Well, this past weekend, the family decided to go to San Antonio and have a mini spring break vacation. This time the trip consisted of Fiesta Texas where we got Season Passes for the family, cheaper than at SFOT and they work at any park, a couple of nights in a hotel (with a pool!), and a trip to the Alamo and of course Riverwalk.
First thing first - yes we went with just the 7 of us and no, we aren't mental. We weathered DisneyWorld by ourselves, surely San Antonio would be a cake walk. Well... maybe not Cowboy Bill. We went to San Antonio so my wife could do one of her adoption studies. Well, she made the appointment at 10:30 AM, which meant the Magnificent Seven left our abode at 5:00 AM. Thanks to yours truly, it was more like 5:45AM. Interestingly enough, the kids were not bothered by being woken up in order to sit in the car for another 4 1/2 hours. Movies were playing, mom was sleeping, and dad had his ipod on to keep him happy.
San Antonio... what can I say about it? Well, you better get on the ball if you want to look like somewhat of a clean city by the time the Final Four comes around. I mean, jeez... construction, graffiti, buildings that looked condemned - and that was just at our hotel! Seriously, the hotel was not that bad. The pool was heated, but was positioned around a wind tunnel of buildings to create somewhat of an arctic blast motiff. Of course the kids were just stoked to get in the water. #1 is like a fish out of water... all she wanted to do was jump in and do all kinds of breaststrokes, butterfly strokes, etc... Luckily, the twins never saw the pool. They were too busy getting their grimy hands onto every thing that wasn't nailed down in the room. The hotel was nice to us... they gave us free breakfast for having to endure some idiot from DC that had the most sensitive car on the planet. Every time the wind blew, this alarm would go off. From 1:30 AM (when I noticed it) until we left at 11:00 AM that dang alarm would go off and made it darn near impossible not to kill someone. Good times...
So... Fiesta Texas! This place is great and I will tell you why. It lets you buy beer and wine! I am beside myself with this place. Every few feet there is a soda stand followed by a beer stand. It is the most amazing thing I have ever witnessed. The kids loved the park... the twins being able to ride some of the small kid rides and #1 and #2 getting to enjoy most of the big, cool rides. Man, I just had a ball, standing in line with #1, seeing her get excited about her next big adventure. She is amazed by everything... I love that about her. I remember being that way as a kid and I hope that adulthood and life doesn't pull it away from her like it has me at times. My wife says we are one and the same - I think that disappointments in life has killed a part of that enthusiasm. Another thing - traveling with 5 kids (two that are the cutest twins on the planet) is like being a pop star. Your either being pointed at or total strangers come and ask you all sorts of questions. You have your hands full? Are those all yours and are they all girls? Man, you guys are brave... (when I know they are thinking, You guys are stupid!), Do you have your own bathroom or do they make you go outside? You saving up for all those weddings? I used to acknowledge the stares and side comments, now I just ignore it. If someone does come up, I try to be as accommodating as possible. I know it is a spectacle... I am amazed every day.
The Alamo is fun... #1 studied about it last week at school and it was cool to see it through her eyes. Of course, she was a bit puzzled to why it is such a big deal since we lost. It's hard explaining to a seven year old that holding off hundred of Mexican soldiers was a cool feat. Also, it is hard explaining that they weren't all Texans either. I tell you what... that place gets me. Walking around that courtyard, I imagine being back in that time, scared as hell, being all alone with nothing to shield you but those walls. Then I walk out of the garden and see the big neon sign for TOMB RIDER 3 and Ripley's Believe it or Not ride and all is back to normal. If only Davy Crockett knew Lara Croft... then we would be able to talk about the great win in Texas history.
What else? I have gone on forever... sorry... I thought it was cool how the riverwalk had the water green for St. Patrick's Day... then I realized it is always that murky green color. Oh, and for all you bargain shoppers, San Marcos has an outlet center that makes Grapevine Mills look like a neighborhood Walmart. They have every store imaginable and everything is 50-60% off, all the time. My poor wife went window shopping on Monday. Couldn't buy anything because I have decided to give her mad money to the IRS for the next 3 years. Seeing her prance from store to store was depressing.... Coach, Brighton, Pottery Barn, Carters, Children's Store, you name it - they have it. It was a cool site. Just need to win the lottery and let her go bananas. One day, honey.... one day. Then you can be content you let the last 9 1/2 years get away from you with me by your side. I digress....
Besides the dirtiness, the stupid DC car that wouldn't stop honking, the twins getting raisin diarrhea, cutting through Austin rush hour, listening to the Great Muppet Caper, farmer's sunburn I received, annoying my wife, my kids hating being in the car now, and not getting to eat at Casa Ole, it was a great trip. And yes, they are all girls and they are all mine. And I am neither brave or stupid. Just like amusement parks.
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2 comments:
What is it about kids and hotel pools? It's like pure gold for my kids to spend the night in a hotel and get swim in the over chlorinated soup. We tried to swim at the LQ in College Station, but the water was a crisp 37 degrees. I got in up to my ankles and evacuated quickly. Are they really all girls?
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