Sea World/Botanical Gardens

Monday, we spent the day at Sea World.  It started out a very rainy day, but by the time we got there, the rain had cleared and the temperature was perfect.  Caed, Riley, Dylan, and I hit the Rio Loco first thing!  I was wet the rest of the day.  lol  We ended up watching the ski show and Shamu and going on 3 rides.  Not a lot, but the kids had fun playing in the water area for a while.  I had anticipated having to leave early and possibly going back in the evening, but the sky was nice and overcast and the temperature never left the 90s, so we stayed until 6pm.  The kids were so tired, they were begging to leave!  As soon as we got out of the gate, though, Mika was begging to go BACK and ride the Shamu Express roller coaster.  I've got a dare-devil on my hands with that one!  Riley discovered his love for roller coasters on the Steel Eel.  He and Caed are looking forward to the day when they can ride the Great White.  So am I!  I had thought about taking Caed to Fiesta Texas after dropping everyone else off at the hotel, but we were all way too tired.  I'm planning the trip with him soon.  Mika is already talking about going back.  I think she is the one who loves it the most.

On Tuesday, we had planned on going to the San Antonio Botanical Gardens.  We woke up to rain, again.  The forecast called for rain until the early afternoon, so, of course, we headed to the Gardens.  We got there just as the rain was ending.  The temperature was in the 80s, but so was the humidity.  It didn't take long for everyone to get all hot and sweaty.  The garden was beautiful and well worth the sweat.  The boys have all asked to go back there.  Riley took his time looking for bugs and writing all the ones he saw on a piece of paper.  Caed loved the cactus and tropical rooms - they were enclosed to preserve the natural habitat of the plants.  We even saw a little lizard scurry by in the cactus room.  The boys were thrilled.  The tropical room is actually filled with edible plants - black pepper, coffee trees, tea plants, chocolate trees, vanilla vines, and more that I can't even remember.  There was a pyramid structure full of different palm trees.  There was even a bird watching area with a one was mirror so the birds wouldn't get freaked out.  The kids favorite part of the bird area, was a little lizard on a branch right next to the mirror.

By 3:30, we were headed home.  Mika fell asleep pretty quickly, but woke up crying when we stopped for some ice cream.  I got her some cookies and she felt better about missing the ice cream.  She also fell back asleep within minutes of me starting to drive.  Dylan was next to fall asleep.  Caed and Riley stayed awake and played their ds's.  The drive home was nice and uneventful.  We got home by 7 with pizza for the boys and chicken for the girls.  I fell asleep trying to get Mika to sleep.  When I woke up at 10:30, Caed and Dylan were still awake waiting for me to read.  I gave them a kiss and went to get Caed some allergy medicine.  By the time I went back into their room, about 1 minute later, they were both asleep.

Today, we enjoyed staying home, playing video games, and watching the rain.  We'll see what happens tomorrow.

Silly Mika at Sea World

Caed and Mika love each other so much!

My loves at the Botanical Garden

Having fun at the sprinkler park inside Sea World

Caed and Mika

Dylan

Riley looking for bugs to add to his list

Mika looking at fish and lilypads

Dylan

Mika learning about banana trees

Riley writing down his bugs

Brave enough to venture on the last stone at the koi pond

Caed checking out the cave in the Japanese garden

Touching a mossy stone

Hidden temple

Roof of a log cabin in the garden

Riley running through the water at Sea World

Soaked Dylan

Caed chasing Ri

Last big wet

Dylan and Mika enjoying a ride at Sea World

Great Day

Yesterday, was such a great day! First, the kids and I took the van for an oil change and wash.  The kids were so thrilled to go through the car wash!  We then watched the other cars go through the wash while we waited for our car.  C and I talked about the technicalities of all the different soaps and sprayers.

After the car wash, we ran two errands and ate lunch.  R wanted queso, again, so off to Serrano's we went. C has a naturally loud voice and I was getting frustrated of having to tell him to keep his voice down.  That, and having M on my lap and R and D squished up against me, was putting me in a bad mood.  The kids, however, were so happy! I looked at them and thought, 'The fact that I want them to be quiet is my issue, not there's. I was self-consious of people staring and talking about my "unrulely" kids.  My kids are happy and exuberant. I'm very lucky that my kids are who they are and I don't want them to change just to suit others.  So I let them be happy and loud, but not too loud. And I found myself smiling and laughing with them. I let go of my issues and enjoyed my fun-loving, amazing kids.  We all left laughing and full.

Today, Nana took C swimming while I stayed home with the other 3.  The littles were both very fussy all morning long, but I made the best out of it and kissed and tickled them until they felt better.  M wanted uppy, so she spent most of the morning in my arms. She is so snuggly! After lunch, R made chocolate pudding.  It was so good!He loves to cook and wants to be a chef and own a World Restaurant someday.  Now, everyone is chillin' before getting ready for vacation next week.  Can't wait!

I sure do love my kiddos!

Froggy Pool

Mimi watched the kids for a while this afternoon while I had an appointment.  The kids LOVE going to Mimi and Papa's house to hang out!  After my appointment, we all went to the local swimming pool.  The kids call it the Froggy Pool because of the baby slide that is shaped like a frog.  It is their favorite pool.  There's a volleyball net in the deeper end, which is about 3ft deep, a rope and lilypad walk, and two waterslides.  We had so much fun!  After the pool, we went to dinner at a little burger joint called Sandeez.  It was seriously one of the best burgers I've ever had!  I can't wait to go back!

Mimi has two neighbor girls over to help watch the kids and to go to the pool with us.  What a help those girls were!  And M LOVED them.  I may have just found two non-family baby-sitters if I ever need them.

M is now sleeping soundly in my bed and the boys are in their room playing games.  I gave them till 8:30 tonight to just chill out and relax before bed.

What started out as a very stressful day, has ended beautifully.  I love days like this.

Pizza time

So the kids made pizza tonight.  M was more interested in eating the cheese than in putting it on her pizza.  D was not thrilled since they were working together on one pizza.  C and R made their pizza with cheese, bacon, and, on C's side, spinach.  R didn't like the sauce, so he didn't eat the pizza, he ate a pb sandwich.  R wants to be a chef, as long as he doesn't have to eat what he cooks.  Honestly, R is a pretty good cook.  He says he's making pancakes tomorrow.  Let's see if he shares some this time.

Yesterday was a quiet day.  Only C was awake to hear the fireworks.  Too bad we couldn't see them from our balcony.  Today the kids actually let me scan some more wedding pictures.  I even played around with some pictures of the kids and printed them out.  Now I just need someplace to put them!

Tonight, the kids will get to make their own pizza.  Hopefully I'll have at least one picture up tomorrow.

Swimming Fun

I took the kids swimming yesterday.  We all had so much fun!  We spent about 2 1/2 hours in the pool just playing and enjoying ourselves.  M didn't want her floaties and she is so brave, that I had to stay with her the whole time and catch her as she jumped in the pool.  She is going to be a full-fledged swimmer in no time!  C and R played water tag with some other kids.  D just wanted to hang with his bros.  I am actually sore today from swimming with up to 4 kids on me and from chasing after them in my own game of pool tag.  :)

Hubby's gone to TN for AF duty.  That means 2 weeks of just me and the kiddos.  I'm hoping to get some sewing done this week before vacation next week.  So far today, D made up a Pokemon song, tho he can't remember it, M played memory and spun in the office chair, and C and R have played their ds.  The kids discovered that they LOVE mint chocolate chip ices cream, so much so that they had to have it on their waffles this morning.
This morning has been peaceful.  I even got to scan some things into the computer in peace.  Ah, good Monday. :)