Vacation Rewind - The River

This post will be a bit shorter than the last, only because it was a shorter trip and well, we floated the river, and mommy had adult beverages.  :)

Other than honey spending a few days with us at the beach, this portion of my vacation was my favorite.  I just prefer the river to the sandy beach.  I enjoy my family and my friends but honey is what made the beach for me this year.

The Hillier Family invited us to join their family at the river again this year and we were all over it, especially this girl right here.  I will say driving up to Leisure Resort took more time this year because we had to detour off of I-10 due to construction and two wrecks.  Thankfully, Brian's brother had alerted us to the mess before we got stuck in it like he did.  Almost 4 hours of sitting in standstill traffic for them, and he was pulling a camper!  No thank you.  Needless to say we made it, got unpacked and went to the gathering area to say hello to everyone.  I snapped this picture to send to honey so he could see our view from the campsite....

We all sat around catching up, enjoying hamburgers for supper, relaxing, having a drink or two and playing this....YARDZEE!

Y'all, this was so much fun!  One of Deanna's cousins purchased the game at a craft show earlier in the year.  It came with the bucket, wooden dice, four laminated cards and a dry erase marker.  So, so fun.

Saturday, after we made breakfast tacos (it was our meal to cook), we put the suits on, grabbed our tubes and headed down to float that magnificent river.  At first the float went well but I soon found myself getting hung up in every spot I could get hung up in.  There was also a family floating, very slowly and dadgummit, I was always getting stuck behind them.  God bless 'em.  The river was low and slow.  It just wasn't a great float for me which is why I didn't float again that trip.  I stayed at this location either in a chair or sitting directly in the water...

It was perfect.  The water felt good, not too cold.  Drinks were cold and snacks were just the right amount.  We would hang out for a while in the morning, head up to eat lunch and then come back down for the afternoon.  Bella had a blast just staying right there.  She figured out if she put a life jacket/vest on she could easily float.  There was a little area there she could do that and still be with us.  She also kept herself busy finding all kinds of rocks!  Even with the crazy storm that blew in Saturday night, it was a great trip that went by too fast.  Gosh I love sitting in the river just chilling and visiting with great friends and family.

I always try to get a picture with my children.  I failed at the beach house but nailed it here.  This was Sunday morning after breakfast.  Chris and the boys were getting ready to head out for the day. I love my little family.  

Vacation Rewind - The Beach

My vacation got off to a rough start, and by rough I only mean that it didn't start at 5:00 on Friday as I had bragged and hoped it would.  It started when I left work at 7:30 that night, and arriving at the beach house at 9:00.  Christopher ended up having to work that evening so our plan for him to haul all our goods and Bella to the beach house early were thwarted.  Needless to say, by the time I made it to the beach house, I was ready for an ice cold beer.  I got everything unloaded, checked the new place out, opened my cold beer and caught up with my sister-in-law Keri.

I will admit it took me a couple days to finally relax, unwind and not feel so tense.  My dear friend Lauren came out Saturday and Sunday to hang with us.  I loved having her there.  I think my family was surprised I had a friend because I never really have friends come out to the beach house. I really shocked them this year because my friend Callie came out for a bit Sunday and early, early Sunday morning before everyone woke up, honey joined us as well.  Was excited that both Lauren and Callie were finally able to meet honey.  I've talked about him enough.  Honey stayed until Tuesday morning after breakfast and then had to head back for work. Sigh.  Having him there for two full days was so nice.

The week went by pretty fast.  I cooked, read a little, baked a little, sat on the beach a little, searched for shells a little and just really tried to enjoy my time away from work and the stress of it all.

One of my first trips down to the beach...chilling with my brother :)

Photographic evidence that honey was there.  

Poor guy, when he left, his belly looked like a lobster.  

The two littlest monkeys buried in the sand.  I've never heard so much giggling before.

One of the few pictures I captured of my son.  He wasn't into the beach that much this year.  We suspected it was because Paul wasn't there.  When we asked him about later in the week, that was his exact response, I miss Paul.  Poor kiddo.  I know he misses you too. 

