Friday, May 11, 2018

Two Long Lost Videos

Remember when we went to Brooklyn for NYE and it was 5 degrees and a Snow Bomb Cyclone came to town and trapped us there? Yes, me too. Anyway, we ended up needing to find LOTS of entertaining things to do in our snowed-in hotel. When we went to the indoor pool, we discovered that it would be closed for the next three hours for private lessons. I took my three crying kids and had to get creative. "Hey guys! Have you ever been allowed to play on gym equipment? This is your lucky day!"

Ha ha. Enjoy.



Fiesta: The Party with a Purpos

I have never been the biggest Fiesta-er. I actually never got what made it fun: overpriced food and long lines, tons of alcohol, parades where nearly every float is from an organization you have never heard of, mexican embroidered shirts that we don't wear any other week of the year.

But this year, while entering my tenth year in San Antonio, I had the Fiestas. I wanted to do all of the things, and I mostly did! I bought the clothes, I bought the medals, I did it up. This year, we did have fun. Parades are actually fun. Parties are fun. But the best thing is seeing your friends so often. There are Fiesta events every day (multiple per day actually) for two weeks. That can be overwhelming but it also means everyone is in a festive mood. This city had a great energy and I soaked it in. I loved finding embroidered clothing from Mexico at my favorite vintage shop and even made my first (FIRST!) trip to Fiesta on Main. Next year, I am apt to even DECORATE for Fiesta. Why on earth not? It turns out the more you Fiesta, the more fun it is!

Check out a smattering of our events: The First Annual Mahncke Day, A Night in Old San Antonio, The Battle of the Flowers Parade below. We also hit up the King William Fair and the kids and I lasted nearly all day, spent a ton of money, and had a great time. Ha ha. (I think part of this liking Fiesta stuff has to do with working full time and pulling a full time paycheck, that is something I didn't have for those first eight Fiestas.) I ended Fiesta week with an evening run through the Flambeau parade preparations just before it started. I got to see tons of marching bands, ladies getting into their crazy gowns, and awesome floats. I think I might add that to our repertoire the next time we Fiesta. :)






























Easter in Port A!

I love love love traveling with my kids.  The only thing that is a bit more fun is traveling with friends and THEIR kids also. Almost two months ago, (I am SLACKING on this blog), Sam and I took our minis and headed to Port Aransas just as the weather was turning nice enough for proper beaching. We had the best time. 

We headed straight into the water the second we got to Port A, at the Padre Island National Seashore. We were in our clothes and didn't get a single photo but it kicked off the long weekend just perfectly. We were carefree and splashing from sun-up to sundown Friday and Saturday and had a great time at the Texas State Aquarium on Easter Sunday. With two moms around we really had a chance to make memories and still keep a house with ten people running and fed, ha ha. 

We have spent the last few years away on Easter and I think this just might be a tradition. Three years ago Nani took Zayd to Pittsburgh. Last year, Nani, Nini, Ms. Sharon and I took the kids to Georgetown (which I am missing lately, the town was just that cute). And this year Port A. I can't wait to spend a lifetime of Easters on quick trips with my kids.