San Antonio-July 2016 ANC

This week we packed our bags and headed to the great state of Texas for the SNA national conference in San Antonio. One of the perks to my job is I get to attend this conference every year with some of my school nutrition employees and it's always in an exciting destination. This was my first year to go and I was super excited about it.

Our flight was before 8am on Sunday after we had just attended Marcus's ten year class reunion the night before. All three of us slept the entire flight and didn't wake up until we were literally landing which about scared us to death ha!

Jack stayed at home in Kentucky but we brought Georgia Grace with us. I know he will be able to go with us in the future but between my time spent at the conference and being in an unfamiliar city we didn't think it was the best idea for him to go. He was the best boy for all the family that kept him. I was so proud of him! And missed him terribly.

Since our flight was so early we arrived in SATx with plenty of day left to explore and get settled in. This was the view from our eighth floor room at the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk. Incredible! That's one of the Riverwalk boat rides going on at the bottom.

We at the Lonestar Café which was close to our hotel and right on the Riverwalk.

Georgia Grace and the Riverwalk. She rode in a small umbrella stroller 95% of the time and loved taking in all the sights. We walked everywhere we went. I think I averaged 16,000 steps a day. I felt like it counter balanced all the Tex Mex I consumed.

A lady we met at #anc2016 told us about the light show on the San Fernando Cathedral so we decided to walk the three blocks to check it out. WOW! Just wow. It's one of the most impressive things I've ever seen.

It's a one million dollar project that projects images on the cathedral telling the story of Texas history.

Please go see this if you're ever in the city. I was in complete awe.

The next day I went to my conference that morning and met the fam for lunch on the Riverwalk (The County Line). It was 100 degrees every day we were there. Can't you tell? :)

She ate a whole kids size portion of baby back ribs. If you know Georgia at all you know how big of a deal this is! She loves her some ribs.

Texas, BBQ, Riverwalk and gingham <3

We thought the best way to commemorate her first trip to Texas would be a pair of real cowgirl boots. She was excited!

She wore them most of the trip. My mom's cowgirl boots that Georgia wore a few years ago came from Texas so it's only fitting that hers did too.

It's not a trip to San Antonio without taking a Riverwalk boat ride.

Captain of the ship

The boat ride takes you on the whole 2 1/2 mile loop of the Riverwalk that is a part of the San Antonio river. The Riverwalk was actually built to help relieve flooding issues.

There are ducks swimming in the water and beautiful landscape all around.

The Rivercenter shopping complex. Everything is bigger in Texas.

The next day I took a little time before heading to my conference to do some rooftop swimming with my girl.

While you swim you look out and see the top of skyscrapers. It was a neat experience.

It was also much cooler on top of the hotel which was nice. Marcus described the wind this week as someone blowing a hair dryer in your face. Perfect description.

That afternoon we all met to remember The Alamo. Marcus is a history guru and was the most excited about this experience.

All my fun ladies that joined us in San Antonio this week. They were so helpful with Georgia and we had a ball exploring the city and attending the conference.

Georgia and a prickly cactus.

She made a wish at the Alamo. I forgot to tell her to not share her wish so she did and it was for a new pair of pajamas. We all got a kick out of it.

A better look at the hotel where we stayed. It was right on the Riverwalk and convenient to all the restaurants. We didn't rent a vehicle so we needed a centrally located hotel and the Hyatt provided that for us.

I can't describe in words how beautiful and fun the Riverwalk is. I think I could have spent the whole week just walking the Riverwalk.

La Mansion Hotel-beautiful

A true Texas-style steak dinner at Texas Land and Cattle Steakhouse

After supper the ladies hopped on a Riverwalk boat and I snapped this picture of them. This picture describes our week well-fun!

Georgia Grace waving to the Junior Miss High School Beauty Queens

San Antonio became one of our favorite cities this week. The hot temps (I'm cold natured so bring on the fire heat), beautiful architecture, good food and the south. Life is good down there!

The view from the roof of the hotel, that's the Alamo in the lower left corner.

Georgia and the San Fernando Cathedral. We decided to go back and explore it during the day as well.

Our last night in the city we walked down to the historic Market Square to eat at Mi Tierra. It was the most recommended restaurant by friends and locals.

Cowgirl Georgia

I promise she did this on her own. She definitely enjoyed her solo time with us this week. It was a good week for all of us.

Bexas County courthouse

Inside the San Fernando Cathedral. It is the oldest cathedral in the USA.

No words can do it justice.

The heroes of the Alamo are buried in the cathedral here including Kentuckian Jim Bowie.

I also toured St. Joseph's Catholic Church which was so beautiful.

When the church wouldn't sell a property developer built a shopping complex (Rivercenter) around it so it sits right in between two sections of a mall.