So our beach house neighbors were out fishing Monday and caught this sweet little hammerhead.  I have never seen one up close and personal so I asked to hold it.  They were a bit shocked but I thought it was totally cool.  Honey snapped this picture.  

My sweet girl ready for the beach. She got a little red the first day on the beach.  Note to all awesome moms like me...if you have a bottle of sunscreen that has been unopened and you're not sure how long you've had it, then its probably been too long and its no longer good.  #lessonlearned #expired

Makenna and Bella ready to hit the beach!!  

This is my favorite picture I captured that week.  Brady, Bella and I went walking one evening looking for shells.  We were walking back to the beach house and I snapped this picture of them walking.  

No filters y'all.  Just beautiful.

MIA & Vacation Rewind

I know, I know, I've gone missing for almost a month but we've been busy having fun and relaxing.  Every time I thought about writing, something else would get my attention and no writing would happen.  We left off with great anticipation of my upcoming vacation. I can't tell you the excitement I felt that Friday I woke up and didn't have to drag myself to work.  This time off was very much needed.  I wouldn't have been able to do it without the help of my co-worker Callie.  She filled in where she could for me while I was gone.  This allowed me to spend my time away from the office and not have to come in.  Hallelujah!  It started off a bit rough and ended rough.  Fridays can be that way sometimes, but we worked through everything with phone calls and text messages.

The first leg of our vacation was at Leisure Resorts in Fentress, TX.  This place is nestled between Luling and San Marcos on the San Marcos River.  It was so much fun.  I had forgotten just how much I really loved floating the river, but I was quickly reminded after our first float.  Along that float and many times afterwards, I proclaimed my love of the river versus the beach.  No comparison for me.  I prefer the river any day.  We went up Friday afternoon and came back Monday afternoon.  Our group took up a good portion of the camp area.  We all stayed in cabins (us), campers or tents.  I didn't get any pictures on this portion of the trip.  My phone stayed at the cabin the entire time we were there. Sad I didn't get any pictures of our camp, the river, our floats or anything but it was nice to disconnect for those days.  Glenn did get a group picture of everyone before we all went our separate ways Monday afternoon.

That's a good looking and super fun crew right there!  I have made a deposit for next year and plans are in the works to make it even more fun and exciting than this year. I have to tell y'all, what was really nice about this resort is it is family oriented, not a lot of college kids drinking and carousing. I mean, the adults were drinking but not in a let's get loud and obnoxious kind of way.  It was so relaxing, friendly people everywhere and everyone looking out for each other.  Just good family fun. 

So Monday morning we had breakfast with everyone and then went back to begin packing up to head home.  We made it home to unpack river stuff, load up beach house stuff and head to Surfside until Friday morning. Let me back up a bit and tell y'all that Saturday morning I was sitting on the porch of my cabin enjoying my coffee while perusing FB when I see a post by my brother that they had a Saturday morning surprise.  My Coastie nephew came down for the beach house!  Of course, he teased his Aunts that he was leaving Monday morning because he knew we wouldn't be back in town until Monday afternoon.  That was soon squashed because my Daddy loves his girls and takes care of us.  He made our brother send us a message to let us know that Paul would be at the beach house all week, that we didn't need to come home early....because that's precisely what we were planning to do!

I stunk at taking pics on vacation this year but I did get some with our Pooh Bear....

 

  

Perfect timing!  Paul the photo bomber!

That last one of me on the beach was taken with my sister's phone.  I wanted proof that I actually did make it down to the beach. Ha! 

My time off was so much appreciated.  I was semi-ready to come back.  I wanted more time to do things at home but was also ready to get back to routine.  I did have a rough couple of days after coming back.  The downside of being gone for week, feeling completely lost when you get back and not knowing what is going on at work. :)

Christopher started Cross Country practice this morning.  He will be in a mood about mid-week once all that running hits his body and he gets really sore.  Price to pay when you don't run all summer. #ouch

Bella will be volleyballing with my sister at the HS while Chris is practicing.  Sure do appreciate her allowing my girl to hang out with them during this time.  It saves me in child care for another 3 weeks.  We won't talk about how that has gone up along with everything else.  #sucksbeinganadultsometimes

By the way, can you even believe its August?!!?  

I heard a rumor Bath & Body Works has pumpkin everything in stock.  

