Mini Vacation Number 2...

... was to Corpus Christi, TX. We stayed at the redroof inn and went to the beach. It was very windy out and the waves were too big for Bruce to swim, so we didn't stay all that long. Before going swimming though, we visited the USS Lexington, a WWII air craft carrier turned Museum. That was neat. The kids wouldn't climb the ladder to the 2nd floor- which is where most of the museum was. Bruce climbed right up it! He had a blast. The stairs to the top were less steep and the saw the flight deck, but didn't go all the way up to the bridge. You will never guess what we inside that ship! How we got down from the flight deck to the main area is crazy! It was an escalator!!! Of all things! It wasn't operating, so we simply walked down it. The monstrosity was installed for the crew- they would be wearing so much gear that was too heavy and bulky for the ladder/stair thingies. We didn't go down to the engine room either, tho that would have been so cool. We were running out of time (it was almost closing) and we were so tired after the flight deck trek (remember it was very windy out). We did get to watch a movie in the imax type theatre right away when we got there. It was cool. It was about a red flag mission the military does with other militaries from around the country to provide training to there pilots and ground crews. If they survive their first 10 missions, they have a better survival rate. So the red flags are designed to provide those first ten. It was cool- it sometimes felt like we were flying!

When we got back to the motel we all took a dunk in the pool to help get the salt off! Then we all hopped into the shower (separately, thank you) and ordered pizza and passed out. The next day (8/1) we went to Padre Island. The beach there was so secluded and hardly anyone was there. WE could park right on the beach and even camp if we wanted to. The beach was so shallow I swear that the farther we walked out the more shallow it got! I laid on a floaty and just let the waves beach me- mucho fun- and built a sand castle. Ok, so it was a ditch with a big wall, but it was made by me! Then C went down the "road" to see what else was there, got stuck and then got a flat! He drove back to us, then had to lay in the sand to change the tire. He was so gross- sand in his hair, etc. The spare is a donut, so we drove 45 back to town, and went to Wal-mart. They couldn't repair the tire, too many holes close together and we had to replace it! You shouldn't replace one tire- we had to replace both front tires (they needed it anyway) but it cost us $128! We ate some yummy Chinese food at the HEB (grocery store)- at a little Chinese buffet. It was so nice to get home and bathe!

BTW, mini vacation number one was our day trip to Galvaston on the 4th (of July).