Vacation Time

Matt is home from JRTC! Yay! Let me tell you something, those 11 days he was gone was like a crash course on having two kids. Actually, it was more like a crash course on bringing one kid and one mom back to reality after a crazy month of change. But we made it (barely) and Matt came home (temporarily). So we decided to take full advantage of our family time together by taking a very spontaneous vacation over Labor Day Weekend.

Friday morning Matt made us all a great breakfast of bacon and eggs, and then we loaded up the car and drove four hours to Pleasanton, Texas where Matt's sister, Rachelle, and her family live. They just built a new home so it was fun to get to see the new place, visit with them, and let Bennett run wild with his cousins.

The new house, from the back. It is so beautiful, we are very happy for them.

Marshall, Walker, Bennett (behind Walker), and Bear, their new German Shepperd, playing on the dock on their pond. Rachelle and Jess live on about 15 acres, and Bennett had a grand old time exploring it.

Bennett insisted on wearing his boots...he actually insists on wearing these most of the time lately.

While we were there, Bennett got his first riding lesson from Uncle Jess on Barrett and Marshall's horse, Hank. This was the first of many more to come.

I am super nervous around horses--they have brains of their own and I don't trust them. Bennett, however, takes a little more after his dad and just jumped right on up and rode that horse like he had been doing it forever. I was very proud...from a safe distance.

 Bennett told me, "I love that horse, Hank. He is my friend because he lets me ride him." I think we may have another cowboy in the family.

The next day we got back in the car and drove two more hours until we reached Port Aransas, Texas. It poured almost all of the way there, which sort of made us a little nervous about how great our sunny beach vacation was actually going to be.

Our view from the car. By the time we reached the island though it was just overcast, which is actually how I remember the beach being a lot of time growing up in California. So we felt right at home and didn't let it stop us. 

We stayed on the actual island, which meant we got to take our car on a ferry -- a first for all of us except Matt. When we landed, we were a little ahead of our check-in time, so we decided to head straight to the beach (within walking distance of our hotel) and see what was in store.

Me and Bennett running in the waves in our clothes. I don't know why we did this with a three-year-old and never thought he would end up soaking wet and sandy before we ever even unpacked the car. Oh well, it was a vacation! And it felt like it, too. We had the best time at this beach!!

 

 Two happy boys! The water here is like bathwater. Soooo nice!!

We also drove around the island a little bit and checked out the local souvenir shops and all the colorful beach houses. We will own one of these one day. And it will be sea foam green, with turquoise shutters and coral lawn chairs in front. And a bright yellow door maybe...and a palm tree.

Matt, Bennett, and Patton going into the belly of the shark at Bonjon's Souvenir Shop. Bennett was very convinced this was a real shark. Once, Matt ran inside while we waited in the car, and Bennett informed me that, "That big shark is going to close it's mouth and Daddy will be trapped! But then Daddy will just open it right back up with his big, strong muscles." Doesn't every little boy think this about their dads? :)

 

 We finally did make it into our hotel, and it was great! Apparently we got the handicapped room, so it was huge, with a living room and a pull out couch for Bennett, a kitchen, and a separate master bedroom for Matt and I (and Patton's little crib). Here is Bennett in his awesome hat he got from the shark store, all ready to go to the beach for real this time. This was one excited kid, let me tell you.

 

 Our little beach bums. 

 

The making of a Bennett Merman.

Bennett Merman and the sandcastle Matt and Bennett made while I was feeding Patton in the car. I'll tell you what, we were finding sand on Bennett in places we didn't even know existed after this trip.

Patton hanging out at the beach, doing what he does best. He is the easiest going little guy. He did put his toes in the water, but ultimately decided he would rather be in his stroller.

That night we played in the hotel swimming pools and hot tub, ate at a local restaurant, got THE best ice cream sundaes from a little shop, and vacuumed three pounds of sand out of our car. Needless to say, Bennett fell asleep the second his head hit the pillow. Matt and I stayed up a little longer to watch a movie, but I fell asleep almost as quickly as Bennett did and I don't remember much of it.The beach will do that to you.

The next day was Sunday, and after a breakfast in the hotel we packed our bags and headed out for one last adventure.

 

Bennett and Patton waiting for us to pack the car. Life is rough for these two...

 

Stopping to get some fresh seafood for Maimie and Pop.

We drove about 45 minutes down the road to Corpus Christi, where we made a stop at the USS Lexington. I guess it was an aircraft carrier that they retired...I don't know. The entire thing is a big museum now, but since I have kids I spent more time making sure nobody fell overboard than reading all the little signs. But the ship itself was really cool and Bennett was beside himself that we got to go on a real boat.

The USS Lexington, from the top of a really tall bridge we drove over (another highlight of Bennett's life).

 

 This was supposed to be a cute picture of me and Bennett, but it ended up just being me looking like a weirdo and Bennett climbing on the anchor. That is pretty much the story of our life.

All Aboard!!

There were a ton of cool airplanes on board (you know...because it was an aircraft carrier).

We brought Patton't stroller, but since everything was accessible only by ladder we ended up carrying him through the entire thing. You wouldn't believe how hot and heavy a 6 week old infant can be. His cuteness made up for it.

Exploring all the tiny little spaces. Sailors must be very skinny.

Bennett's new timeout spot. 

(The Brig)

 

And here's Patton in his spot. He was one hot little boy, poor guy.

Bennett and Patton, "The Dynamic Duo!"

 

Time to go home.

Our little family.

We made one more fun stop on our way home at Maimie and Pop's house, just to say a quick "hello." We also got a chance to hang out with Grandma Reppond and Gunny (Wayne's parents) who just officially moved into the cabin on their property. However, by the time we got there, our car was so stinkin' dirty with all of our luggage, toys, and candy wrappers (we ate A LOT of candy on this trip) that I could not for the life of me find the still camera. I did find the movie camera though, and we took some great video. But I don't know how to upload that on here yet. Just know we had a good visit with them and Bennett was happy to run and stretch before the last leg of our trip home. 

All in all it was probably our favorite family trip we have ever taken. Now it's back to real life, where Matt is getting ready to go to Career Course in San Antonio for the next two months, and I am getting back on schedule with going to the gym and playgroups and such. 

Vacation or not, we live a happy life :)