Meanwhile, back at the ranch

We ended our time in Texas with a day trip to the Alamo and the Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio.  The kids were hot and bored, and did not really care about the history of the Alamo, but we forced them to learn in spite of themselves!  They did enjoy walking along the beautiful riverwalk.

Remember the Alamo

After the swamp tour with alligators in New Orleans, this river ride was not nearly as exciting for the kids, although poor Charlie did provide some amusement.  We made all the kids use the bathroom before boarding the barge for our 30 minute tour.  10 minutes into the trip, Charlie says he has to pee, and we, of course, told him to hold it.  After a few minutes of being on the water and traveling past trickling waterfalls, Charlie was in a panic bouncing up and down with a red face and tears, crying "I can't hold it".  We yelled to the tour guide at the front of the boat that we had a "Pee Emergency" and asked him to pull over knowing that Charlie could not last another 15 minutes.  Either he did not hear us, or he ignored us, but it was clear he was not stopping the tour.  Luckily the people beside us drinking bottles of beer, felt his pain and offered us an empty bottle and a "human shield" so that Charlie could relive himself in semi-privacy.  Well, with imperfect aim, he managed to fill the bottle, and although his shorts and his cousin Jillian's flip flops were a little wet, we managed to survive the rest of the boat ride!

The clandestine pee in progress!

After the excitement of the river ride and walking along the beautiful pathways, we ate lunch at a yummy Mexican restaurant beside the river -- it will make eating at El Rodeo much harder when we get home!

The rest of our time was spent enjoying the company of relatives that we do not see nearly enough, and will miss dearly when we have to leave.  Ethan is already trying to negotiate the next get together.  The kids all played so well together that Joy and I actually had time to visit with the grown-ups and relax.

Wii -- Just Dance

We cooked some fabulous BBQ ribs, made some mojitos and ate until our faces were sticky and our tummies were full.

Finger lickin' good!

We also got a chance to play cowboy and cowgirl ... all the kids were thrilled to get to "ride" a horse.

 

I know that I am so sad to be leaving tomorrow, and the kids are all heartbroken as well.  It is amazing to me that we struggled so much with the decision to even make such a long trip, but now we are already trying to figure out when we can do it again.  It has been an idyllic week spent doing all the things that are most important in life -- cannon balling into the pool, staying up too late giggling until tears are rolling down your cheeks (both the kids and the adults were guilty of this), being squished together at the dinner table eating too much food, watching the moon rise with the sounds of horses neighing in the background, watching lifelong friendships develop and deepen, and simply sitting on the front porch saying nothing while being surrounded by those you love.  I know without a doubt that even when my children are adults, they will remember the summer they spent with their cousins in Texas as one of the best ones of their life.