That's all folks!

I type this last blog entry from the lake house in South Carolina. It's hard to believe we woke up this morning in San Antonio!

Chris got up early and went for one of his favorite runs of the trip. He got to experience the Riverwalk without all the people...and ran a little on the main streets downtown too. Some pics for your viewing pleasure.

(A "street" cleaner for the Riverwalk!)

We made it down to breakfast at the hotel to find no hot food, no milk, no regular half and half (WHAT?), full trash cans, screaming kids, and some very unmotivated staff. We had been super impressed with the Drury so far, so we were a little surprised. It was a Sunday morning in the summer at 9:30...could they really have been surprised that there were bunches of people coming to breakfast? I think not. More food eventually made it's way out, but they never did get more milk! While we were sitting there the screaming kid threw himself backwards out of his umbrella stroller. Mom was nowhere to be found. Good times...especially before caffeine. After breakfast we decided we needed one more walk on the Riverwalk. So glad we did. There were a fraction of the people from last night...plenty of room to walk without worrying that someone was going into the drink.

Then it was time to take the rental car back and get to the airport. We didn't really buy much, Zoe's boots were the only big thing, so we were able to carry on all our bags again.

I was sporting my new obsession, LuLuRoe clothing in the airport. Chris said I looked like Mrs Captain America. My boy wore his 'Merica gear today too!

Our flight was easy to Atlanta. We hopped in the car and drove the 2.5 hours to the lake (during which time I found out my parents got Smart phones and have more data than me. Again, WHAT?) and the kids and Chris immediately went for a lake swim. 

The next door neighbors shot off a few fireworks that we watched from the docks. #LovetheLake 

Now it's technically 12:22 and everyone is still awake. Our bodies don't know what time zone we're in! Hopefully everyone sleeps in!

And so, I'm done! I'm always so sad when I write my last post of an adventure. And yes, I know I could blog during the normal times, but honestly, we work hard during the year so we can play hard on vacation. Our weeks are crazy busy, but normal. So I save the blogging for adventures!

 I very much appreciate you all coming along for this adventure! We loved reading all the comments and telling the stories and having you with us! (So fun to watch the stats too! Around 350 views a day, views from different countries!). We had an absolute blast...being able to blog about it just made it amazeballs! 

XOXO, 

Benderz

From Caboose to San Antonio!

The caboose was a fine place to sleep last night! As a matter of fact, the kids had a rough time waking up! 

But we had breakfast to eat, so they did. We headed over to the main house to get our grub on. Eating at a Bed and Breakfast has always been one of the turn offs for me (that and shared bathrooms...I couldn't do that. I guess I could, but I don't want to do that). I really only want to talk to who I want to talk to, and why would other people want to eat a meal with me?  Just my thoughts. I went in with an open mind...sort of. The food was good. No Apple sausage casserole (bummer!), but they had homemade biscuits and eggs and bacon and an apple cake thingy. They also had make your own yogurt parfaits for Bender- score! It was a full table when we sat down, engineering students from Brazil, a couple on vacay without their kids (I'm sure they were thrilled to see Zack and Zoe pull up a chair), and a couple that I didn't get details on. Everyone was nice, but it was weird. They wanted to make small talk before my first, let alone my second, cup of coffee. I felt like people (that I couldn't tell to knock it off) were watching me eat. Anywho, good food, nice people, super cool Inn...probably not going to become a serial B&B frequenter. I do highly recommend the Woodward House if you are near Lubbock though!

A family pic before shoving off!

We had fun talking about windmills today during our drive. So. Many. Windmills. All you could see for miles and miles. The ranches were huge...no neighbors at all. So different from what we are used to. Our lives, our kids' lives, our viewpoints and opinions would all be so different if we lived there. 

Enough deep thoughts by KD. We arrived at the Drury Inn and Suites. We picked it because it was right on the Riverwalk and close to the Alamo. It didn't disappoint.

This was the view from our balcony. You could see the boats and people on the Riverwalk! I totally didn't expect that! 

We decided to head out and explore the Alamo first and then get dinner. We never ate lunch today (unless you count convenience store beef jerky and popcorn), so the natives were getting restless. The walk to the Alamo was five minutes max, but it's once again 100•.

