So, we left last Wednesday for our family vacation. We didn't get to go to Florida this year because Cory took off when we had Ella, so he had very few days left. We decided to take our crew to Sea World. Of course, Ella was not all that impressed, but Aidan really loved it. The kid loves animals, especially "swimmers". Any water animal has been dubbed "swimmer" in this house. Not sure why or where it came from, but that is what it is!
Anyway, Cory got off a little early on Wed and we headed for San Antonio. We hit Austin at a bad time, and Ella cried for the whole trip through the city. Aidan was talking about going to Sea World that day, and he proceeded to throw a fit when he found out that he was not going THAT day but instead had to wait until the next morning. Needless to say, the trip itself was not the most fabulous experience, but it was memorable! When we got to the hotel (thanks to our new be-fri Garmin), we were a little disappointed. It was not quite as luxurious as the Internet had promised, but there was room for everyone and free waffles in the morning. My husband loves free stuff...
That night started off with a bang. Within 25 minutes of checking in and getting settled, Aidan vomited on the floor in the hotel room. We got it cleaned up, but we were smelling it for the next 24 hours! Once we determined that he was not sick (I had forgotten to give him his medicine in the packing commotion of the morning that day), so we decided to go swimming in the indoor pool at the hotel. I had been sure to get a hotel with an indoor pool, and I will not make that mistake again. The pool was warm (which sounds like a good thing until you actually get into it, then you just think of how it is the same temperature as urine and your wondering who was previously in that spot in the pool). The tile was slippery and I was carrying an infant, and every noise was amplified by the floors and wall. Areas that amplify noise do NOT go well with my son! We got out of there, got showered, and got snuggled into bed with dreams of Shamu in our heads. Only we couldn't sleep because the bed was lumpy and the pillows were terrible and someone outside the window was making weird noises. We got up about 6:30 the next morning, still bumbling from having little sleep, and prepared for a day of fun. To start: free waffles. Then, to Sea World! Only we hadn't checked to see what time it opened and it turns out we were about an hour early. We consulted Garmin and found the nearest Wal Mart. It was not in a good part of town, and it was a little scary, to be honest. We did see Bridget Tidwell (Binning) there, though. We got Aidan a t-shirt and we found a cover for the stroller for Ella. Not an eventful trip, but if you could've seen the Wal Mart I think you would be as happy about that as we were!
We get to the park as it was opening, park the car, and spend the next 20 minutes getting ready to go in. I am not kidding - 20 minutes. Those of you with children understand this. Those of you without children will understand this some day. We get everything ready and finally start walking to the gates. This took another 10 minutes and I thought Aidan's head was going to explode before we got there. Poor thing - he had been so patient!
We get in and go to the dolphins first. Cory bought some fish and we got to feed them and pet them. I have always wanted to touch a dolphin, and I finally got to. Aidan was nervous about touching one, so he just fed them fish. Ella just sat in her stroller and looked around like she was better than all of it, which was the prevalent theme with her that day. We went to 3 shows, mainly just to have time to sit in the shade and get Ellasyn out of her car seat. I know it was tough on her to be in there all day, but we just couldn't walk her around in the sun. Her sun hat is too big, and the only purpose it really seems to serve is to make her mad, so we found shade when we could and I nursed or we just played. Aidan rode his first roller coaster and went on his first water slide. He really had a great time (with the exception of a few melt downs). We all did, but we knew when it was time to go and Aidan didn't even argue about it. We got back to the hotel that night and stripped down! We turned that air all the way down and just spread out on the bed, trying to cool off. After we had showered, we went out to eat. I wanted to go to the River Walk, but we knew the kids couldn't handle any more walking that day. We ended up at the Market Place, which was about 3 blocks from our hotel. The restaurant was called La Margarita, but it was not the La Margarita that we frequented in Round Rock. No, this was a little more expensive and a lot less delicious. The mango margarita was good, but I swear my burrito had canned chicken in it. The wait was awful, and the service was not good. The mariachi bands kept coming up and asking if they could play the baby a song. I just kept telling them no because she "was fussy", but really I didn't want it. I mean, to just sit there while someone plays you a song that you are pretty sure not to enjoy because it's not your type of music, then to have to pay them and wonder if you paid too much or too little... not for me.
Aidan cooling off at hotel. Don't tell hotel manager about the coach in room 221!
Ella cooling off at hotel - spread eagle! The strategic diaper placement is for her own good!
We got home that night and crashed. We got up the next day, had some more free breakfast, and headed to the outlet mall in San Marcos. We found some good stuff (I LOVE Banana Republic!), and Aidan insisted that we eat at a Red Lobster. He had been asking for fish since the previous day at Sea World. Garmin found us a Red Lobster close by, we ate (listening to Aidan tell tales of Red Snapper the ENTIRE meal - not exaggerating!), then we headed home.
It was a good trip, and I thank God that we got home safely and we all had such a good time (except the little princess...:) I know we are very, very blessed to be able to spend time like that with each other and I hope we have many more memories like this one to come. Just to see Aidan's little face when he finally saw that hammerhead shark, well, it was worth the melt downs and the traffic. It was even worth the $15 canned chicken burrito that we had to wait until 9:30 pm to get. Not so sure it was worth the incessant rambling about red snapper fish, but, hey, it's another memory! I'll take all of those I can get because these kids are growing up too fast already.
Cory and Aidan on the kid version of the Cliffhanger. Aidan loved it and kept telling the kid next to him not to worry!
This is what Aidan had been talking about for weeks - the SHARKS!!! There is one behind them (can you see it?).
Ellasyn is not having as good of a time as Aidan.
But she knows how to turn on the charm!
Cory explaining to a disappointed Aidan that he is not big enough to ride that coaster yet.
Mommy and Aidan riding the Shamu coaster. We waited in line for 20 minutes and when we got up there Aidan decided that he didn't want to go. I made him walk to the gate anyway, and once he saw the killer whales painted on the coaster he changed his mind. He loved it, but I did not want to wait in that line again! Too much more to see!
Everyone was glad to be home, resume their places in the Smith living room, and watch Kung Fu Panda (again)
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