Monthly Archives: March 2010

San Antonio Children’s Museum:: Monday, March 8, 2010

Posted on by

Derek had a session Monday morning and then we checked out and headed to the San Antonio Children’s Museum. The best part was the HEB grocery store in the basement. The kids had a blast.

Remember the show Supermarket Sweep? Looks like they are ready!

Cade LOVED the bananas. He lined them all up, put them in his cart, lined them up, put them back…pretty much played with bananas the whole time! We left for lunch. We walked a few blocks to McDonald’s and then walked back to the museum. Cade fell asleep on the way back. Abby played dress up, read books, and played in a neat ball area.

When Cade woke up, we left and walked to El Mercado. I wasn’t quite as impressed as the first time we were there years ago, but we found a great Mexican bakery and got some good treats to eat on our walk back. On our way back toward the hotel, we found this neat fountain area in front of a church.

We made it the rest of the way back to the hotel and got our bags and met up with Karen. We took a taxi to the airport and got there pretty early. We ate and waited and waited. By the time we boarded the plane, I was so ready to be home and the kids were too. We were on our way and then, earlier than I thought, we started our descent. The pilot came on the intercom and announced that we were landing but that it wouldn’t look like Chicago, because it wasn’t Chicago. It was St. Louis. What?! Midway was pretty much shut down because of dense fog. Ugh! Abby started crying that she wanted our car. We landed and after some debate, we decided not to rent a car and drive home, but go to the Holiday Inn and take a flight in the morning. While we were making the decision, Cade threw up all over the floor, me and himself. Ugh! Derek went into a SW office and told them and that they might want to have someone come clean it up. About 15 minutes later, a paramedic was asking us questions about it. They had called an ambulance! Ugh! We made our way to where the shuttle was supposed to pick us up and there were so many people going to the Holiday Inn that we couldn’t fit on the first shuttle. Ugh! While we were waiting, Cade had diarrhea and it leaked through his diaper and pants. Ugh! After I got Cade cleaned up, Abby says, “I peed in my pants!” Ugh! I checked and they didn’t look wet. I checked again and told her that a few drips didn’t count. Thank God! We finally got on the shuttle, made it to the hotel, and were in our beds and sleeping by midnight! What a crappy travel day. They happen, luckily not real often.
Advertisement

San Antonio River Walk (Paseo del Rio):: Sunday, March 7, 2010

Posted on by

We spent Sunday morning at a park nearby to the hotel. The kids had a blast. It was one of those big wooden ones that is kind of like a castle. It started to rain on us after awhile, so we packed both kids into the stroller and walked up to the food court at the mall for some lunch.

After lunch we went to the Alamo. There were people dressed up since it was the anniversary of the battle. Neither of the kids wanted their pictures taken with anyone. On the way there, Abby saw someone and whispered to me, “He’s a bad guy.”


After a lazy afternoon at the hotel, we went to supper at a nice little Italian place right on the Riverwalk. We sat inside and had great service. The food was good and we were right by a window overlooking the river. After supper we waited for John to come and we walked to Marble Slab for some icecream. The kids loved it.

San Antonio:: Saturday, March 6, 2010

Posted on by

Derek went to a conference session early and was back a little after 9. John came and picked us up around 10 and we went to a shopping center to see these GIANT cowboy boots. The kids were pretty impressed.

We made a stop at Sports Authority and Derek got new shoes and the kids both got tennis rackets. I told Abby I would take her this summer and teach her how to play. Then we drove by John’s school and then had lunch at Cici’s Pizza. After that Derek had to get back for another session. So, while Derek went to the conference, John, the kids, and I went for a walk around the Riverwalk. We stopped at the snack bench and fed the ducks. The ducks liked pb&j crackers, but they did not like Cap’n Crunch Berries. Hmm?!
We went back to the room and waited for Derek. He got done late afternoon and we went out for a boat ride, which Abby had been asking and asking to do. It was interesting and Abby really liked it. Cade squirmed the whole time, but he did okay.

After the boat ride, we ate at The Republic of Texas. It was mediocre and the service was awful. While we waited and waited for our food, John showed Abby how to hook ’em. Again, we sat outside, which for service, did not seem to work in our favor.

