vacation...sort of

My mom and I took the kids and  left last Thursday for Texas. her parents live there. We planned many things for a 9 day trip! After we finally made it about midnight I was TIRED!! Sis doesn't travel very well for long periods of time :( Friday morning we had a consult at Scott & White for Speck's ear. I wasn't surprised at all with the outcome. Surgery...again. This time more invasive, inpatient. The Dr. there said he would do it but that the follow up is really involved and it would be a LOT of driving. He suggested we try and change surgeons at ACH. That didn't work very well. That is not their "practice". So, we had to get some help and managed to get it done. He goes this Friday for another consult. Whoo Hoo.
Saturday my cousin's little boy turned 1 so we had a party. And he was the typical one year old...he screamed the whole time. Sunday we left and headed to the beach. Another 5 hours. Did I mention that I have a little girl that doesn't travel well?! We made it about 2:00 and checked in the hotel then headed out to the water. That's where we stayed until dark. The room had a microwave and fridge so we went to the grocery store and just had easy meals the rest of the week. By the time we came in every day nobody felt like cleaning up to go sit at a restaurant anyway.  The kids LOVE the water. Me, not so much. I waded out to my knees. No fun, yes I know. Their Nanaw however rode the boogie boards with them so all was not lost. We went crabbing at night and when they would finally pass out, they slept like babies.  After 4 days we had all had about as much sun as we could take. That salt water air is sticky :(  So we started home. But we stopped at one of the BIG, HUGE, GIGANITC outlet malls on the way. We spent 8 hours back to school shopping! By the time we made it back to my grandparents everybody needed a rest day. We had snowcones with soft serve ice cream in them and played with the cousins all day. The next morning we packed up and headed home. I think I need a vacation from the vacation!!