Waterville USA

Wednesday was another slow start and we could not decide what we wanted to do for sure.  The Vinings all left to sight see and get souvenirs, the Ubanoskis left for the waterpark and there we sat in the condo trying to decide what to do.  Eventually the kids had the last say and they obviously chose to join the Ubes at Waterville USA, a waterpark and amusement park all in one.  Once we got there we decided to hit the dry stuff first and walked to the far end of the park to start off on the go-karts.  Christian and I were in one while Carson and Chad paired up in another.  Chad was the very first kart to go and we ended up in the very back.....but not for long!  My spotter and side seat driver coached us around the track to where we eventually caught up with and passed Christian and Carson for a first place finish!

Next.....the rollercoaster, picture a slightly smaller Judge Roy Scream.  Carson immediately pleaded that he was not going to do it but somehow I quickly talked him out of it and we walked up to the gate to board the rollercoaster.  Chad and Christian got in the car ahead of us while Carson and I buckled into the seat behind them with Wade, Lisa, Hannah, Jake and Jedd on board too.  It was an old wooden rollercoaster and boy was it rough.  As we made our way up the first incline Carson immediately tried to climb out.  I got him to sit back straight but as soon as we made our way down the hill and through the ride he slid down in the seat and had a look of sheer terror.  When we got to the end Christian and the rest of the kids loved it and raced around to ride it again and to my surprise Carson decided to give it another try, but this time riding with daddy.  After the 2nd ride and all the praise for being such a brave and big boy he declared he was done and would just watch everyone else.  After the kids rode the coaster a few more times we made our way to the waterpark for the rest of the afternoon.  Carson and I found a cluster of three slides that we rode down over and over.  Eventually we talked him into riding the Great White Shark with Hannah and I but eventually he decided to go back to the slides that did not require a raft.  We all took turns riding the different slides together with different combos of people until eventually the park closed and the kids ran to the rollercoaster for a few more rides.  Here is a pic as we left the parking lot.  The kids wanted me to be sure and get a picture of the rollercoaster to show everyone back home how brave they were.

"I rode my first roller coaster"

After dinner we went to Pizza Hut followed by TCBY!  I did not know they even still excited but when we found TCBY here we had to visit!  When Chad and I were dating I think we went to TCBY on Park and Preston at least twice a week.  Oh the Pschyedelic Sorbet in a waffle cone....I think I could eat that every day of my life. 

  

Beach Bums

Tuesday morning I woke up to a morning shower but did not mind at all as I sat on the balcony reading magazines while the boys slept.  This was my quiet time and routine each morning that I loved!  I would take out my phone, magazines or book and watch the guys put out the umbrellas and chairs for the day while Lisa and I would text each other planning our day.

After a full day on the beach the boys were not as eager to get going on day 2.  At what point Chad got up and went to check on them only to snuggle in and fall asleep himself...again.

Carson getting some one on one time with daddy

Christian and I

Christian took this picture of Chad and I 

  

After lunch we made our way to the tennis courts for a little friendly game.  I ended up not getting any pictures of it but it was fun and something we might have to do more as a family.  We all took turns coming in and out to play and occasionally we even talked the kids to letting us have a  quick adult doubles game.

Later that night we went to the clubhouse for dinner followed by an outdoor movie.

Our view from the dinner table

Carson took his time coloring at the kids table while the rest of them were playing with the Harry Potter size chess and checkers sets down by the pool

It's dark but here I am with my sweet friend.

Lisa and Hannah

We got the kids fed first so they would be done in time for the movie to start at the pool.  Unfortunately the wind picked up a lot and we all decided to head inside to finish dinner and for the storm to pass.  We finished our yummy dinner and took the kids to the indoor pool and to play football in the courtyard while the dads made a run to the store.  Needless to say it was a late night!

Seafood Dinner

Josh got the down low on a spot we should try for dinner Monday night, I think called the Oyster House.  We had quite a bit of a wait when we got there but the girls took that as an opportunity to hit the neighboring shops while the kids got snow cones and played tug of war.  Our 8 adults and 10 kids were a bit of a spectacle but we laughed, took lots of pictures and just had a great night together!

