We Took The Long Way Home

Sunday morning we got around in Austin and had a great breakfast prepared by two of the most hospitable people I've met, Pat and Linda, Earlene's brother and sister-in-law. We had decided to take the scenic route back to Victoria. Boy did we ever! We went south out of Austin and headed toward the shore. It was a LONG LONG LONG drive! Colton was restless and Poppy actually got sick once, but we finally came out in Corpus Christi around 5:00. We went across the big tall bridge and out toward Padre Island. We didn't stop at Padre, but went a little further east and found what we were looking for - Mustang Island. We went in and looked around and got information about making reservations for the next week's camping trip. The lady told us to make reservations online as soon as possible (next week is the 4th), so while Colton played in the water for a few minutes, we used the phone and the computer and made our reservations for the only nights they have available, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Got a few pictures of us on the beach and headed back thru Aransas Pass and Ingleside and back up to Victoria. Now we have today to pack and prepare and we will leave out tomorrow morning! We are excited!

Austin Continued

Here are a few pictures from the pool at Earlene's brother Pat's house in Austin:

Colton and Earlene's sister, Michele

Lifeguard checking things out!

Checking farms and fairy lands out on the back porch. Good times.

Austin Visit

We were sitting at the house COMPLETELY bored and with no plans for the weekend, so Earlene called her brother and sister that live in Austin and asked if they would like some company for the weekend. We threw a weekend bag together (including the suits since "Uncle Pat" has a pool) and headed out. Since we didn't plan so well, this put us going all the way through Austin in rush hour traffic on a Friday afternoon! It wasn't TOO bad though (we only came to a complete stop on I-35 once) and we made it in decent time. We went out to eat with Earlene's brother Pat and his wife Linda and Earlene's sister Michele and her husband Jeff. We ate at a mexican food place that they like to frequent. I personally didn't like the food at all. Made me miss Fuente Grande! But the company was great! Came back to Pat's house to relax on the back porch. Colton, Pat, and Earlene ventured into the water, but the rest of us just hung out on the porch. When Michele showed up, she and I got out the laptops right there on the back porch and got to harvesting our farms on facebook together! Fun Fun! I'm not sure what today holds, but we'll see!! I have pictures of Colton in the pool, but I'll have to post them another time.

Interesting Day

Today we spent most of the morning just hanging around the house and watching Colton play the Wii. It is extremely hot here during the day, so around 1:00 we decided to go find something to do in the air conditioning. I suggested the library and since Earlene had never been, we thought it would be a great idea, so off we went. They have a really nice library here with alot of cool stuff. As Earlene was getting her library card, we heard alot of talk around about the movie at 3:00. Apparently during the summer they show a movie every couple of days. So we searched around the kids section and looked at some books until 3:00 when we went in and watched National Treasure 2. The seating was rather uncomfortable, but it was nice to get to see a surprise movie in the middle of the day. There aren't many other details to offer for the day. Tomorrow we have some more errands to run, so we'll see where that takes us!

R&R

The last two days have pretty much been resting days - recovering sometimes as well!
Yesterday we had a few errands to run. Earlene wanted to take a card and picture to the hospital nurses that Popi loved so much. It was nice to meet them. We hit a few other stores and such (yes, of course Wal Mart was included) and ate out at a good Mexican food place for lunch. Back home after all the running around and we all just fell about tired. Had a lite dinner and watched Jon and Kate plus eight. Cried a lil. Sad. But talk about reality TV!
Today we had determined NOT to leave the house and just hang out at home. I have had two VERY hard nights with a sunburn on my back. I don't remember having a sunburn this bad since I was little - and that one came from Padre Island. Alot of pain and of course I can't put anything on it myself since it's the middle of my BACK! Stinks in the middle of the night! I'm sure I'll recover though. Just in time for our next venture to the sea!
The three of us (and the dog) decided today about noon that it was naptime. None of us really even ate lunch (we had a good breakfast though) so we are having spaghetti for dinner and then we'll plant ourselves for Deadliest Catch. Sounds like a good night to me!

Sun!

Beach today!
We packed up today and headed out to find some beach. Of course, any good day has to start with a trip to SOME Wal Mart SOMEwhere. Then off to the beach. We wound up in Port Lavaca. Even though it was Father's Day, it wasn't too crowded and we had fun floating around and getting sunburned!! Yes, we had sunscreen (bought it at Wal Mart - duh!). Hit the dollar menu at McD's for lunch and took it to the city park under a big tree and had a nice lunch with good conversation while Colton played on the playground. Back home to the AIR CONDITIONING to harvest on facebook (no, not obsessed!) and barely got that done before I keeled over and slept for an hour and a half! Up in time for dinner and now we're chillin' watching Hannah Montana and playing on the web.
Why of COURSE we have pictures!

Who says there's no life guard on duty?!

Made it - almost!

We made it to Turner Falls today around 11:30. Got everything paid for and set up the tent before we could do anything else so that our site would be reserved. Right across the road from us is part of the creek, so we went over and cooled off for an hour or two. Popi didn't like getting wet (he's not allowed in the water here anyway) so he spent the time sitting on me. We chilled in about 6 inches of quick moving water while Colton floated down the river and walked back up. Came back up to the tent and loaded most of our stuff and had lunch. This would be PRIMITIVE camping. We are not used to not having electricity. We will surely live for ONE night, but we will definately have to do some things differently than we usually do! We are going to head down to the creek again with the camera this time and try to get some shots that we can post tonight (before the battery goes dead!). Good news is that we're on top of the hills here, so great reception!

We're outta here!

Today we leave for our summer vacation to Texas!!! We plan to spend the day and night at Turner Falls before heading across the river. Of course, at Turner Falls you're in a huge HOLE, so I probably won't have service to update, but I'll do my best and if not, I'll update tomorrow!

Coming up.....

Well, we are back from our first trip to Texas for the summer. The boys and I went to Victoria to visit Popi and Granny. Popi has been very sick in the end stages of cancer, but we got to see him and visit with him for several days. It was EXTREMELY hard to leave to come home. None of us knew if we would ever get to see him again. We won't. Popi died Monday, June 8th. While we will miss him like crazy, we will also always have the times that we got to spend with him and the memories we all made together.
We had to leave Texas to come home for summer school. This year, summer school is only 3 weeks long, but it's always extra money for the summer. Money's always good. The summer school director put me as an aide in the music class this year. This is great to get to work with the kids AND music. However, since there are only 12 days of summer school, we are cramming to get 5 songs with motions ready for a "program" on the final Thursday. They are getting it and I think it will be cute.
Friday after summer school's out, we are headed back to Texas for a few weeks. In spite of everything, it will be great to get back down there. We are ready for some OCEAN! Pics will follow, of course.