We ended the night by the kids and I going to bed and the guys going out for drinks. It was a great day and I couldn’t be happier that Derek’s conference was in San Antonio so that we could see John. It is one of the main reasons why the kids and I tagged along. He is such a great friend and it makes me sad that he moved away, but I am happy for him.

The Alamo:: Friday, March 5, 2010

Posted on by

The kids and I were on our own for most of the day since Derek was at the conference. It was a bit chilly but we headed out and explored the Riverwalk area.

We stopped at what would end up being called our “snack bench” for a snack of juice boxes and pb&j crackers. We found out that the ducks liked the pb&j crackers and the kids were glad to share. There were quite a few ducks including 10 ducklings.
After a morning walk around the Riverwalk, we went back to the room for a little bit before heading out in the other direction to The Alamo. We walked around the outside and took some pictures. Abby is getting pretty good at taking pictures too.

Cade helped me take this one of The Alamo. After The Alamo, we walked a few blocks and had lunch at McDonald’s. Well, two of us had lunch at McDonald’s. Cade fell asleep on the short walk there and then I had to lift the entire stroller with him in it up the stairs to get into McDonald’s and then when we were finished lift him back down. He of course woke up right when we got back to the hotel, which meant he didn’t get a very long nap.

We hung out in the hotel room and waited for Derek to get back from his conference. Abby took a nap while we waited and she napped and napped and napped. Midnight the night before had caught up with her. She slept for nearly 3 hours. By then Derek was done with the conference for the day so we walked along the Riverwalk to the mall area and ate at Chili’s. The service was awful so Derek took the kids down to listen to some music while we waited. I think that sitting outside would end up being a bad idea in the future as well.

After supper we wandered back to the hotel. John picked Derek up just before 7 and they went to the San Antonio Spurs game. The kids and I relaxed and Cade went to bed pretty early since he had such a short nap. Abby stayed up later than I did and I finally had to tell her to quit poking me. I’m not sure what time she fell asleep, but luckily she did!

Chicago Midway:: Thursday, March 4, 2010

Posted on by

Today is the day we were heading to San Antonio, Texas for Derek to attend the ASCD conference. Abby school in the morning and I made sure the house was picked up, dishes clean, laundry caught up, etc (all the things I have to do before leaving on a vacation) before I picked Abby up at 11:30. Cade took a short nap, for him, only an hour. Derek left school at 1:30 and we put a few more shows on the ipod touches before leaving for the airport at 3:00. Abby took a quick 20 minute nap on the way there. We got to Chicago Midway early, of course, but that is okay with me. I would rather be early and sit around than run through the airport, especially with 2 kids in tow. We parked in the parking garage. That was a first for us. We usually get dropped off. The luggage wasn’t too bad and I actually felt pretty organized and put together as we made our way through the airport. I absolutely love our backpack suitcase. There are no wheels, which makes it not as heavy. It is as big as a suitcase, but it has backpack straps or can be carried by a handle. It sure beats the heck out of trying to roll a suitcase and carry extra bags and keep the kids together and in this instance push a stroller. We got checked in, made it through security with little trouble (I brought no liquids.), and made it to the gate. There were 2 other people from Derek’s school going to the conference and one of them was at the gate with his family already. So, we visited, ate some supper, and waited…and waited…and waited. Our plane finally arrived and they had Group A line up. Then an announcement. There was no running water on the plane and they needed to fix it. I just hoped that wasn’t code for leaking fuel. Well, we left almost an hour and a half late, but we left. Twenty minutes into the flight, another announcement. There is no running water. We have hand sanatizer in the bathrooms. Nice. Luckily none of us had to use the bathroom on that flight. Cade was at the end of his day (remember short nap) and was ready to be DONE. That was with about 5 minutes left before we landed. He cried. We landed just after 10 and our friend John was coming to pick us up. Our bags came out right away and we went outside. Cade finally fell asleep sitting in the stroller while we watched the craziness that was SAT airport. The traffic was insane for a Thursday night at 10:30. Seriously. It was great to see John at close to 11:00. Partly because I missed him and partly because I was tired and just wanted to get to the hotel and go to sleep! Really, though, it was great to see him. He drove us to the Hilton Palacio del Rio on the Riverwalk. We checked in, said goodbye to John, and headed to the room. Abby said she didn’t want to go to bed. I told her it was time and that I was going to bed. To say I was tired was an understatement. Midnight hit and the rest of the eyes that had been open finally shut and we were all sound asleep.