corpus--2012

One thing I LOVE about summer... VACATION!!  It was one of my favorite things growing up (well, unless we had to go somewhere "educational--  it might have been a bit boring for me as a child)  We always had fun (and typically something unusual and eventful would always occur) Then as an adult and living on my own, my best friend and I traveled all over.  Once I got married, Kirk and I were able to go on a few awesome adventures as well.  Then the kids came and for some reason we have not gone on many vacations-- though we did go to the beach 2 years ago.  we went to Destin with my parents, I looked, but could not find any posts about it?!  not sure why?  It was a great trip (all except for the fact that Molly was not a big fan of the ocean, or the sand, or the sun etc...)  Molly is 2 years older (and a much happier little girl), Sam is growing up, so it was time to once again have a vacation...  at the beach... in the hot sun of Texas...

What an awesome week!  It came and went so fast and we had a lot of fun in between.  I will warn you now, I have tried my best to restrict the photos in this post, but it was a FUN weeks worth of camera snapping so here ya go....

 We saw cotton growing in several fields, it was so neat to see these little cotton buds.  We pulled over in a parking lot and took a closer look at the cotton field.  We did pick 2 pieces from a plant in the weeds.  It actually felt like a cotton ball that you buy.

 We were able to go to the Texas State Aquarium.  It was really neat.  Very hands on and interactive.  we tried and tried to touch these sting rays...  They had apparently been handled too much already that morning.  BUT if you try and try and go deep enough in the water you can actually get one!

 And then we realized there was another place to touch them, it was shallower and they came closer to the edge...so much nicer and easier--- all 4 of us got to feel them.  The kids got to feel small sharks as well.

  The dolphins were so cool to see.  We were able to watch their show.  Then we went down below and were able to watch them "play"  they would come right up to the glass.  I like how this one looks like he is smiling at Sam.

 And what kind of place would it be without a giant dolphin mascot? 

 Then there was the ocean.  It was fun.  The kids loved the waves, the water, the sounds, smells and the sand.  (which made me love it all the more)  Molly was not a huge fan of the "salty water" smacking her in the face, but took it anyway.  Then there is Sam who LOVED when the waves would crash on him and get all in his face (odd child, I know---  he was like that in Destin 2 years ago as well)

 

For one who did not like to be splashed in the face, Molly loved laying down in the sand and having the waves roll right over her. (I know, did not make much sense to me either)

 We were fortunate to be in Corpus when they had a turtle hatch-ling release.  (I will write another post about that)  On our way out Kirk and Sam were able to spot some sand crabs---  so of course we had to hold them :)

And then last but certainly least (yes, I said least) was the "world's largest whataburger)  I had read about it when looking up "things to do in Corpus"  It was a "must see" on my list...  and well, I gotta say, it was 2 floors, but sis not seem all that big, the 2nd floor had a nice view to the beach, but well, let's be honest, it was still just a whataburger...  oh well, at least we can say "we went, we saw, we ate, but we did not buy the t-shirt"
Come to think of it, we did not buy 1 single thing on this trip (aside from food)  not a single thing... how did that happen?