Sea World

We had season passes to Sea World that my parents bought us when they came to visit. I somehow lost my pass so up until this last visit to Sea World, Chase had been taking the kids by himself. My mom mailed us her pass to see if they'd let me use it. The morning we decided to take them a few weeks ago, Chase called to make sure they'd let me in. They said I had to show my ID and for $5.00 they'd print me a new pass. Well, we hadn't even tried before to get another pass because if you read on the pass itself it says they are not responsible for lost or stolen cards blah, blah, blah, so I figured they wouldn't do anything. I went and stood in line to see guest services while Chase took Joelle on the carroussel and the other kids stood in line to ride the Shamu roller coaster.

I got up to the counter and explained I had lost my pass and needed a new copy. She asked for some information and then asked if I was the only one who'd lost the pass. I answered yes and she said ok, printed me a new pass and that was it, she didn't even charge me, like it wasn't a big deal. So, this whole time I could have been going with them...whatever, I guess they just try and scare you into keeping your passes safe.

Anyway, so it was a special Halloween Sea World, so we decided to go. We really didn't participate in anything special though, we didn't go to any of the shows and we didn't do the trick or treating. Most of the Halloween stuff was at night too and was too scary for the kids, so we went on a few rides and looked at some animals and went home. It was perfect weather and surprisingly wasn't that crowded. Joelle actually got to go on some rides this time around too.

Riding the carroussel with Dad.
Bailey and Emery on the Shamu coaster. I was surprised Bailey got in the first car since she has a problem with "drops" on roller coasters, but I guess this one was pretty tame.
Cam and Addie in the tail section.
Joelle up high on the Big Bird egg ferris wheel. I was riding with her and she got bored and tried to climb out freaking me out until they finally got us off. She kept fighting me when I tried to hold on to her and the seat belts weren't all that secure. I think we'll be sticking to rides that are low to the ground from now on.
Emery afraid to take a picture with me and the alligators.
Kids standing in front of some spooky skeletons.
Emery and Joelle waiting for the big kids and dad to get off their rides.
We got pretty close to the dolphins considering we weren't in the massive crowd paying an overpriced $6.00 for fish to feed them.
Bailey, Joelle, and Cam with the sharks.
I believe a Sand Tiger Shark, or Black Tip...not sure.
Joelle all tuckered out after a busy day.


Little Girls Dancing at Sea World while waiting for the others to get off their rides.

Ant Bites

I know y'all are excited for this post, but like I said this is a journal for me as well. So I'm documenting stuff...the good, the bad, and yes...the ugly. This summer I had several run ins with fire ants. Now, I had been bitten before by red ants in CA, and fire ants are a whole new story. First off they just swarm you and your whole limb, appendage or whatever just feels like it's on fire...I guess that's where they get their name from. Of the 4 times I was attacked, 3 were in or near my garden. I had a fairly good reaction to the first bites and with each preceding attack my reaction to the bites worsened to the point that the attack documented below drove me to the doctor. The doctor almost gave me a steroid shot, but thought it was infected so gave me antibiotics instead. The pharmacy was late filling the prescription and I thought I was feeling a little better so I never got the prescription filled and opted to let it heal on its own. After every attack it took weeks for me to heal, it was so annoying. With this particular attack I was barely able to walk and couldn't put on my shoes. I took benadryl which wiped me out and ice packed my foot all day for about a week. I started wearing my snow boots with my pants tucked inside and keeping a distance any time I had to water the garden. I'm hoping next year we can take some precautions to ensure we don't get as many fire ants... they are evil. I don't want to have to be getting an epi pen just so I can garden.

Fat foot compared next to my normal foot, you can see some of the scars on my normal foot though from when I got bit on that foot before.

Grandma and Grandpa Beebe Visit

My parents came to visit back in the middle of May. See, I told you I was way behind and these last few posts are out of order, but at least I'm getting them done. The kids were still in school, but we took them out for 2 days, which was supposed to only be 1 day. The 1st day we took them out of school we were on our way to Sea World, but a huge crazy storm hit literally on our way there and they closed down Sea World. We were lucky to make it back home safe, it was a crazy doom and gloom type of storm. We ended up getting off the freeway and stopping at Big Lou's and getting pizza. The 2nd day we took them out to try to go to Sea World again and it was so hot and humid the day after the big storm. The kids had a fun time though. My parents bought our family season passes.

We went to Landa Park in New Braunfels with the little girls and my mom. We rode the train, played on the cool playground, and fed the really ugly ducks. I took my mom to a doll shop just around the corner from us and she bought the kids some dolls and some pots to go on Joelles cooking station.

We went on the river walk on the non-touristy part, and took my parents out to eat at my favorite burger place Chris Madrid's. We had to wait for a really long time on a Friday night, but it was worth it. So much cheesy, juicy goodness...yum! For me to talk about a burger like that, you know it must be good.

We took my parents to the Salt Lick, and I took my mom to the Dragon Place too. We went to Seguin Trade Days at the park as well. One day the kids got to go swimming for a bit in the pool, even though it was a little too cold. I think that was about it. We had a really fun time and can't wait for them to come visit again :)