The adults

Celina boys

Putting up a big fight

The look of determination

The boys table.  In one of the shops the kids found these life like alligators and sharks that they all just had to have!  I think they went everywhere with us all week.

Gulf Shores, AL

We had a great week at the beach in fact Christian dubbed it the best vacation ever.  After checking in to our condo the boys could not wait another second to hit the beach.  I let them change into their suits and we went down and got our feet in the sand while Chad took a short nap!  The boys ran immediately in to the ocean and starting pulling each other on the boogey board, while I took a deep breath and enjoyed the view.  That is until we felt a few sprinkles that immediately turned into a torrential downpour and I got soaked!  We ran back to the condo and spent the rest of the night getting settled in and running to the store to get our snacks for the week!  We picked up pizza around 10:30 on our way back and made our way to Josh and Lexi's room for dinner.  Evidently a pipe in the condo they checked into had leaked so to my surprise while the boys and I were on the beach, they had to go through the hassle of changing condos.  On the flip side they were moved into a 3 bedroom so they called Craig and Carla who left home at midnight and got to Gulf Shores around noon on Monday!  FUN.

Monday morning we woke up early for our first full day on the beach.  The weather was beautiful and we wanted to take full advantage of this day.  The week before the trip I casually decided to check the forecast in Gulf Shores, but to my surprise I found that it called for rain every single day!  I was a nervous wreck and spent time each day checking different sites to see what the rain percentage looked like...30%, 40%, 60%.  How could this be?   I have never had a rainy trip to the beach and I sure as heck did not want to start now.  We had waited all summer for this trip and I was bound at determined that we would not let it ruin it.  Anyway, the sun was shining and there we all were enjoying the beach!  Wade and the kids built elaborate sandcastles, the boys tossed the football back and forth, but mainly we all took our turn riding in the waves (which I was horrible at).  I don't know if I was not timing it right or what but finally Hannah guided me through it by telling me when to take off.  I never went quite the full distance as everyone else but at least I traveled farther than where I started from!  It was a GREAT day!

Headed to the Beach

Finally......time to hit the road and head to the beach for our much anticipated family vacation to Gulf Shores, Alabama!  2:00 am could not get here soon enough!  I spent the entire day doing laundry, packing up the family, getting the car ready, loving on the dogs, and counting down the minutes until we were off.  The boys were so excited they did everything in their power to will their eyelids open.  Finally about 30 or 40 mins before it was time to leave Christian, without saying a word, walked right past us and into Carson's room and fell asleep at which time Carson quickly followed.  Perfect! We would carry the boys out to the car and they would sleep for at least half the drive....NO SUCH LUCK.  Chad and I finally got in the car after locking up the house and when I looked into the backseat Christian had THE biggest smile on his face!  There is no denying we are all beach bums!

Our game plan was to meet at the gas station on the corner of 380 and 75 at 2:00 am.  I think this may have been the first time that the Cunningham Fam was on time and the first to arrive anywhere.  Ta Ta would be so proud.  Chad backed into a parking spot as we anxiously awaited for Wade, Lisa, Josh, Lex and kids to arrive.  As we sat there waiting I  couldn't help but notice the old man that was working in the convenience store at that hour and worry.

Anyway, our friends and travel companions all arrived within about 15 or 20 minutes and the guys loaded up on coffee and Dr. Pepper to start our 12 hour trek.  It was a little before 3 am when we finally pulled out and made our way south down Hwy 75.  Chad kept saying I'd be out before we made it to Forney and I HAD to prove him wrong and be a trooper which I did.  That is until we were about 3 or 4 miles on the other side of Forney and I jumped in the back seat of the suburban and passed out for four hours!  When I woke up, to my surprise, I found Christian awake and riding shot gun with his dad.  Seriously?  No need to get in to the riding in the front seat lecture now.  Evidently he popped up to the front with Chad around 5 am and the two of them jammed their way through Texas and into Louisiana.  We (I) were (was) in urgent need of a pit stop and luckily everyone was ready for breakfast....hello Cracker Barrel.

