The night before our first family vacation didn't go exactly as planned. Nick and I went to bed entirely too late and once we feel asleep, guess who woke up crying....your right-Jack. He was just unhappy most of the night so when the alarm clock went off at 5 AM none of us were interested in the vacation...we just wanted to sleep.
Our trip was perfect! Here is a sampling of some (OK a lot) of the pictures and I'll share the others through a slide show because it would take FOREVER to upload them all here, but I don't want ya'll to miss out on any of the Relle adventure.
http://www.nbchildren.org/default_flash.aspx
After pulling him away from the wooden train table at the entrance (which we went back too...but we can play with trains any day) we entered the McKenna Hospitable where there was a pretend newborn nursery, examining room, a dental section, and a bunch of other neat health related exhibits. Jack's favorite part was driving the ambulance and making the sirens and lights go off.
After saving a few lives Jack decided it was time to get away from the stresses here on Earth so he headed to Space. They had space suits, space helmets (which we didn't wear for obvious reasons), moon shoes, a space ship, and every time you walked around Space like sounds would go off from the moon like things hanging from the ceiling.
Once returning to Earth he had to make back some money since he spent so much buying his ticket to the Moon so he went to the bank where he worked as a teller. Looks like he learned a thing or two from Uncle Eric because he knew just what to do here. Guess he learned to work the ATM from Mom and we're still trying to figure out where he learned to do the carpentry, plumbing, and farm work that he did as well.
After making all that hard earned money it was off to spend it at the local grocery store. At first he started with a hand basket but I guess he was unsure because we never buy so little that we are able to use those....so he got himself a buggy just like Mom. Jack was like a little demon with that shopping cart. He would run over anyone and anything in site while tossing things into the basket. After he shopped for awhile he worked the cash register for other kids that were buying things. I would have given anything to have been able to play in such a cool pretend store when I was growing up!
After shopping what else is a boy to do but to go back home to put the groceries away and do some cooking. Guess Jack is paying attention after all when he is running around the kitchen when we are cooking...he knew exactly what to do...take a pink cup (I'm sure if there was a blue one like his one at home he would have picked it), put it in the microwave, and push the buttons. He spent a long time in the kitchen of the house...Nick and I sat in the "living room" listening to music that Jack had put on the radio earlier. At this point Nick and I were starting to crash since we were idle so we steared Jack out of the kitchen. He went on a Camp Out, explored a Bat Cave, and watched the fish before heading to the art studio (We planned the art and water tables for last...smart us huh?!?)
This was Jack's first time painting. We have colored but we haven't ever painted before (wonder why?!?). He was so cute and knew just what to do...that is until he put the paint brush full of red paint in his mouth. From that point on I had to stay close by to intercept when he tried to taste it...guess he had worked up an appetite. We brought home his first painting to hang on the fridge. Before leaving we bought him his first souvenir shirt from his first vacation. Nick is such a SUCKER but we LOVE him for that!
Wow! After a rough night, long drive, and a blast at the Museum we ate a picnic lunch in the air conditioned car and this is what came soon there after. His mouth is still in the circle from Wub falling out. Wish Nick and I could take a nap...after all we are working on next to no sleep and chasing him is exhausting.
I hadn't done too much research for the trip since it was so last minute but the day before we left AAA had sent us a random magazine about Texas travel since we are members. I threw it in the car and on the way to New Braunfels I flipped through it. There had been an ad about a Nature Preserve so I called Mom to Google it and see what it was all about. Looked interesting (which you never know about things like that...might end up being stuffed animals the woods or maybe even animals made out of aluminum foil) we decided rather than go back to the museum after his nap that we check it out. He napped in the parking lot for a long time and woke up just as Nick and I decided to go on the Safari ride with him asleep so we could enjoy it ourselves-oh well...it was more fun seeing it the first time through Jack's eyes.
http://www.wildliferanchtexas.com/
Can you tell he just woke up from his nap and is so confused as to why he isn't in his car seat while we are moving. Nick and I honestly had no clue what to expect but this was truly one of my favorite vacation experiences ever...
Jack and I moved to the front seat so we could get a better view (we had to climb over the seats because there was a HUGE list of rules for your safety/safety of the animals and getting out the car was a No No-after this I totally understand why). Here is a bison coming up to the window for some of the animal food.
Here is Jack and I backing up and quickly trying to roll up the window because the bison was getting a little too close for comfort. There were so many animals and it was truly awesome for them to be so up close to you. All of them that is except, the ostrich, which we have on video...he literally tried to attack us, Nick was screaming like a girl, Jack shot across the car and latched on to Nick, I was trying to roll up the window (while filming and snorting) while it was banging it's beak into the window, but we couldn't drive away because we would hit the other ones in front of the car. Needless to say we are not fans of the ostrich, but loved all the other animals...especially the zebras....they were so beautiful and sweet.