I confirmed that rumor to be true this past Saturday.  I bought myself a treat for surviving school shopping with the 17 and 7 year old.  

The 3-wick candles were buy one, get one free.  Score!!!!!!!!  

Until next time....y'all have a good one!

Vacation Time is Coming

You gotta love FB.  I totally agree with this one though! I need a vacation!!

That vacation will begin in 30 days! Its less now because I started this dadgum post last week.  I think it was last week?? See...vacation much needed!

The kids and I will be going to the river prior to heading to the beach house this year. In fact, we will miss the first 3-4 days of beach house because we'll be on another trip. We've known for almost a year that we would be gone this particular weekend but when it came time to book the beach house, this was the best week for everyone else in the family. It's all good. The kids are excited about our trip. Case in point tonight. We ventured to Academy to check out floats for the river. I was afraid we had already waited too long but we totally lucked out. Christopher was so pumped about his pick, he went to blowing it up when we finally made it home. 

And here he is trying it out...on the floor in my room...fully clothed. Weirdo.  

He also picked up a Texas flag beach towel and has swimming trunks on order.  Can you tell he's a proud Texan?  I loved the tube he chose but ended up going with the same one as Bella.  It has connectors attached to the ropes on the tubes so I can hook her to me and not lose her.  This will be her first time floating the river so I'm a tad bit nervous.  Excited.  But nervous.  Anyway, we have our list for the river started and will soon begin the list for the beach house.  I personally can not wait until my vacation begins.  It takes everything I have these days to get out of bed while my kids are out for the summer.  I hope y'all are lucky enough to have some time off.  

Cheers to summer break!!     

Back To School Shopping Already (and a little Christmas too!)

Everyone is talking about getting ready to go back to school.  I'm in that parade as well.  In fact, the Monday we came back from the beach house we bought school supplies for Bella.  I have always made the kids wait until after our beach house week to get supplies.  Monday we popped into Wal-Mart to pick up a few items for the house, saw the supplies and I figured why not...better to get them now and be able to have a choice than get what's left later.  Bella had so much fun picking everything out.  Who knew a pencil bag and super cool pencils could make you squeal with delight.  Chris is easier now that he's in high school. Well I guess its easier...he gets his list of "supplies" the first day of classes.  Bella wasn't crazy about the backpack selections so when we ventured to Target later in the day, she found a cool cheetah print she loved along with a new lunch bag.  As far as clothes and shoes are concerned, we really haven't started that task yet although if I see some clothing pieces here and there on sale, I will probably pick them up.  We did pick up a new running outfit for Chris Tuesday evening.  He starts cross country practice Monday.  I'm really dreading shopping for him.  He's getting expensive and picky and expensive.  I shouldn't really say "picky"...he just knows what he likes and you cannot deviate from that.  Period.  He also found THE BACKPACK he really wanted at Academy so we picked that up as well.  Bella is fun to shop with most of the time, but there are times when I think something is totally awesome and she's like "yeah mom, not so much!" The shoes will be the biggest pain in my ass.  I'm going to stand my ground on buying another pair of Twinkle Toes shoes.  Those things just didn't last.  My girl plays hard y'all and Twinkle Toes are not made for playing hard.

While we were at the beach house last week, I did manage to order a couple of Christmas gifts.  Score for me!  I have to say that purchase has motivated me to get my shopping done in record time this year and enjoy the holidays and my time off with my babies. I have a list going and have been perusing websites looking for more gift ideas.  We shall see how this goes.

I didn't take a lot of pictures while we were at the beach house and my phone never went down tot he beach with me.  Its too new so I'm still a little bit protective of it.

Between me and my siblings, here's what we did capture...

Lastly, Tuesday evening we had dinner Fuddruckers in LJ before heading to Academy.  Chris chose to sit with the King.  Don't we make a lovely pair?

When we got back home these flowers were in our mailbox.  We have no idea who left them but it was a nice surprise to come home to.  Brightened us all up :).

Hope y'all have a great weekend.  Tomorrow is August 1st.  One last official month of summer.  While I realize the heat will last into September, etc....I still look forward to September 1st because in my book....its FALL YALL!!!