and mostly settled back in. We had to do a big shopping trip because we were on scraps in the kitchen. For some reason 4 days away seemed like too long for me so I didn't go to the store much before we left. Phew, those were some skinny days when we got back. I was exhausted and slept for about 36 hours straight. I was awake a bit in there though. Andy and Laura did some quality laying around.
The cats made it unscathed. Ozzie ate his weight in food. He has an eating problem, the problem being he loves food too much. By the pile of white fur on the couch and empty food bowls it doesn't look like
Maisy did anything but sleep in that spot and eat. We picked up Daisy today from the vet. They didn't just board her she also had to have her rabies
vacc (we warned them she bites, they didn't listen). Plus they gave her a regular vet visit. They were shocked. The old girl, she's 12-13, is in great shape. No arthritis, no cataracts, nothing but a healthy Chihuahua.
Yay!
So San Antonio was wonderful. We really had a great time being together as a family. Our first family vacation was a huge success and Laura's still talking about it to anyone who will listen (assorted family members on the phone, the MP at the gate, the checkers at
Walmart....) She loved the dolphins at Sea World the most,
Shamu is on her list because we were inadvertently in the "splash zone" and Laura wasn't so pleased with the result (if your seat is painted "splash zone" in neon yellow, take it under advisement, they aren't kidding). We also went to the SA Zoo which was huge and really awesome. The best part was the newest addition (because it was indoors and air conditioned) called Africa Live. They had my beloved hippos and Laura's favorites zebras, lions, tigers and Andy loved the bears (Oh My!). We also went in the boat tours along the R
iverwalk. Had appetizers at Hard Rock Cafe (I'm cheap) dessert at the
Rainforest Cafe (again, I'm cheap) and wandered around the Alamo and got lost downtown (Who wants to walk 30 minutes in the wrong direction? At night? We do! I blame Andy.). We stopped and visited the Texas capital on the way home. All in all it was wonderful and we made a ton of fantastic memories.
I'll try and get pictures emailed but I'm having trouble getting them to load. I'll post some up here (as you have seen since I posted the pictures when I finished writing this, so why not delete the sentence? Part of my mysterious-
ness) so you all can at least see some. In the mean time love you all! Hope you're having wonderful summers, hopefully not as hot as ours (104 everyday, dang you Louisiana). Laura starts school next week, Andy goes back to work next week then starts college the 25
th, and I, well I stay the same and sometimes that's the hardest work of all.
*Pictures: Us at the zoo, Laura and I in front of the Shamu theater, Andy and Laura feeding dolphins (yeah you read that right, how cool is that?), Andy and Laura at the Capital in Austin, Laura and I at the Bowie side of the fountain at the Alamo, Laura and Dolly the Dolphin, Shamu doing a twirly, twisty thingy (yes, I think that's the trainer term for it.)
Went wonderful. Her teacher said she had a great day. I was a mess. They have them eat breakfast so the teacher suggested that we walk her through the line and sit with her a minute to make it a bit easier for all 3 of us. Let's just say Laura handled like a pro, I acted more like the 4 year old! I started crying before I left the building and even made the teacher cry! I guess I'm a memorable parent now! They do "curb side service" for pick up and drop off which is wonderful. Just stuff her in and off we go. Laura had a lot of fun but didn't care for lunch because it was "Tacos. I don't like tacos, Mom. Yuck." She apparently did eat some of it which goes to show hammering in "do what your teacher tells you" weeks before school starts really helps. She even laid down and rested but didn't "close my eyes, not yet...maybe later." I'm very proud of her and she can't wait to go back. 
