San Antonio Part I: Sea World

If you've ever been a part of our family travels, you might have thought us crazy to attempt a "vacation". We even questioned ourselves. My children are not known for being good travelers. They are not good adapters. They are not good at being out of their element. Sometimes they're not good at being in their element. Seriously, trips with my kids = not very fun.

So what possessed us to book ourselves a hotel and buy our tickets to Sea World in San Antonio, I am not quite sure. We were definitely rolling the dice. And the odds were not in our favor.

But we should pack our bags for Vegas, cause we came out winners! The trip was so, so great.



We woke up early Friday and made the drive in about 2.5 hours. Our first stop was the Shamu show.


I was so torn between taking pictures of the whales and taking pictures of Ava, because her reactions were hugely satisfying. And I didn't even attempt to bring my nice camera on our trip because I knew there was no way I'd be hanging that thing around my neck and having Max in the carrier at the same time. The point and shoot is small and convenient but very annoying. I was sitting right next to Ava so it was an awkward angle to get her picture. I ended up just holding the camera out in front of her and pressing the button. And because it has this really awesome delay (read my sarcasm) I got some interesting shots. But they will still do the job in illustrating Ava's absolute thrill-ment, and overwhelmed-ness. I have to make up words because I'm not exactly sure how to describe it.


When Shamu or her friend would do this:




or this:




Ava would do this:





And this:




And even if the remainder of the trip had been spent in wallowing fits and explosive tears her exclamation at the end of the show would have made the whole trip worth it. Maybe.

"MOM! Sea World is THE FANTASTIC of the whole world! EVER! I LOVE it!!

During most of the shows Luke looked like this:




Mesmerized, entranced, yet far less dramatic.


We went on the trip with our friends, the Princes. I think it is safe to say that all nine of us were impressed.


Max was a super trooper the whole trip. Some of the loud music startled him, but for the most part he was a happy guy.


The kids were oh-so-close to touching a dolphin but he just didn't quite get close enough.


He was close enough for me, though and I did cop a feel. So smooth! I guess there are advantages to having monkey arms.

We didn't stand in line at feeding time, when we would have been guaranteed some petting, but maybe next time. We did get season passes after all.

We opted to feed the sea lions, however, because there was no line. Apparently these guys are always hungry.




And apparently, so is Dan.




I was shocked at the willingness of the kids to touch the dead fish. Especially, Ava who prefers to eat Doritos with a napkin. You don't have to worry about that cheesy residue, I guess.





Sea World has such a nice mix of exhibits, shows, rides, and a water park. We didn't even touch the water park over the course of the two days we visited. Our hotel experience made up for that though and will be covered in the next installment.

But we did ride some rides. Ava is fearless when it comes to rides. She was able to ride a couple of big ones and she loved them!

Luke, on the other hand, was a bit fickle. Dan rode a kid's roller coaster with him a couple of times. The whole time Luke yelled,

"Don't Yike Dis! Want Git OFFF! Don't Yike Dis! Want Git OFFFFF!"


And then, when they got off and began to walk away, Luke said,


"I yiked it! It was FUN!"


The four of us, Dan and I , Ava, and Luke, rode a log flume ride together. Thanks to Jill who held Max while he cried and his diaper leaked. Thanks again, Jill!

It was a really fun ride and had two big drops. After the first one, Luke yelled,

"Want to go home!"


After the second drop he yelled,

"I FELL! Don't yike dis!"

But when our log pulled up to the curb, he started to cry,

"No, no, Noo Nain!" which is equivalent to "Do again!"

He sent us mixed messages that's for sure.

So in summary, Sea World was fantastic! A good time was had by all. And our hotel was icing on the cake, but that'll be Part II.

Big Puppy

Just like Luke, Max reminds me of a puppy. A little puppy that's gonna be big. Like a young St. Bernard whose over-sized paws let you know that it's just a matter of time before he will be gigantic. And at 5 and a half months old and 18 lbs, Max is my biggest baby yet.

His reaction upon hearing how much weight he'd gained:


He is such a happy and social little guy. He couldn't care less about toys dangling in front of him, all he needs is somebody to look at him. And if they smile or talk that's just an added bonus.



He gets a little fussy when he's tired and he has no patience when he's hungry, but other than that, he is HAPPY! The screechy, giggly, drooly, kind of happy!




And that's why it breaks my heart to see and hear his celebration of life interrupted by the surprise of shots. I hate myself for about 30 minutes after each set of vaccinations, but try to remember it's for the best.

He has taken to his bottles and is sleeping like a pro.

Ava and Luke are still happy with their little brother and are such good entertainers. Even though this picture makes them look very somber, I just like it.


They love to smile and talk to him and that has come in handy so many times, especially when I am trying to get dinner on the table or take a shower.

Luke has been talking a lot more.


"Dis Macks"



"Dis Macks hair"



"Give Macks tiss"



My happy little camper is now a sobbing, sore legged mess. I like to remember him in happier days:





We are going to Sea World this weekend and we're really looking forward to it. It is our first family vacation to a destination other than to see family. We love to see our family, don't get me wrong, but this is a trip purely for a trip's sake. We've heard really great things about Sea World and our hotel looks really cool too. Hopefully, my low-adaptability, high intensity children will not be too strung out to enjoy it.

Thoughts and a new dress

The sewing machine was relocated to my bedroom. And when I laid down to go to sleep at night, it seemed to taunt me, tease me, call out to me. I was feeling like I would never sew again. And that made me sad.