The line to see the Alamo was 10 minutes, so we hopped in the que and read all the informational posters as we waited.

And took selfies.

Once inside, photography wasn't allowed. The rules were interesting. No hats, no vulgar or obscene clothing, talk quietly, no guns without a license... I didn't take any pictures. 

Until we got back outside. Can you believe this was the only cactus pic I got this whole trip m? This is the only time we saw one and the kids could get near it. We've decided we are going to grow them...but since we kill almost everything we "grow," it might be better to get an Aunt Norma cactus.

Alamo pics! Right after the lady took this family photo, her friend started shooting her while she said "today we're going to visit the Alamo". And an idea was born. Next time we adventure, we're going to vlog. Not sure about the details, but I'm so excited I may vlog about gymnastics practice or talking Browny for a walk next week. 

After the Alamo, we were living on borrowed time. Zack, Zoe and I could keep going forever as long as we are fed, or at least sugared, every 4-5 hours. It had been way longer than that. Eye rolls were becoming more prevalent - and the kids were getting nasty too. Rocket Fizz soda pop and candy shop to the rescue. We bought fun sodas and candy and enjoyed looking at all the blasts from the past.

We also found our ornament for the year in this super fun shop. So many sugar skulls! I love sugar skulls!!

Then it was back to the Riverwalk.

All together now, awwww...

Dinner tonight was at Acenar. Those things on the wall are guacamole bowls!

Awesome jalapeño cucumber margarita...rivals Taco Lu! That's how good it was! The guacamole was incredible too. They made it table side which meant I could request it without onions and cilantro (actually Bender did...because he loves me, weird food aversions and all). It was delish. I got fish tacos that were yummy. Chris got pork loin something that he really enjoyed and Zack got nachos. Zoe got soup that she really didn't eat...but Chris and I thought it was yummy. She ate enough guac to hold her (why did I ever introduce her to guac? Now she eats it all).

We made our way back to the hotel to find that the bar was closed. Bender offered to go out and grab me another margarita to drink by the pool, so the kids and I headed upstairs to get them changed. As we're getting into the elevator behind another family, Zoe hands me a piece of chewed Now and Later candy with a molar in it. Blood dripping down her chin (because you can't swallow when you have blood in your mouth...or close your mouth). The other people in the elevator made a joke about it always happening at the worst times, but I'm pretty sure they were grossed out too. Teeth give me the heebeegeebees! Chris was pissed when he found out. He loves pulling teeth and Miss. Emily (her gymnastics coach) got to pull out the last one.

Funny story, while Bender was looking for my margarita (which he didn't find because they aren't allowed to do Togo liquor - just beer and wine - on the Riverwalk), he saw a boy in jeans and a baseball hat. That wasn't normal here. It's 100...people are not wearing extra clothes. So he looked behind the boy to the dad who was wearing jeans, a cowboy hat and a crazy belt buckle. The man looked at him and said "Hi" to which  Bender responded (in true Bender fashion) "Howdy." I so wish I was there. When Chris was retelling the story I had to stop walking to compose myself. I wish I knew what the other guy was thinking!

On to the pool. The kids were psyched to swim on a rooftop pool. It was pretty crowded, but much fun was had.

After their swim, we went for one more short Riverwalk and then came up to get ready for bed. We'll have a bit of time to explore tomorrow before catching our flight, which makes me happy!

Hope everyone had a fantastic Saturday. Say a prayer for smooth flying and no traffic on our drive to the lake tomorrow!

XOXO, 

Benderzj

Best Breakfast Burritos Ever, Santa Fe, and a Caboose in Lubbock

Within minutes of the kids waking up today they were engaged in another nerf gun battle requiring forts and rules and planning. It was all fun and games until Zack hit Zoe in the eye... Then it was over. Aunt Norma and Uncle Dale sure have an awesome house ...next time we want to meet all "the kids!" We are also bringing goggles 😉

Aunt Norma was at it again today for breakfast. You know how sometimes you build something up for a long time and then it disappoints you? Or you remember something as better than it really was? Totally not the case with Aunt Norma's famous breakfast burritos. (Be jealous Sherry...they were that good!) she even saved some of their special roasted green chilies for us to use. So ridiculously good.

