Sometimes it is Good to Get Away

Sometimes it’s good to just get away from it all. That’s what our family did this past weekend, we went to visit family in San Antonio. We met a cousin we’d never met, and got to know one that we hadn’t seen in almost three years. We played at a country park in the warm spring sun and sand on Sunday, and later on, we were tourists for a day at the Riverwalk and Alamo.


No computer, no work, just play, play, play! Papi Juan even got down in the dirt with the little ones, and I seesawed with mi ninas. Tio Jeff and Tio Byron grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, and los ninos “spanked” the Spongebob piñata until lots of candy fell out! Sophie cuddled with Tia Iliana while Spongebob was getting tortured, because she is afraid of the loud noise, and everyone yelling “Dare, dare, dare!” (“Hit it!”)

Later on, we parked in a downtown parking garage on the sixth floor, and our adventure was started! We rode the boat up the river and got to hear about who killed who back in 1852! On the boat, we met two very beautiful girls who are from China, but have American mommies and daddies. They are five and six, but they said they are sisters, and share a birthday. I know, it was confusing to us too! The girls had been adopted out of China, and even though their individual families live in Nevada and Pennsylvania, they keep the girls connected to each other and their roots through trips like these. I’ll never forget those girls and those incredible parents who gave them an opportunity at life.

We toured the Alamo, and took lots of pretty pictures, as everything is already in bloom and green there! The kids got so tired of me saying, “OK, stand over there, in front of that purple tree, now, smile!” They would go, “Oh, mom!” But out came the smiles anyway. Bunch of hams!

Then we bought some cotton candy from a street vendor, and everyone’s fingers and faces were sticky. Later, we saw baby ducks with a mommy duck in the River. They were so tiny and cute! You know it is officially spring when there is baby ducks!

Tired, sticky and dusty, by nightfall we were headed home through the scenic drive between San Antonio and Katy. Green fields, tractors tilling up the hay fields to get ready for planting, and plenty of cows greeted us from the roadside. It is a beautiful life, and we are grateful to be living it!