But I have been happy with the way things have been going here at home lately, even if that does not involve a consistent time for sewing. I am mothering nearly every waking hour and I have not only come to accept that, but even enjoy it. That probably sounds like a no-brainer to most mothers who read this, but for me it has not come easy. In case I didn't complain enough here, I was having quite a time with this whole mother bit.

But it feels good now.

Not so long ago, I counted down the minutes in every day. I calculated just how much time until somebody would be asleep. I looked forward to the end of each day , just because it meant that another one was over. And I wondered how this was ever going to get better.

But it has gotten better.

I have put in a lot of work, I have put in a lot of prayer, and as its been said, time heals all. We all needed some time to acclimate ourselves to our new family. Though without the work and the prayer, I know we wouldn't be where we are now.

Instead of the countdown, I find myself figuring out how we can play one more game or read one more story. I think about skipping rest time so we don't have to push pause on our time together. And instead of feeling like I was watching our life ripen like an old banana on the counter, I feel like I want to squeeze the very last drop out of everyday. And that feels good.

I went to register Ava for kindergarten. The whole experience was quite unpleasant, from standing in a huge line while Luke whined and wallowed on the floor, to the unhelpful staff, to debating if and how to catch up Ava's immunizations. But the worst part was the regret that filled my heart.

Oh how I have looked forward to kindergarten! How I longingly anticipated the break it would be to send Ava off to school! How many errands I could run! How much time I could sew! How nice to just have one child (or two!) for the majority of the day!

But now it's almost here. And I realize how unprepared I am to hand my child off. She will spend more time with her teacher and class than she will with me each day. It seems wrong. I really wish there was half day kindergarten here. Pretty soon I will not be the one who has all the control over her environment.

I have seriously considered homeschooling. These two little boys I have are my reality check. Though, I have warned Dan to mull it over so that just in case one day, I pull her out of school it won't be a total shock.

I look back on these few years that Ava has graced our family and now that we are entering this new phase of school-age life it really feels like there is no going back. And that is my regret. That I wish I had spent more time relishing my daughter than wishing her away. She has tried me, that is for sure. But I realize now that time moves too quickly to waste it. That's what I have done. I have wasted so much time. And I can't get it back. The only thing I can do now is continue to work and to pray and squeeze all the juice out of every moment before time takes it toll.

And one thing is for certain: time will pass and things will change.

If you feel bad, you will feel better. If you feel great, it probably won't last forever. If you never have time to sew, someday you will!

This past week, after a trip to the fabric store to buy some fabric to make curtains for Ava's newly painted room, she and I found a sale aisle. I pulled out different cute and trendy patterns
as she oohed and aahed. I thought I stumbled upon an opportunity to make an outfit that would satisfy both of our tastes, as they don't always match up. But as we went down the row she got to the Hawaiian prints. She was beside herself,

"Oh, Mommy! Look at this! This is so BEAUTIFUL! Can you please make me a dress out of this?!"

And how could I deny her?

The stars aligned and during naptime the next day, I somehow managed to get two interrupted hours in which I made this Hawaiian dress. I had to adjust my design as I went but it pretty much turned out just like I planned.









I used up the smaller chunks of the next few days' nap times to finish it off. But I am proud and pleased. I used my serger for the first time and it was so exciting! The best part was that Ava loved it.



And I love her!

3,000 words worth of pictures

Dan says I talk too much on here and don't put enough pictures. But that's my favorite thing about this blog, is a place I can talk! However, these pictures do tell their own story. Not a story that will give you chills, or make you cry, or anything else of consequence. But a story none the less. I have rarely caught on film (digital?) a story with a beginning, middle, and end. This little series also makes me laugh because it is so true right now.

But here I am talking too much again. Enough. Here it is. I like to call it "Don't Touch My Giraffe!":






The End.

De Ja Vu

Way back when, in a dark room, looking up at a fuzzy black and white screen, I caught my first vision of the new little nubbin that would soon grace our family.


And it was a boy! I was so shocked about that, because I had felt so certain that the baby I was carrying was a girl.

With the help of the ultrasound tech, we checked him out from head to toe. All the pieces and parts were there and all seemed in order. I couldn't take my eyes off the screen and I watched with awe as my little baby squirmed and wiggled and even sucked his thumb.

After feeling so much guilt about my lack of excitement and mounting worry over his impending birth, I left the office that day filled to the brim with joy, shock, and awe. And that felt good.

Now this little man has really entered our family. And I couldn't be happier about that. He has all his pieces and parts. And from a mother's eyes, he's absolute perfection to me.

I watch him squirm and wiggle and now with increasing frequency do this:


And this:




So cute right now, perhaps not so cute in a few years.

The Glory Days

It's days like the ones we've been having that save Texas' butt, in my opinion. Because sometimes in July, I curse its very existence.

It's Spring! The weather has been so pleasant. And while I am not looking forward to the scorching heat waiting just around the corner, I am so happy to say goodbye to the cold and the gray.

It's the perfect weather for evening races.

Dan gets everybody lined up.




And starts out...



Ready,


Set,



Grow!





Which brings out the giggles in all of us. And then he starts again,


Ready,



Set,



Snow!




More giggles. Once we get a "Go!" there are still lots of giggles.






I started to wish that I was racing with them, but then I remembered that would require me to exert energy, so I decided to just be glad that I had a really good excuse to sit down.

I can say however, wholeheartedly, that even though I was only on the sidelines, I really enjoyed the view!