to say....it was the fanciest Hampton Inn hotel pool I've ever seen. It had fountains all the way around the pool and some Greek/Roman fountain/scupture monstrosity that the kids found just fabulous for jumping off of! It was like they wanted a Hearst Castle pool right there in the Corpus Christi Hampton Inn.Needless to say the kids thought it was great and we spent a good deal of time swimming in it both nights we were there.

I am so glad things worked out and we were able to come back to Marisol. After 8 years coming to the same place, it's begun to feel like home in a way. More so than Christmas or birthdays, I find this trip every year is a milestone, or a marker if you will. I think the holidays and birthdays are so busy that I don't have much time to reflect on the past year, but here there is nothing but time and the relaxing sound of the ocean to lull me in to talking a look back a the year since our last visit. My cousin Patty posted a picture on Facebook this week of our second summer here....

Thomas was 5 and Grace was 3!! Tomorrow Thomas will be 11 years old. Wow. Our kids have grown up coming here and even though I'm sure there are better, fancier places to stay or go on a week's vacation to the beach, this place will forever hold fond memories for them. They don't care about fancy accomodations and amenities, but that we spent a week every year playing with them in the sand, splashing in the waves, hunting crabs and sea shells. And, I'm sure when they are grown that Scott and I will remember the same things...minus hauling up all our stuff 3 flights of stairs and greasing everyone from head to toe in sunscreen over and over and over again!

Kendall...The first time I put on the bathing suit Mandy is wearing in the above picture I mentioned that it was yours that you had outgrown. Now she wants to wear it every day and tells all of us over and over again that it was yours!

This is the first year we've been here for Thomas' birthday and he has a list of things he'd like to do tomorrow! First on his list is to check out the parasailing! They weren't out today, probably because it is still too windy, but he has his fingers crossed for tomorrow. Then, he'd like crab claws at Pier 19 for dinner. And, of course, as always there will be fireworks on his birthday!

Beach blessings,

Leslie

Hurricane Alex

I can't believe it's been almost a year since I've blogged! I used to blog almost everyday in the summer. We left Sunday for our 8th year at the condo on South Padre Island. Mom and Dad came with us this year. On the way down we stopped in San Antonio to eat at Lulu's. We enjoyed chicken fried steak and one of their 3 pound, yes 3 POUND cinnamon rolls! If you watch Man vs. Food...Adam has been there and eaten the whole thing.

We spent Monday playing on the beach and enjoying the beautiful sunny weather. Well, all of us except Scott who had to fly to Houston and back for a work meeting.

And it was a good thing, because Tuesday we evacuated inland because of the threat of Hurricane Alex. We have now spent two nights in Corpus. If you are going to leave the island, you have to leave before the wind gusts get to 45 mph, because they close the Queen Isabella Causeway when that happens. I suppose so cars don't go flying off. Everyone was boarding up their windows and sandbagging their doors. The condo throws all the pool chairs in the pool to keep them from blowing away.

Yesterday we went to the Texas State Aquarium and to see Toy Story 3. The kids love the aquarium that's here. Since it was raining the regular outdoor dolphin show couldn't be done, so they did it indoor in the underwater viewing area. It was even better! It was almost like the dolphins were in the room with us.

Thomas got picked to come assist the trainer! Apparently the dolphins know their shapes. She would tell them to pick the circle or the triangle and they got it right every time.

We are checking out of the hotel around noon and heading back to the island. The Causeway is open and the emergency management website says that the flooding has receded and things are fine and back to normal. We kept up with what was happening on their Facebook page! The whole thing is unbelieveably efficient. We've seen the island in "Hurricane mode" twice now. Four(?) years ago we were there for tropical storm Emily. Spent the night in Harlingen then.

Better get to packing us up.....again. I will post "aftermath" pictures when we get back to the condo.

Hurricane Blessings,

Leslie

Horseback Riding and Back to School update!

A few weeks before school started we finally, after about 3 years of begging, gave in and signed Grace up for horseback riding lessons. It's not far from the house at all and she goes once a week for an hour and a half. She is loving it!! She asked me the other day if she continued to ride till she was in high school would we buy her a horse. Oh man.

