More (brief) Spring Break Observations

Nothing makes you want to start a diet like seeing yourself eat Cotton Candy on a 40 Ft Jumbo-tron. (Yes, it happened to me at ...What else?...The Shammu Show!)

My kids are both destined for the theater... we had some High Drama last week.

I wonder if the animals in the zoo and at Sea World ever want to say "Hey, whadda you lookin' at?"

Is a date with a shrink in order when you suddenly burst out laughing while strolling down the side walk because you are thinking "I wonder what Napoleon Dynamite would be doing if he were at Sea World?" and the sit com that ensues in your brain causes you to suddenly spew water and laugh uncontrollably? Not that I did this, no not me!!!

Trainers at Sea World amaze me. They swim in stinky fish water, kiss whales, and open their eyes in salt water without wearing goggles. How in the world?

Is it any wonder that our country has an obesity epidemic when bottled water is $3 and a large cherry cola is $2.35... a funnel cake al a mode is $3.50 and a Turkey wrap with sprouts is $6.50, a bag of chips is $1.50 and a side of stawberrys is $4.00? I know we don't live at Sea World all the time, but still!

I love hotels. We stayed in the historic St Anthony, just a two minute walk from the river. Sixty four summers ago my maternal grandparents honey-mooned in that hotel. Last week The St. Anthony completely won over a forth generation as Kolby and Rhett have informed us that they would perfer to live there. I wonder if my great grandchildren will visit the St Anthony in the next 64 years?

The river walk in San Antonio lives up to all the hype and then some. I never tire of it.

My first vacation (of many) to San Antonio was at age three. Thirty two years later I still feel like a kid when I get to go on a river boat, feed tortillas to the ducks, and eat outside at a river cafe.

Of all the places he could live, I totally understand why Max Lucado chooses to live in San Antonio.

Kids are cutest when they don't try to be.... Like when Kolby called Shammu "Mooshu"on accident or when Rhett hid under the bench at the Seal show to avoid getting splashed.

Winning a Spounge Bob stuffed toy and a stuffed Shammu at the arcade brought more wonder and awe into the faces of my children than Christmas morning. I love that they were so excited and proud of their winnings!

I sometimes wish I lived in a city ( in a much cooler climate) for no other reason than you walk more in big down towns than in little cities and burbs. I like to walk to get places but just walking to walk ... Well that's just not the same.

To a seven year old, the $5.50 kids meal is completely worth it just for the whale lunch pail that it comes in.

To a three year old, a thirty minute wait is an eternity.

To a tired Mommy and Daddy, quiet, happy, sugar-sucking children are worth the $4 dollar bag of cotton candy.

Late night Mexican food and Margaritas on the River takes on a totally different tone with children.

Vacations are expensive, fun and hectic. Sometimes you come home more tired than when you left, but the memories... They really are priceless.