After the wonderful exchange of gifts with my sister's family we managed to pack up and head out.
Lets hit the airport and head to Texas for cousin time round 2. We were there with plenty of time to take in the sights and simple beautiful way even the airport decorates for Christmas.
Lets hit the airport and head to Texas for cousin time round 2. We were there with plenty of time to take in the sights and simple beautiful way even the airport decorates for Christmas.
Someone is sporting his new hat! (one of 3 we didn't realize he even packed!)
I guess it pays to get notifications because as we sat down to a watch the game, we got re-booked leaving Christmas Eve! While I am sure flying on the same night as Santa and his reindeer must be fun, we were ready to head out there now. Thankfully they rebooked us through Dallas instead of NC.
Now we wonder if we all get to sit together?
Pretty chatty pilots let us check out the cockpit before our long flight to Dallas
These 2 were trying to get all the workers down below to wave to them - cuties!
In case you were wondering what the Leadbetters did late at night in the airport - stairs on repeat.
This is a video of Drew and Shane running through an artistic maze at the airport. Surely what they had in mind.
We arrived with bleary eyes and Liz instantly scoped us up. We poured the boys into bed - Shane and Nick with Seb and Drew tucked in with Winslow. each kiddo woke up a bit excited to see a cousin crawling in next to them. Heres to fun times tomorrow morning.
First off the San Antonio Botanical garden. the PERFECT run around place for the kids. They even had a lego creation hunt they were happy to be a part of.
Kinda thankful there is no water in there at the moment.
I kept snapping photos as I felt my mom would LOVE this place. I just needed a kiddo face in there too.
Drew obliged by this super old croton
Big time fairy houses
The different shades in landscaping is almost soothing.
Love the artistic photo and getting some of the beautiful decorations too.
Got the Christmas tree in this one - and 3 beautiful Leadbetters.
I have to say, I am so very thankful how much we enjoy the time with each other. Liz is a tremendous host prepping casseroles, orchestrating activities, organizing countless packages that came to her house - - Robert rocked our socks too (not pictured as he is working - or taking time away from crazy town!)
Time to get ready for Christmas Eve Church service. I got to curl my hair, Winslows, and Liz! Winslow posed for a photo. Liz was of course off to the next thing.
Love that this photo was captured - while they are never perfectly posed - they are perfectly us.
Love this capture too - we pulled grandpa out to enjoy the chaos a bit. While his health is becoming more and more of a struggle - I am amazed and thankful for how simply happy he is. really enjoyable to be around as always.
My one request for Christmas eve - A big Texas church!
Delivered.
They even offered to pick us up in golf carts.
We were there so early we managed to snap some photos beforehand. I love love love this one. The fact that they get to know their cousins this well and through their lives is such a blessing. We often think about where these relationships will take them.
This was at the beginning of the service (3,5,7,9 and 11 that night) We opted for the 5. By the time the service started we were all squishing in together - probably about 1,000+ All the great carols - that I assumed my kids knew the words too. Although I asked Shane if he wanted to come back to the next service to really get the words out ;)
Dinner was a delicious seafood soup and we worked to get the kiddos in bed as there was work to be done. LOTS of it.
Love this beautiful peaceful tree that liz captured - surrounded by gifts of love.
The kiddos were great sleeping til just before 7 - the excitement of Christmas morning is so beautiful.
We asked him to model these later that day. He was more than willing!! Yet must have forgotten the request.
Here it is, the gift they have all been waiting for
Not sure I can say the same for this one - but he sure looks good in glasses!
We took some time to try out the roller blades. My boys looked like baby deer using their legs for the first time. Shane slept lots of time like this.
Thankful Wyland still wants to come out and watch these guys play - it surely was a beautiful day.
Dinner was a delicious smoked prime rib - nothing warms the heart more than this full table and also about to be full bellies.
Love this photo and the story behind it - day after christmas - rainy and gross - PERFECT video game weather. However in our effort to NOT let their brains turn to MUSH. we got them out to the JCC to play basketball while the parents went for some calorie burn.
They let us use the facility ALL DAY.
So guess what, lets go back and use the pool after dinner. countless missions of submarine searches - showered and in our PJS on the way home!
Liz had the most delicious casserole waiting for us. YUM YUM - we all want the recipe (but NOT the calorie count please)
Texas weather is SO different. DAILY. So the next day was the perfect day to be outside. So lets hit SEA WORLD!!
Filling up on burgers first.
(loaded up on burritos for LATER - genius!)
Headed into the park, the kiddos enjoyed these almost as much as the rides
Here we go! We were hear 11 years ago - no kids! I am not exactly sure why though....
With minimal crowds initially i made a beeline to the 2 biggest rides. Drew fed off the excitement and figured it was something he HAD to be part of. He made the hight cut off so off he went. Nick and Dad didn't have much a choice. Drew had a few second thoughts, but when he took that first dive he had a million second thoughts and told me he wanted off. Sorry buddy, hold on tight! I will admit - I LOVE roller coasters - however being on them with my kids is by far the scariest thing ever.
Second big ride was a little more doable. So much so we did it twice.
Prepping for a ride on wave rider.
We managed to catch 2 very different and very awesome shows next. First one with 4 trainers and 4 beluga whales - Next one - Pets AHOY - ADORABLE. Nothing but cats, dogs, ducks, mice and even a skunk. LOVED IT
Next up - Dinner in the parking lot - DELICIOUS and GENIUS at the same time. Mostly because we serve beer.
after being with Liz for 4 days now we headed the saying - both guests and fish start to stink after 4 days. So we packed up and headed north to Georgetown.
See next blog!
We made it back from Georgetown in time (another dreary day) for a San Antonion Rampage game. The minor league that Sebs team is mirrored off of. Super cool game and the kids loved it. T-Bone is there mascot and you can see him in the photo (BTW - the seats are the BEST we have every experienced) T-Bone kept the crowd very motivated!
Fortnight dances and all - we even managed to get on the big screen - although I didn't get a photo proof of it.
Thank you T-Bone and nice win Rampage - We will see Seb out there one day!
All things come to and end and sadly this one does too. Time to head home. Of course one more opportunity for the airlines to re-route us. This time through NC instead of Chicago - judging by the weather I guess that was a good move. Please take note of Nick's carry on item.
So much thank you goes to Liz and Barbara for making it all possible and letting us inside your lives. We area thankful through the miles that may separate we will work for our family to really know and love each other -
No comments:
Post a Comment