Everyone had a great first week back to school. Mandy did indeed get out of the car in carpool and walk herself in. We are very proud. Although she was highly ticked when I picked her up after school. When I asked what she did in school, she replied, "I haven't learned anything!" "I haven't learned to read or done any math!" Third child of a teacher. What more can I say? Thomas and Grace both love their teachers and are glad to be back with all their friends every day.

I spent the week getting the house back in order and generally enjoying the quiet of my 2 hours and 40 minutes of "alone time" every day. I capped off my week with the Beth Moore simulcast here in town. LOVED it! Love her, loved her message and loved worshipping with great friends.

Blessings,

Leslie

Back to School!

It's hard to believe that summer is over, and we are about to complete our first week of school. We went to Meet the Teacher last Friday night and found out who our teachers were and took all our school supplies. We are split between two schools this year because Mandy is enrolled in the district's tuition based PreK program at Hays Elementary. So, we took her to meet her teacher first. Her teacher is Mrs. Cox and the aide is one of my favorite people, Alisa Gideon. She worked at Hartman when Grace was in PreK! Love her. Mandy did great the first day. She was a little sad when I left her, but was all smiles when I picked her up. I've walked her in every day. The thought of walking to her room by herself makes her nervous. She'd get out of the car right at the entrance and her classroom is the first one inside the door, but she worries that she won't be able to get the door open by herself! This morning, just as I parked, she yells,"I think I can do it!" So, we are gonna give it a try in the morning. The first day when I picked her up she was mad that she didn't get to stay all day like Thomas and Grace.

Grace's 3rd Grade teacher this year is Mrs. Grandstaff. Great lady. I got to know her a bit last year during Thomas' third grade year and loved her. Grace is off to a great start and loves school.

Thomas is in 4th grade this year. So hard to believe. His teacher is Mrs. Vaughn, she's new to Hartman this year. He really likes her. The best part is that one of his best buddies is in his class this year. He is most excited that this is the year they will learn Texas history.

Our start to this school year has been so smooth! They are all off to a great start!

Back to School Blessings,

Leslie

Daddy left for Egypt!!

We got up at 5:15 this morning to take Daddy to the church to meet the mission team to leave for Egypt. Lots of excitement, nerves and a few tears! It was a much harder day than I had anticipated. All three of the kids teared up when they told him goodbye. Which was probably the only reason I didn't! Twelve days is a long time. It will be the longest that we've been apart since we married 11 years ago. However, I know that he will be doing great things and we have never been prouder of him. To read about his trip check out http://scottmilderegypt.blogspot.com. I'll link it on the side of this blog.

After the bus left, we went with friends to IHOP and had pancakes and were back home by 8:30. By 9 we were all in the bed asleep!!! We took about a 3 hour nap!

Not long after we got up, for the 2nd time, Scott called to let us know he was safely in Chicago. They had a three hour layover before their flight to Frankfurt. All 3 kids got to talk to him, which I think helped.

To take our minds off of Daddy leaving we went with friends to see Ice Age. But, bedtime brought a few more tears. We all prayed together for Daddy to have a safe trip and for the time to pass quickly! :) Bless their hearts. I know 12 days seems like an eternity for them...cuz it kinda does for me!!

We set the oven clock to Egypt time and they each have an atlas that we studied Dad's route to Egypt in. In fact, Grace and Mandy fell asleep with it tonight.

Many of you have asked about our big vacation for the year. We are going to Disney for Thanksgiving, and with Scott joining the mission team for Egypt, we decided not to do a big road trip this summer. We are still planning our annual trip to Padre Island, which will be a wonderful opportunity to spend some family time together the week after Scott returns!

Blessings,

Leslie

Presents from San Francisco

The kids loved the presents we brought them from San Francisco. Of course that was one of the first questions asked as soon as we saw them..."What'd you bring me??"

We found these HUGE marshmallows at an outdoor market in Napa...