After a quick goodbye and pack up, we were off to Santa Fe. We planned on just spending a couple hours looking around and hopefully finding something fun to buy! Santa Fe is gorgeous.

This is the Plaza...kind of a center square. On the other side bunches of artisans have their handmade rings, bracelets, necklaces, leather goods, paintings etc displayed for all to appreciate (and hopefully purchase.) I saw so much that was gorgeous. I'd really like a big chunky turquoise pendant - but I honestly had no clue how expensive they were. I'm still on the hunt...San Antonio lays ahead! We bought a couple little bracelets and Chris for his star ornament for the year!

Zoe rocked her boots the whole time we walked around...but she was asking for flip flops by day's end. Those things are heavy!

Every good photo backdrop makes an even better handstand photo backdrop. There is a method to her handstand madness and I think it might have something to do with the travel Instagram account she is working on. We indulge whenever we think the handstand is semi-safe. I have to admit...this one is cool.

Pop Pop and L! Look what we found!! Do you think it would be cheating to use these for perogies? Think about how perfect they'd all be. Zack and Zoe said it would be cheating and Zoe still wants to make her special, long, slightly dirty ones.

When you pass a metal bull statue, you must stop and take a picture...and find someone to take a family picture. It is a rule.

Then we were off to find the Mexican restaurant that Norma recommended. If she recommended it, we knew it would blow us away and we weren't wrong. Maria's was marvelous! Best salsa I have ever tasted. We ordered three orders. Homemade chips. The kids loved the guac (Norma's was better). The margarita was amazeballs - best one I've had since we ventured to Mexico for them 16 years ago. The bartender took great care of us!

Zack and his fajitas. Happy, happy boy.

Zoe and her yummy but very unstable tacos.

Back in the car for the drive to Lubbock. We gained another hour today so now we're only one hour behind East coast peeps. We were once again racing the rain, and it did win briefly - of course that was exactly when Zoe HAD to pee... 

We stopped at Texas Tech on our way to the "hotel". It's literally right across the street and the boys wanted to have a look at the soccer complex and athletic fields. We didn't see much else, but the fields were super nice!

There was some kind of training canp going on, so we got close but not on the fields. Zack was complaining about his knees after being in the car all day, so it probably was for the best. I swear he's grown another two inches on this trip.

Finally we made it "home" for the night. This caboose is parked in back of the Woodrow House Bed and Breakfast. It sleeps 4 (although the girls got the better 1/2 of those sleeping arrangements), is adorable and is something that I wouldn't have believed was an option if we weren't doing it. 

Small kitchen and the futon the boys are sharing.

Hallway to the bedroom and the caboose drivers seats up top. That was a favorite hangout for everyone tonight. So fun! The bathrooms and shower are also in that hall.

Drivers checking things out.

Bedroom and non functional back door. 

Super convenient pull up bar for emergency conditioning sessions.

The history. 

Like I said, we were parked in the back yard of the B&B. They have a great pool and hot tub, an outdoor kitchen complete with keg and margarita machine and a stocked fridge. Chips and candy were all awaiting us on arrival. Doing it right!

Zoe made another pup friend. She tried to convince him to get in the pool, but he was smarter than that. We think he was the owners' daughter's dog. Everyone was on premises tonight. I've never done a B&B before...but this was pretty cool. We hear that breakfast tomorrow is the bomb diggity with Apple sausage casserole to die for!

You know these pics would be here...

Some GoPro pics from the pool of the main house. 

On the pool deck they had built in chess and backgammon and scrabble boards. The boys played and Zack ended up beating Chris by a few points. We know it was legit...Bender plays to win, always.

A little caboose stretching.

We were still so full from lunch and the kids were so happy in the pool that we kind of skipped dinner. Around 10 we headed out for custard that was delish! Whatevs, we're on vacation!

Now everyone else is asleep and I'm listening to all the weird noises. Not bad, just weird. Trees rubbing against the window, animals scampering on top of the caboose, Zack talking 😂. Another excellent day. Hard to believe tomorrow is our last driving day. I'm really looking forward to San Antonio. Hope it's as awesome as I remember!! 

XOXO,

Benderz

I'm so looking forward to breakfast...and I never look forward to breakfast! Yay!!