To conclude our fun week in the city we went to see The Secret Life of Pets in Imax 3D. This was a first for all of us. We even let Georgia wear her pajamas and I think that was her favorite part ;)

And before we knew it we were back on a plane anxious to get home to our Jack boy! Goodness did we miss him. And he missed his sister the most, every time we would facetime he would say her name a hundred times. We loved San Antonio and #anc2016 but it's always nice to be home.

A sweet couple we met from Rhode Island took this of us on the hotel rooftop as we watched the city lights. Thanks for all the memories, Texas. You were a blast!

Dropping In

We are in San Antonio this week for my national School Nutrition Conference and it's been a blast! Marcus and Georgia came along with me so we've had time to explore the city and experience a little taste of Texas. We're headed home tomorrow so I'll do a full recap on our trip. I think San Antonio is our new favorite city!

I can't forget about my new nephew who is a week old now and so precious. He's doing great and I've missed him so much this week, and I've missed Jack!! He stayed back in Kentucky with family since this trip isn't ideal for a 15 month old. I can't wait to kiss his face off.

Signing off but will check in soon!

The Fourth

First and foremost, the most important news, my nephew is here! He's beautiful and healthy. My sister was a rockstar in the delivery room. I'll do a full post dedicated to him but I had to share the news. Mommy and baby are both doing great and we couldn't be more proud of him.

So between my new nephew and the long holiday weekend I got a little behind on my blogging so prepare yourself for a marathon of pictures. We've had a busy several days but we've had a lot of fun too.

A lot of older women that I look up to have a signature recipe that they are known for. It's my Mamaw Novis's fried apple pies, Mamaw Carolyn's Orange Juice Cake, Grandmomma's Fried Chicken, etc. I feel like I am starting to be known for my homemade peach ice cream. And that's super flattering for a girl who isn't the best cook in the world. I have been making some every summer for probably five years now. I make a batch every 4th of July for one of our gatherings.

 We needed fresh peaches so we went to Jackson's Orchard one afternoon to get some of the very best.

We usually just go to the orchard in the fall for the pumpkin festival but it was fun in the summertime too. We swung on the swings, drank apple ciders and shopped the little produce store.

We bought half a bushel of seconds for $9.50 and it was more than enough for two batches of ice cream and a cobbler. We had peaches coming out of our ears!

On Friday my sister was still pregnant so we went shopping to try to walk him out. Georgia thinks it's not a trip to the mall until she's rode the carousel so we did.

I should also note that we took Jack on his first AND last shopping trip. My mom's face says it all!

I've had a lot of people reach out to me about this picture after I posted it on Facebook and Instagram for its "realness". As beautiful and blessed as my life is, these are the witching moments that can still your joy if you take them too seriously. I try to take them in stride and whisper to myself, "it's just a phase". He will behave in a department store someday. He will decide wilting like a flower and putting his head on the ground when he doesn't get his way isn't appropriate. There are growing pains in parenting but so much joy in knowing it's just a season.

Saturday night we attended our county fair to let Georgia Grace enjoy some good ol' carnival rides. Her sweet friend Eliza rode rides with her and that made her day!

I hadn't rode a ferris wheel in probably a decade and had forgot how much fun it is. There was a storm brewing in the distance but we escaped with just a few sprinkles here and there.

We put on our patriotic Sunday best and headed out to church. I am so proud of these all-American babies. They are my American dream come true.

We attended two cookouts Sunday to celebrate Independence Day. We had some hot, sticky, American fun!

Our cousins Scott and Heather had a bunch of water play areas set up for the kids to keep them entertained while the adults talked. My two had a ball.

We went to Thunder Over Grancer next and had a good time as always but I failed to get any pictures.

It always seems to rain on the fourth of July, or at least it has in the past several years. We waited the storm out and then headed to my mom's pool. No way we were spending Independence Day cooped up inside.

The storm passed through and it turned into a beautiful, summer night. We went back to the Catfish Festival to see my Papaw accept his $500 prize for catching a tagged fish in the fishing tournament (we were actually late and missed it but congratulated him afterward!) and watch the firework show which was so impressive. I was equally impressed the babies sat together and watched them in amazement.

The smalltown life gets a bad rap sometimes. And there are some inconveniences that frustrate me. But I'm proud I was born and raised in a smalltown in the U.S.A. I think it makes you humble and grateful, not to mention the safety I feel living here.

Tuesday we went to watch the minor league Hot Rods game in Bowling Green. It was their first real baseball game and we got the whole experience. Dollar dogs for supper, an appearance on the big screen and winning best dancing fan (Georgia) and playing in the kids play park area. We left no stone unturned.

The first picture was misleading, THIS is a better representation of how the baseball game went. He rioted when we wouldn't allow him to roam all over the stadium. And when he couldn't hold his own hotdog. We've met our match.

That's all for now. Working on a nephew post with lots of sweet pictures that will make you fall in love with him just like I have!