Sea World

Alright, need to wrap up these Texas posts. I have other things to write about and my OCD won't let me move on until these are done!

On our third day, we were able to use military passes for Sea World (up to four dependents FREE... how many of us were there? FOUR! Woot.). I was already grateful to be getting in for free, but I was much more grateful when I realized how insanely crowded it was, knowing we may not accomplish that much. I may have been upset if we had spent that much money to get in, when we ended up only making one show, one ride and waiting in line for over an hour to eat... and we were there for 7 hours. But... it WAS another great day. We are lovers of the sea, after all.

Once we got in, we booked it to the whale show.

It never gets old. I leave every time determined to become a marine biologist (my plan at age 10) or a trainer (still on the list somewhere). I just think the animals are breathtaking!

We made a few pit stops at flamingos and alligators, before heading to Bay of Play. Bay of Play is a new kids area with a huge climbing... thing... (think McDonald's on steriods) and a water area.

It could be a really awesome place or it could be a really scary place. Full disclosure... I lost my kids. Well, two thirds of them.

As soon as I saw this place I thought- Crap. How am I supposed to know where they are the whole time? And I initially told them they couldn't go up in it. Three bodies, one set of eyes... the odds were stacked against me. The other problem- there were two ways to enter and SIX to exit. Cale made his way back to me (he has an amazing sense of direction) but I couldn't see the girls anymore. Apparently, there had been a problem with Brynn's shoes and they got turned around. Thankfully, when they came out and didn't know where I was, they told a police officer. He walked them around the whole thing until they saw me.

After that we decided to wait the hour to get some lunch, then we waited an hour to ride one ride (that's what days like this are made for! Plus, look at their faces! Worth it.).

By then, Nathan was done for the day and back at his suite. We decided to stick around to see the penguins (family fave).
They had a brand new baby chick!

Waiting in line for a drink, winding DOWN.

We stopped on the way out for one last photo op- Cale's favorite part of the day- "a picture with 'Shampoo'" :)

This was our last night (but man did we live it up for those three days!) and Nathan reaallly wanted P.F. Changs. Not very "Texas", but it we hadn't been able to afford it for quite some time and he didn't want to wait anymore! We had a nice dinner out before going back to pack :(

Lackland A.F.B.

After a long day at Morgan's Wonderland, we got back to the hotel just in time for Nathan to get done and we were starving. We decided we couldn't come to Texas without a great Texas steak and had a wonderful meal. We wanted to go get ice cream, but were too stuffed and needed to kill some time first. Nathan really wanted us to see his room/suite where he will be staying for the next couple of months and Cale really wanted to see some airplanes!

So we headed over to Lackland to walk around for a bit. The kids were way more into it than I expected, expecially after such a long day! We saw each and every plane at the parade grounds :)

We took this picture in 2007...

In the same spot 4 years later :)

We made it to Marble Slab afterwards :)
It was an amazing day, but LONG!

Morgan's Wonderland!

Ahh! This was the most amazing place.
It's an amusement park specifically designed for children/people with special needs, of any kind. EVERYTHING there is wheelchair accessible and able to be modified for you (i.e. Cale got upset about the lights on the carousel... off they go!).

I had showed CB the pictures online and he saw that he could drive a red jeep, so that's all we heard ALL morning- I want to drive a red jeep. I want to drive a red jeep. Guess what we did first?!

{Cloud NINE}.
We rode it four more times.

{The sandbox!}

Cale always wants to ride the carousel, but he's terrified when he actually gets on. His has ridden maybe 2-3 times, but always on a bench clinging to me. He won't sit on an animal. This time, he decided to try it out! He wasn't thrilled at first, but he warmed up to it by the end of the ride! He even let me take my arms off of him for a minute. (We didn't go any more though lol).

{NOT afraid of the carousel. Kind of wish she was.}

They loved the music garden- they got to bang around and make as much noise as they wanted!

On of the highlights of the day was definitely the train ride around the lake. It was a BEAUTIFUL day and trains make us happy :)

After listening to some praise and worship music (performed by Voices of the Heart- a group of individuals with mental or physical disabilites sang and signed- beautiful!), we made our way to the water station. The water station= very cool.

After water, we grabbed a few sandwiches for a picnic lunch (and lollipops for after ;)

{That would be Cale's lollipop in his lap :) }


We drove boats and sprayed windmills on Pirate Island. Then... Sensory Village! My favorite :)

There was a mechanic's shop where they had Touch&Hear tools, cars to "paint" and a car similator with working radio and air conditioner. There was a stable to ride (fake) horses, but they did move! There was a room with screens on the walls and floor with leaves falling and you could catch them or fish would follow you when you moved (also very cool). There was a news center with a green screen where they could forecast the weather and give a sports report (or just dance and jump and down like my kids). Mine and Brynn's absolute favorite was the grocery store! I've never seen such an elaborate set-up for kids!

When we finished at Sensory Village, we played on the playground a while and re-visited any favorites from the day. After that, we headed back to the hotel and got there just a few minutes before Nathan got in from school :) Another FANTASTIC day!!

The Alamo and Riverwalk.

I text my dad (Ge) from Texas to tell him I was having a "Ge moment"- forcing history on my children on vacation.

The last two times I was in San Antonio, I didn't get to go to the Alamo and it IS a good history lesson for the kids and so very "San Antonio", so I wanted to make sure we got over there this time. Unfortunately, when we did... the line was 2 1/2 hours long. None of us were up for that. We did go in the back entrance through the garden and other parts and check out all the history there (there was a lot!).

Poppy had told the kids to watch for a cactus in Texas. I actually told them they may only see one in a resturant or our hotel! Enter the Alamo- hello cacti. They were thrilled to see them everywhere and wanted to take a picture of every one for Poppy!

They enjoyed the Alamo as much as 2 hungry 4-year-olds and 1 starving 6-year-old could. It was a nice hour or so outside and I felt like we accomplished something without waiting in line or spending the money.

{dancing down the street for no reason at all. happy.}


Next, we walked down to the Riverwalk for some lunch, shopping, and whatever else we could get into. Let me just say this- San Antonio is GOOD to their military families! We were able to do so much more because the prices were ridiculously discounted for military and we are so grateful!

After lunch, we walked around for a bit to see everything and decided on a Riverboat ride. Significant line for that too, and Cale was OVER it by the time we got on. It was still a nice little ride :)

We didn't really shop, we just browsed before grabbing some cookies for a special "We are on vacation and can bend the rules" snack and headed out to Alamo Street.

The kids had spotted the wax museum and Ripley's on our way in and really wanted to check it out. We didn't pay to go in (again), just admired what was out in the lobby- that was enough to thrill them!

{Bumblebee! Happy boy.}

{photo credit: Cale West. Us in front of the Alamo-ish.}


By late afternoon, Nathan was done with school for the day. We picked him up and headed BACK to the Riverwalk for dinner. We ate mexican food on the river and did a little wandering (this time, I got to shop a bit! For ME!).

Wrapped the night with a few errands and a Redbox for Nathan and I. We were exhausted, but it was a great day!