This is no Bambi...just kidding...he was nice but isn't that face scary looking in the picture. We went through the 4 mile safari once, took a bathroom break and looked at the petting zoo (smelled and was way too dirty for us), bought another shirt and a magnet (I know...), and then drove through one more time.
After such an eventful day we had worked up an appetite so we headed to Gruene,Texas for dinner at the Gristmill.
http://www.gristmillrestaurant.com/
I know I have said it before...but he is truly my heart...yep, you're looking at it right here in this picture.
Dinner was great. Our table was out on the balcony overlooking the trees and you could hear the river rapids below. The food was wonderful too! Afterwards there was music playing so we let Jack run around in the grass...how could we deny him a chance to do the jitterbug?
This town was so cute. There were tons of Bed and Breakfast places, the Gristmill was so neat and looks like fun- especially the Hall Bar if you were sans kiddos, and the little stores were quaint. We could tell that we were loosing our little man because he kept rubbing his eyes and had slowed down significantly. I mean....what a great traveler...never cried or fussed the entire day!!
The drive back to Austin was about an hour (with a quick drive through at San Marcos that prompted my requesting to go before we headed back to Dallas the next morning), we did a quick bath, and we all called it a night. This was one of the nicest hotels we have stayed in (yes, it was just a Marriot but we are usually coupon cutters or hostel stayers). All of us slept great and would have probably slept as usual til around 8 had the person that stayed in the room before us not set the alarm clock for 6:30 in the morning (note to self...if at hotel and don't need a wake up call...check alarm before going to bed). When it went off none of us wanted to get up...but the one that makes all the calls at that point was ready to start our day.
After breakfast Jack entertained himself for over 20 minutes pulling Kleenex out of the dispenser one at a time and bringing them over to me. We could have just gotten a room here in Dallas and saved on gas if we knew he was going to be so entertained exploring a hotel room.
While Nick and I got ready Jack watched some cartoons. I never let him do this at home and was shocked that he sat for about 15 minutes to watch it...then it was off to climbing under the kitchen sink and playing with the dresser drawers.
We spent about 2 hours at San Marcos (where for the record I didn't buy anything for myself...Jack and Nick got a few things-nothing big). I thought I was on such a roll for picking great things to do that I suggested GattiTown for lunch...bad choice number one for the trip. It was a buffet (aka e coli grazing) and the activities were way to old for Jack. Now we know. Our next stop was the Blue Bell Ice Cream factory for a tour and sample but I accidentally got directions to the wrong location and they didn't do tours. No way we were backtracking 90 minutes so we headed on. When approaching Waco, TX I remembered seeing an article about things to do with kids when visiting in the AAA magazine. There was a museum by Baylor that we decided to check out. They were closing in an hour and let us in for free!!
Nick and Jack did a little weather reporting in the weather studio...here they are pointing to where we are on the map.
Jack loved watching the turtles swim around in the water. They had all kinds of animals and insects to look at.
The transportation room was a huge hit. Jack needs to get his license soon because he has driven more cars in the past two days without one than I have in my life.
Driving Ms. Daisy!
In the music room after playing on the drums him and Nick tapped out a tune on the giant piano. They had a ton of cool sound activities that we played with.
Straight to the butter churn just like at Papa C and Bebe's when we got to the log cabin room. This museum was really neat as well...they had trains, a neighborhood, a bubble room, an air room, a health and fitness room, the animals/insects, music, log cabin, a language room, and a room where you learn about other cultures full of dress up clothes from around the world. Glad we stopped by...would have loved more time...now we know on our next trip.
http://www.baylor.edu/mayborn/
On the rest of the way home Jack thought it was so cool that he could prop his feet up on my head rest. I would turn around and tickle his toes which had him giggling up a storm. We made it home around 7:30, had dinner, a good bath after all the exploring, and now he is fast asleep in his own bed hopefully for the night (unless those Ostriches come back in his dreams).
That about wraps up Jack's first vacation...our first family vacation. It was a perfect two days with my two most favorite people in the world. Looking forward to many, many more. Stay tuned for a post with the rest of the pictures.
Hopefully Nick has finished unpacking...that was the plan...I blog...he unpacks :)
Our first pudding. Can you tell he liked it?!?
How can you get mad when he is just modeling after us? This is a battle because he doesn't understand that it is dangerous when he fills "his cups" up with water because the tile becomes like ice.
So after he falls in the water puddles he makes at the cooler or when he bumps his head from being a dare devil...to the freezer he goes til you open it for him to get out the Owey (sp?)...he puts it on for all of 2 seconds and then he is off to attempt another stunt.
Loving his new high chair we bought on Craigslist. We plan to paint it black to match the kitchen table and one day black kitchen chairs. Both highchairs are in the kitchen but he won't go to the other one now...guess he hated it as much as us.
This is his latest...when he is walking around the house he puts both his hands behind his back. They are going to love him at Watters Montessori...most teachers have to beg for students to walk this nicely.
