Vacation in San Antonio

Day 1

Carson's second trip on an airplane went very well. We had been telling him for 2 weeks we were going on an airplane to Texas. He would say "yeah, Tetas". We were up bright and early at 4:15am for a flight at 6:25am. Carson was very excited, but insisted that we weren't on an airplane. It wasn't until he was looking out the window and saw the clouds that he said, "Mama, paplane". He fell asleep for a bit and then the portable dvd helped the rest of the flight. At our layover in Houston we ate lunch (Carson ate pizza), he enjoyed running his legs off. The next flight (only 45 minutes) was quick and painless. After checking in at the hotel and the boys (Daddy & Carson) taking a nap while mommy unpacked, we walked to tour the Alamo and have dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. We thought Carson would love this, but the lifelike animals and sounds of tropical storms was scary. He ecspecially hated the 4 ft elephant right at our table that moved and made noises all through dinner(Carson ate pizza). He kept saying "bye bye".

At bedtime Carson said his first pray that contained more words than just "amen" It went like this "Mama, Dada, Nanan (that's how he says Carson) Amen"....Carson was out in less than 5 minutes.



Day 2

Off to the zoo....in 100 degree temps - UGH. It was very hot, but we spent 5 hours at the zoo and really enjoyed seeing a different zoo. Some things we saw that's not at the Cincinnati zoo: Kangaroos, lots of fish, porcupins(is that spelled right?), Lots and lots of birds, a really cool beach area for the kids to splash in, and the best UP CLOSE hippo exhibit.

After resting at the hotel we went to the riverwalk for a boat trip on the river and dinner at Joe's crab shack (Carson had pizza - seeing the pattern?).

Carson was off to sleep in less than 5 minutes.

Day 3

Sea World here we come (or as Carson calls it WOOOORLD). We arrived at open and stayed till close - yes 11 hours. Carson was wonderful and had a blast. So within 15 mintues the temps are 100 degrees and we are all miserable. So we let Carson ride some kiddie rides, Daddy rode a roller coaster and we went to visit the Pequins. Then it was off to the water park (round 1 of sunscreen) - thank goodness for the lazy river and the kiddie park! Then we dryed off and braved the heat to see Shamu in Believe and more rides and animals. Then it was time to go back to the water park. Oh boy it was hot!!!! (round 2 of sunscreen)Then we left the waterpark when it closed and went to see the dolphin show and Shamu one more time in "Shamu Rocks Texas". It was amazing to see the whales!!!! By this time mommy and daddy are really feeling sunburned - Even though we had two rounds of sunscreen our Ohio skin was not ready for Texas! OUCH!!!!!

A stop at McD's on the way home and off to bed. Carson was asleep in less than 5 minutes.

Day 4

Road Trip....We took an hour drive to meet Constance (Carson's birthmom...not his real mom (I'm his real mom)but the mommy whose tummy he grew inside). We had lunch and had a visit for about 1 1/2 hours. It was nice to see her and to hear how she is doing. She was happy that we offered and went out of our way to visit. It does not make us sad or nervous to meet with her. Carson is our son and nothing can change that now - she is 100% sure of her decision and she tells us how happy she is that we are Carson's parents. But, she is a part of his life (and ours) and will always be. She gave us the most amazing gift anyone could give...a child! We are so thankful for to be Carson's Mommy & Daddy!!!!! And thankful that we can share his life with her if only in photos, letters, and visits. Her boyfriends mom came with her, and she said to Darren "It's amazing how he looks like you, he smiles like you". It's also nice to see how Carson looks like Constance. He has her brown eyes and her ears. Even little things - like we always say how Carson sweats so much and she mentioned how she sweats so easily. (No it didn't get his sweating from his uncle Brent) Carson pronounces most of his words like me. He truly is and always will be a product of 4 parents (unfortunately we may never meat his birthfater). Understand, that does not make us sad. God built our family just this way!

After our visit we went to the Snake Farm. Just a run down building we passed on the way home. Daddy said "I think I saw a show on the Discovery Channel about that place, let's go". So we went. Now let me tell you the name of the show was "Dirtiest Jobs" It was a dirty place. But they had tons of snakes, reptiles, and other animals - including an arctic wolf - yes in Texas. Carson fed the goats, but the goats wouldn't eat from his hands. Probably because he only had 1 kernel of corn and he was chasing them around saying "goat goat".

We went to dinner at a nice Mexican place. During dinner I told Carson that tomorrow we were going to take an airplane back to Kentucky. He started screaming and crying (of all the places) saying "no Tetas". He was having such a good time he didn't even want to go home.

We went back to the hotel and went swimming and then off to bed. Carson was asleep in less than 5 minutes.

Day 5

Time to go home. Our flight was delayed 3 1/2 hours so we walked alot in the airport and ate lunch. Carson made a friend and played Choo Choo trains with John (3 yrs old). Carson slept most of the flight home and we made it home and were only 30 minutes late for church. For those of you that know me well...you know that I'm NEVER late. I felt really bad, but at least we made it.

It was a wonderful vacation!