Vacation is finally blogged! You can read all about our travels out west, then south and back central. Texas forever, y’all. ---- West and south Texas were so, so good to us, but we were itching to get close to home. Well, that and eat some good BBQ while teaching the kids about Texas history. Our destination? Gonzales. It is the quaintest, cutest, most historic Texas gem there is. From their website: Gonzales holds a unique place in Texas history as the site of the firing of the first shot for Texas independence. October 2, 1835 eighteen townsmen stood on the bank of the Guadalupe River and refused to give up their small cannon to the Mexican Army. A flag was fashioned … [Read more...]
Texas Forever Vacation: Some Like it South!
Vacation is finally blogged! You can read all about our travels out west, then south and back central. Texas forever, y'all. ---- The last time we traveled to Texas, the furthest south we got was Galveston. We *really* wanted to take the kids to South Padre Island, but it was day seven, with a six kids (including a six-week-old) and so we cut our losses. But this time? We did south Texas right. It's a long way down to Brownsville, Harlingen and San Juan in case you're wondering. Our first stop was the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan of the Valley. This national shrine did not disappoint. We are incredibly grateful to the Diocese of Brownsville for their wonderful tour of the … [Read more...]
Texas Forever Vacation: Go West Young Man!
Vacation is finally blogged! You can read all about our travels out west, then south and back central. Texas forever, y'all. ---- Summer. I really do miss you. This is why I have a blog, so I can reminisce a bit longer and take y'all with me. If you're new to the blog, I kinda/maybe love my state. And, we really want our kids to know and love it, too. State pride in Texas, y'all, it's a thing. Three summers ago, we drove 2,600 miles and saw lots of Texas. Yes, all those miles were clocked driving around the Lone Star state. This year, we decided to go west, then south and hit more of the coast, and then come back central. What providence that God allowed us to love on … [Read more...]
The 10 Commandments of Family Roadtrips
We've been taking car trips with our kids since birth. Mostly, that makes people question our sanity. Trust me, when we were in hour 36 of last summer's vacation from Texas to California and back, I thought the same thing. Sometimes we have banner days and sometimes we swear off ever doing another road trip again. All those hours on the highway have taught us a few life lessons, though. Our pain. Your gain. Here's your road warrior 10 commandments, y'all. 1. Lower your expectations. I'm serious. When you travel with kids, it's a trip. When you travel as a couple, it's a vacation. You have to know that traveling as a family is a teeny bit more like National Lampoons than some … [Read more...]
Traveling to Italy? Your 411
Call us addicts, but we've been to Italy five times in the last 16 years and I can attest this is a true statement: Italy, a lifetime is not long enough. Some of those trips were two-week stints as chaperones with our high school youth group. Some were work related and some were pure pleasure, just the Mister and I. Each has given us a unique perspective and an undying love for all things Italian. We get asked quite a bit about our best traveling tips, the "must-do" things and all the good places to eat, so I figured why not dish on the blog? Honestly, I can't believe I haven't shared it before now. The Pope Probably our most asked question is, "When and how can I see the … [Read more...]