Thomas who wasn't much into letting me take his picture with his stuff did think having a picture of him eating an enormous marshmallow would be alright...

On Pier 39 they have a jeweler from Hawaii that has big buckets of oysters. They will open them for you right there and pull out the pearl and set it into jewelry. We knew Grace would love that and fortunately they had them packaged so you could do it yourself at home. She LOVED it!!

Daddy opening the oyster...

Removing the pearl....

Wearing her new pearl necklace...

Mandy got the cutest Chinese baby doll and new earrings....

Blessings,

Leslie

Mandy and Mommy Monday

Today was "Mandy and Mommy Day." I had to take my computer to the Apple store at Willow Bend, so we made plans to have lunch with Daddy. When we got to the Apple store we had to wait for an hour or so before we could see a "Genius," so Mandy and I wandered into Claire's. We'd been talking about getting your ears pierced, so I thought while we were in there I'd show her the chair and everything where they do it. She looked at it and said no, she didn't want her ears pierced today. We were looking at all the jewelry, when she turned around and said, "

Oh ok, I'll get my ears pierced today." I asked her several times if she was sure and she was. So, we had them done! She was fine. I, however, was a little unnerved by the young, multiply pierced and tattooed girl who did them though! She cried for just a few minutes but was easily distracted by looking in the mirror at her new earrings!

After our Apple appointment (oh and a dip in the fountain...note the different shirt in the following pictures!!), we headed to Stone Briar to meet Daddy at the Cheesecake Factory. Mandy loved the chocolate cheesecake! She kept trying to push Scott's hands away so that he couldn't eat any!

Great fun was had putting whipped cream on each other's noses.

A visit to Stone Briar wouldn't be complete without a ride on the carousel!
It's days like these that I'll miss when she goes to preschool next year.

Blessings,

Leslie

Gracie Rose is 8!!! We celebrated with an American Girl sleepover on her actual birthday. We had 13 girls spend the night! they were all so cute and sweet. I was really proud of her for choosing such great little friends. They played very well together and put on an American Girl fashion show, had pedicures, make-up, snacks and watched a movie. This past year Grace has really blossomed into a confident, social, witty little girl. We are so proud of her and how well she is doing in school. Her favorite things lately are riding her new bike, playing with her friends, clothes, flip-flops, looking up verses in her bible, and reading. We are so blessed to have this beautiful girl with such a lively, sweet spirit.

Birthday Blessings,

Leslie

Family Time at Great Wolf Lodge

Two weeks ago we picked the kids up at school on Thursday afternoon and took them to Great Wolf Lodge for the night.  They had absolutely no idea.  We told them we had to go to Daddy's office.  When we stopped at the red light next to Great Wolf they yelled jokingly "Hey, let's go there instead!"  We were in the parking lot, at the entrance and were out of the car before they caught on!!!  I love it!!  As we were checking in Scott pointed out that if we stayed the night we probably wouldn't make it back for school in the morning...you should have seen Thomas' face light up!!  I love taking them by surprise like that and doing something they totally wouldn't expect!    It was great to just escape and have a little family time for 24 hours.  The kids played till they were exhausted.  

She did this blue slide about 512 times in the 24 hours we were there!

Mandy had a great time playing the the kid section...all 6 inches or so of water in there!  

Mandy trying diligently to convince us that she really didn't need to wear her swim vest!

Thomas was really good about taking time to hang out with his littlest sister.  He spent a long time playing with her in the kiddie section.

The "balmy 84 degrees year-round" was a tad chilly when you weren't in the water!  Fortunately, they have an unlimited supply of towels/blankets available!

We had pizza poolside for lunch and stayed until about 6 on Friday.  We were all seriously water-logged, but we all had a fantastic time!

Blessings,

Leslie

Skiing Wrap-up

Since I never did follow up on the rest of our Spring Break ski trip, I thought I'd add a couple of ski pictures from the week.  We really enjoyed hanging out with all our close friends!  The kids all love skiing and skied every day we were there. 



Blessings,

Leslie