Canyon Lake, New Braunfels, San Antonio

This past weekend we went to stay with my brother at Canyon Lake. My aunt also has a house at Canyon Lake so we visited with her as well. My grandparents live in nearby New Braunfels so we visited with them too! We also decided to head into San Antonio to show the kids the Alamo.

We went to a museum in Canyon Lake that had real Iguanodon and Acrocanthosaurus tracks.

 Then to my grandparents and the kids' great grandparents' house in New Braunfels.

 We went into Gruene to get some candy at the General Store.

 And dance at Gruene Hall, the oldest dance hall in Texas.

 Grandpa introduced the kids to Fizzies.

 Next we headed over to my Aunt Leslie's house for a swim.

 Check out these sexy beasts! My sister and sister-in-law are pregnant. I'm not sure about my Dad.

 The Texas Hill Country is infested with deer lol. This is in my aunt's front yard.

 The next day we explored a quiet part of the Guadalupe River.

 We found an alligator log!

 Then to Landa Park.

 We found these Daddy Long Legs under a rock!

 Mirek rubbed mud all over himself and so was lucky enough to get a little bath in a natural spring.

 A walk near the springs.

 Then for a swim in Canyon Lake!

 On Monday we drove into San Antonio.

We went to The Alamo.

 Here is Taven making a wish in the Alamo well.

 We went on the Riverwalk.

 Found some awesome Purple Passion flowers.

 And went to the Hall of Horns.

 The sign is made out of rattlesnake rattlers.

Happy Birthday Mirek!

Today is Mirek's 1st birthday!

First, let me show you Eaden's letter to NASA.

 And let me tell you about how the girls have once again embraced their big hair!

 Naia is enjoying her new matchbox baby dollhouse.

 Okay, and now for the birthday boy!

His brother with a birthday card.

 We made Mirek a river with a real glacier lol!

 Then we went in for sno-cones.

 And his present!

 It's a container of beer bottle caps! He loves it!

You know some people look at me and think wow she didn't even buy her kid anything for his 1st birthday. Or wow she spent his birthday money on beer (lol). I have heard people say when asked why they buy their kids so much stuff, "she is not spoiled, she is blessed." Here is how I look at it. We are SO BLESSED that we need nothing else! I need beer and the kids need food, but other than that, we are set. We are very very very fortunate! And my son is happy! He gets to spend every day with his mom! He has never set foot in a daycare and not one of my kids WANT because they are not given everything. They are thankful for everything they get. Everything is special.

Let me tell you a story about a shopping mall. Now I am not here to glorify shopping malls and I almost never set foot in them (as this story will prove). Last Christmas, my mom offered to take the girls and I to see the Nutcracker performed by the Houston Ballet. She took us shopping at the mall for clothes. When we walked in, the girls both said "Whoaaaaaa!" in amazement. They had never seen anything like it. It was special. Not an everyday thing. Not even a weekly, monthly, or yearly thing to be honest. 

I guess what I'm trying to say is that we do not need to spend so much money on our kids. In fact, they are better off without us buying them stuff all of the time. Everything is appreciated. We (and a little creativity) are all they need!