Popsicles: sometimes they aren’t worth it.
(He’s showing us that it’s dripping.)
Our first non-work-related, just-the-three-of-us, family vacation with Jackson: totally worth it.
Curtis, Jackson and I just got home last night from our weekend vacation to none other than San Antonio, Texas. I thought of all my siestas while we were there. I can’t wait until we converge on that beautiful city in a couple of months!
We stayed at the wonderful Hyatt Hill Country Resort from Thursday night through Sunday. I’d found a great deal on rates for a stay before June 1. What an amazing place! It was really unique to be at a nice, beautiful resort that totally catered to families. I’d heard that it was a great place for kids and it definitely was. We spent most of our time in the pool and lazy river. In the evenings they do s’mores over a fire and show a movie on a big screen over a beautiful lawn. They even had pony rides! This is not where you’d want to stay for the Siesta Fiesta due to its location, but if you are ever in town with your families, definitely consider it.
On Friday we stayed at the hotel and enjoyed everything there. For Mother’s Day, Curt and Jackson gave me a gift certificate to have a massage at the hotel’s spa and I got to enjoy it that day. It was wonderful! The spa building looked like an old ranch house attached to a red barn. Check it out:
On Saturday we got up early and headed to Sea World, which was only a mile or two away from the hotel. We watched the Shamu show first thing and I won’t lie – I totally teared up. What kind of God do we have that would make such incredible creatures? And that He would give man the ability to have some sort of relationship with them? Our God is awesome! Sea World also has a water park and we took advantage of it in the afternoon when the sun started beating down on us. Jackson, our little water bug, had the time of his life.
We checked out of our hotel on Sunday and drove to Gruene, Texas, to have lunch at the Grist Mill. It is not to be missed. After that, we stopped briefly at the San Marcos Prime Outlet Mall where they have a Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, Restoration Hardware, Crate and Barrel, and a ton of other great stores. (I think we were about an hour away from San Antonio.) I didn’t need one thing, but it was fun to look! We grabbed some ice cream cones from Baskin Robbins, taking great care not to repeat the Popsicle Incident of ’08, and started the trek home.
You may notice that I don’t have any pictures of us at the pool or at Sea World. As usual, I didn’t want to take a chance on getting my camera wet. So just imagine the three of us drenched from head to toe, smiling big, having pruny hands and feet, and looking slightly more tan than before. Welcome, summer!
Tags: Jackson
Looks like y’all had a great time. I love the pictures. Jackson is so adorable. 🙂
I say how can no one not cry a little just sening any great animal ,I love setting outside & seeing all the animlas just comeing out of the woods, all so i know What your talking about Sea World if people dont see something outstanding & the creator that made it I feel for them.Its all amezing all I can say. God bless love sister in Christ Victoria NC
How wonderful for you and your family!!!
Amanda, Where did you get the car crocks they are adorable and my little man would LOVE some. Let me know please!!
You’re right–popsicles are more trouble than they are worth. Unless, of course, they’re Haagen Das and can be enjoyed inside a very chilly house! Looks like you had a blast:)
Jan
I am so glad ya’ll had a family vacation of just the 3 of you. We just took our first full week family vacation of just the 3 of us to the beach and loved every minute of it! We have been going through withdrawals the 2 wks following missing that week of being with each other 24/7. We also made a trip to Gulf World and I too got teary eyed during the dolphin show thinking what an awesome God!
-Christy
Uh oh. I thought I was the only one who cried at the Shamu show.
And you have to sit in the splash zone!
Crazy…we just got home from the same place on Monday this week (we were at the Hyatt from May 27th and checked out on June 2nd). We have been there 9 years in a row and LOVE it there!
You have to check out our version of synchronized swimming (it’s sad).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kVLy7mcj4c
So fun! I’m glad it was a wonderful vacation!!! I love Jacks’ pictures. He’s looking older and older. Oh my, I can’t wait to hold him!
What a fun trip and I will be seeing you when you return for the August conference in San Antonio.
Beckie
Amanda,
Oh, Gruene, TX brings back wonderful memories! Some girlfriends and I have yearly get togethers (we are all military wives and come from all over the place) and one year we met in Gruene! It was so beautiful and fun! That Grist Mill had some fiercely good food! Oh, and don’t forget the Carter’s store at the San Marcos Outlet! Such darling, darling children’s clothes!
Loved the popsicle pics! Your son is such a cutie pie!
Love you,
Kristen
I love the 3rd picture of Jackson. Reminds me so much of my Jackson. He is very particular and when things don’t go his way he has that same exact face!
I was so touched by you comment that you teared up watching the Shamu show. I did the same thing. The one time I have been to Sea World there was a baby killer whale. They weren’t doing the full show because they were trying to get the baby and mother used to be in the pool with the crowd around. The mother whale kept nuzzling the baby underwater like she was kissing it. It was amazing to see such a magnificent creation of God. I could not help but tear up. I am tearing up now just remembering it.
First post, but: I live just outside of San Antonio…We are new to the area having moved from The Woodlands (Houston area)just last year…with such a rave reveiw on the Hill Country Hyatt, etc, it looks like our family summer vacay is just a few minutes away! Who knew!? Godly fellowship AND travel reviews…this beats Expedia any day!
Jackson and my Christopher are VERY close in age and boy are they both adorable. I think the world might explode if they got together. My little guy wants a Popsicle now. Made some myself out of some fresh pureed blueberries and strawberries and froze them in some pomegranate juice. He LOVES them. Oh, they’re in ice cube trays shaped like characters with Popsicles sticks in them.
awww! I grew up in San Antonio, going to Sea World more times a summer than any child should have to!
Boy that little darling looks just like his daddy! So precious! I hope y’all had a great time!
-Stephanie