We got the chance to take a family vacation with some good friends of ours, The Landins, and stay in their family beach home on South Padre Island.  Now, I have been to Galveston and to Corpus Christi, so I must say I was alittle worried that this beach may not live up to its name proclaiming an island getaway.  Well, I was so happy to see the long stretches of clean sand, combined with a clear blue sea, and a warm sunny (well most of the time) sky that I may have cried out in joy.  The water was great, and the kids all went crazy.  Having our two boys, coupled with Sadie and Meagan on the beach was so precious.  We build sand castles that Quinten smashed as soon as they were up, spa baths with flowing channels in between, we collected sea shells and played in the surf, went to the sea life resource center, saw a pirate ship, ate sea food and lots of other really yummy food we made ourselves, and just really had a great time!  We are already looking at the calendar to see when we can go back.

Can you say Moo?

Well, we can!  Today our family celebrated the 5th annual Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-Fil-A.  Warm nuggets, cool milkshakes, savory sauces, waffle fries, and fresh squeezed lemonade… ahhh…. what more can a family of cow dressed wanna bees ask for?

Seriously, we got on our computer and went to www.cowappreciationday.com and found the tools we needed to transform into cows.  We printed out ears, a nose, black spots, a Chick-Fil-A sign and completed our outfit with a wicked tail!  We taped and bobby pinned our new found appendages on and loaded up the car.  On the way I was a little nervous that I looked a little like a sad cardboard cow, but then we pulled up next to a bunch of high school girls who were decked out as well and I could have cared less.

Now, what do you get if you dress up in full regala you wonder?

nuggets with dipping sauce… waffle fries… milk… soda…

how about a wrap? fruit… Club Chicken…

The honor of being a true cow is that you get any combo meal on the menu.  So hurry up, its only today… Lots of fun and free food and foolishness…  Yeah for Chick-fil-A!  I am already looking forward to next year!

We went to the Bluebell icecream factory on Friday… we watched hundreds of production workers sort, shuffle, and box our most beloved BlueBell.  Bars, gallons, quarts… millions of mouth watering, slightly addictive, but oh so good on a hot summer day love.  The tour was brief, the MC was flat, but the ice cream at the end was worth it.  Groomscake for me, Dutch chocolate for Ti, and strawberry for Quinn. Titus and Quinten got in free, and I was just 3 dollars!  For three ice creams, 3 cool paper hats, a half and hour - hour event for the boys, coupled with a cool old delivery truck and cow sculptures for great photo ops you really can’t beat it.

Included in our unruley crew was Julie, Rachel, Sadie, Maegan, Amanda, Luke, Garrett, Titus, Quinten, and myself.  Seeing how the adults were outnumbered it was a fun but exhausting day as we buckled kids into back seat car seats, juggled strollers, and snacks and continued on towards the Blue Bell Acquatic center.  Then we put on our suits, our sunblock, our kiddos swim diapers, hats, goggles, floaties… and waddled to the water.  It was HOT, crowded, and a little loud, but it was FUN.  They have big slides, little slides, a giant mushroom that sprays water, and several different pools to try.  I am sitting home now reliving the glory and wondering when I will be mad enough to try again…

Have you been to Brenham lately, its lovely…