Everything Under the Son
Because JESUS is my everything
First
Saturday, August 04, 2007
This last week we took our very first Jones Family Vacation - the four of us! We had a great time. We started out the trip by spending a few days with my parents. Natalie and Levi always enjoy their time with Maw Maw and Paw Paw...it is non-stop spoiling! Levi loves running around their home, finding things to get into. He is really great at finding all of the things that are not child-proof, and making some fun for himself. Natalie loves the fun and games she has with my dad, especially when he is tickling her and making her laugh until she can hardly breathe. She also takes great pride in her "job" at my parents' church. My mom and dad are door greeters and hand out the weekly bulletin, so Natalie is their official helper when we are there. She LOVES it! What great memories they are creating with their grandparents!
After a couple of days at my parents, we headed out on our own. We traveled south and made a stop at the outlet malls in San Marcos. It was fun for a little while, but it was hot and the kids were too excited about staying in the "hotel", so after a bit, we continued our journey to San Antonio. That night, we arrived and got settled in to the motel. No trip is complete without a stop at the local Wal-Mart for some snacks to have in the room!
Tuesday morning, we were off to Sea World. The kids loved it...seeing all of the animals was a great adventure. We were able to feed the sea lions first, and then watch them in the show. Levi was too restless to sit through the show, so he and I stood at the top of the stadium and enjoyed some cold water and a cookie! Natalie has mentioned several of the little "jokes" from the show, and she especially liked the fake lips that one of the sea lions wore out onto the stage. Who knew that a pair of red plastic lips could make such an impression on a four year old!
We swam, we ate, we walked, we perspired, we looked at the animals, we perspired, we laughed, we talked, we perspired...have I mentioned that is was extremely humid, so we were all sweating like pigs?
The splash zone was a must for the show "Believe" which is Shamu's show this year. Even with a trip to the bathroom in the middle of the show, Natalie managed to make it back in time to be soaked by Shamu, and she loved it! She has decided she wants to swim with the dolphins when she is bigger, though she was thrilled to hang that dead fish out to feed them! I wasn't sure if she would want to touch the fish, but she just scooped it up and was ready to feed!
After two days of fun in the sun at Sea World, we decided to call it a success! We were all tired, and happy...even little Levi! Once we had found the kiddie pool in the Lost Lagoon, he was such a happy boy!
We couldn't be so close without having dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. We were seated right by the tiger, and so every 10-12 minutes it would growl and move. Levi thought it was great, and even tried to say tiger a few times. Natalie, of course, had to make several trips to the bathroom so she could walk around and tour the place!
One our way home, we stopped in Fredricksburg and Daddy took the kids to the park while Mommy had a little me-time shopping. Well, I guess I should call it browsing instead of shopping. I really enjoy getting great ideas to come back and make myself!
One last stop before heading home was the Wildflower Farm. We were able to go inside and walk around taking some great pictures of the kids. We also went inside the butterfly house, which was great fun!
All in all I would say that our first Jones Family Vacation was a success! Everyone had a great time, and we are happy to be home.
As the keeper of the finances for the Jones Family, I can say that it feels really great to have budgeted well for this trip. I had everything mapped out and all of the money in envelopes, and it worked out fine. We even came home with a few dollars left! I'll admit it feels good to return from the trip knowing it is all taken care of, and we don't have to spend the next 3-6 months paying it off! It's just a good thing that we have a "whole 'nuther year" to save up for another trip :)
I know it sounds bad, but we were so busy having fun that we didn't take any pictures until the last day at the Wildflower Farm...so I'll leave you with these...
After a couple of days at my parents, we headed out on our own. We traveled south and made a stop at the outlet malls in San Marcos. It was fun for a little while, but it was hot and the kids were too excited about staying in the "hotel", so after a bit, we continued our journey to San Antonio. That night, we arrived and got settled in to the motel. No trip is complete without a stop at the local Wal-Mart for some snacks to have in the room!
Tuesday morning, we were off to Sea World. The kids loved it...seeing all of the animals was a great adventure. We were able to feed the sea lions first, and then watch them in the show. Levi was too restless to sit through the show, so he and I stood at the top of the stadium and enjoyed some cold water and a cookie! Natalie has mentioned several of the little "jokes" from the show, and she especially liked the fake lips that one of the sea lions wore out onto the stage. Who knew that a pair of red plastic lips could make such an impression on a four year old!
We swam, we ate, we walked, we perspired, we looked at the animals, we perspired, we laughed, we talked, we perspired...have I mentioned that is was extremely humid, so we were all sweating like pigs?
The splash zone was a must for the show "Believe" which is Shamu's show this year. Even with a trip to the bathroom in the middle of the show, Natalie managed to make it back in time to be soaked by Shamu, and she loved it! She has decided she wants to swim with the dolphins when she is bigger, though she was thrilled to hang that dead fish out to feed them! I wasn't sure if she would want to touch the fish, but she just scooped it up and was ready to feed!
After two days of fun in the sun at Sea World, we decided to call it a success! We were all tired, and happy...even little Levi! Once we had found the kiddie pool in the Lost Lagoon, he was such a happy boy!
We couldn't be so close without having dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. We were seated right by the tiger, and so every 10-12 minutes it would growl and move. Levi thought it was great, and even tried to say tiger a few times. Natalie, of course, had to make several trips to the bathroom so she could walk around and tour the place!
One our way home, we stopped in Fredricksburg and Daddy took the kids to the park while Mommy had a little me-time shopping. Well, I guess I should call it browsing instead of shopping. I really enjoy getting great ideas to come back and make myself!
One last stop before heading home was the Wildflower Farm. We were able to go inside and walk around taking some great pictures of the kids. We also went inside the butterfly house, which was great fun!
All in all I would say that our first Jones Family Vacation was a success! Everyone had a great time, and we are happy to be home.
As the keeper of the finances for the Jones Family, I can say that it feels really great to have budgeted well for this trip. I had everything mapped out and all of the money in envelopes, and it worked out fine. We even came home with a few dollars left! I'll admit it feels good to return from the trip knowing it is all taken care of, and we don't have to spend the next 3-6 months paying it off! It's just a good thing that we have a "whole 'nuther year" to save up for another trip :)
I know it sounds bad, but we were so busy having fun that we didn't take any pictures until the last day at the Wildflower Farm...so I'll leave you with these...
posted by Anne, 4:29 PM