We made our way to the table got the kids situated with the old wooden peg games and proceeded to order breakfast.  It did not take long to notice that Josh had gotten up from the table but never come back.  Come to find out he was crashing after a major caffeine fix of multiple cups of Spark and coffee, and had gone to the car to pass out!  We ended up taking his breakfast to go.  After breakfast we all jumped back in the car to continue the drive through Louisiana, Mississippi and into Alabama.  

In the week or so leading up to the trip Christian had found the show Swamp People and we all know when Christian gets in to something he REALLY gets into it.  One night Chad walked into our bedroom and found him standing up on the end of our bed with his little fishing pole and Nerf gun.  Chad called me in there and when I got to the door and saw Christian he said now look on the floor.  Christian was obviously re-creating the show he had grown to love because he had placed a small Ducks Unlimited alligator he had gotten several years back in the middle of the floor off the end of the bed and now with an audience he had to put on a show.  With this being said, Christian was very anxious for us to drive over some of the swamps of Louisiana.  When we finally made it that far he had his little nose pushed right up against the glass while he gazed down into the swamp on the prowl for gata.  (Imagine that being said by Chad in cajun over and over and over again). 

We kept traveling to our destination all the while watching our thermometer drop into the 80's as we drove through rain sprinkles and SHOWERS!  We passed car after car that had spun out and hit the guard rail or in the ditch literally at times just a hundred yards apart.  It was craziness but the rain was very nice to see.  Our caravan made a few more pit stops a few more urgent than others that required just pulling over on the side of the road....no names. 

13 hours later we finally began to see our destination in sight.  Palm trees, the ocean, we were almost there.  Jedd and Kaden jumped in the burb as we made our way to the Fort Morgan Ferry.  

Here we are literally minutes away from the Ferry.  This was our last fuel stop where the kids piled in with us.

Beautiful

On the ferry

Stretching our legs on the top deck of the ferry as we made the 30 minute trek across.  

We finally pulled into the Beach Club and all checked in to our condos.  The grounds were beautiful and as we made the drive past the tennis courts and clubhouse we instantly knew this was going to be the best vacation ever!

Lifelong Friends

Two weeks ago my longest and dearest friend Brittany came to Dallas with her family on their way through to Florida.  I am ashamed to say that it had been three years since the last time I saw her and that it was my first time to meet her daughter, Myah.  We immediately decided on a swim day at my grandmas so that the kids would be occupied,  and we could all relax and catch up.  It was a wonderful day.  The kids got a long great and it was incredible to see our kids playing together for the first time, especially since Brittany and I have been friends since we were Carson and Blake's age. 

After a long day by the pool and lunch, the kids went inside to play and we snapped a few shots before everyone left.  Of course my camera was dead as a door nail.

Brittany has an amazing husband Tim whom I absolutely adore.  I wish we lived closer so we could all get together more often.  We vowed to do better in the future and at least get together once a year.

There was something on the lens of my grandmothers camera.  Of course we did not notice it until we downloaded all of the pictures. :(

Our crew (minus Chad who was working)

As we left Grandma's that afternoon Christian immediately said, "we have new friends but I wished they lived in Texas".  The kids all got a long great.  I was really proud of Christian too for not thinking he was too big. Myah followed Carson around all afternoon too.  It was so precious.

We ended up meeting them at Burger House on the way to the airport on their last day here.  Who would have guessed the Tollway would have been completely shut down making us 30 minutes late.  We still got in a great visit and it was sad to see them go.  Carson and Blake were fast friends!  For some reason I can't find the group shot we all took at the restaurant.  I will get it and post on here.

Miss y'all!

Look what we found in the backyard?

Yep, that would be a snake skin longer than Christian.  Not only was it in the backyard it was right under our bedroom window.  CRINGE