Schlitterbahn 2008

We stayed in two 3 bedroom duplexes near the office this year. Each one is big enough for a maximum of 12 or 14 or so. I can't find my information in my messy office...gotta look for that folder! Anywhooo...the accommodations worked out great! The Garners stayed in one unit, along with Robin and Chad. The Bubelas stayed in the other one, along with Wayne and I. Everyone got their own bed, if they wanted it. Carlee actually got her own room with 2 queen beds in it. Of course, she was in the pack'n'play. Each unit had a kitchen, living room and 2 bathrooms, so we had a total of 6 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms for our party of 12. It was great! The units were side by side and shared a patio of sorts in the back complete with picnic tables and 2 grills. Each of them had a screened-in porch leading to the patio. The only complaint was that the Garner unit had sugar ants that made them miserable. The ants got into food before they realized there was a problem. We've got the same units booked for next year; I guess we'll be better prepared to take care of the ants.

We were right across from the resort office, vending and ice machines. It was very handy. Kelly and Gage were on rides most of the time. Unfortunately, I was never in the same area, so I didn't get any photos or videos of them doing that. I was with the smaller kids most of the time and I got lots of photos of them.

Kate went on some of the rides with Carolyn and Robin. She really liked it. They told her to put her hands up when she was going down a slope, so she did. She and Carlee both liked going down the slides in the big pool. If I could find my folder, I'd know the proper name for that pool. It's big, but it's only about 2 to 3 feet deep everywhere in the pool. Found the folder...where it was supposed to be. That pool is called the Tadpool. The duplexes have a maximum of 14, each.

We all like to meet at the large heated pool with the swim-up bar in it. Well, the adults do...the kids probably like a little more action.

We ordered pizzas on Sunday night. Chad grilled hamburgers on Monday night and then we had spaghetti on Tuesday night. We left on Wednesday morning.

Wayne's cousin, Bubby Frazier, picked us up one day and took us to his New Braunfels house. His wife, Mary Ann, lives there with two of their four grandchildren. Bubby goes there every weekend, although he says his weekends might start on Thursday and end on Tuesday. Their house is right across the Comal River from the Rapids area of the Schlitterbahn Resort. We usually stay in the Bahn (the old, original) area.

Memorial Day Weekend 2008

We all gathered at Port Alto for Memorial Day Weekend. Carolyn and Brent bought a huge waterslide and everyone sure had a good time on it. It's strong enough to support 400 lbs. at the top, but it still made us nervous when the little ones would congregate up there. It wasn't that we were worried about their weight, but they would jump around and lean against the openings and peer over the side to the (very shallow) pool 8 or 10 feet below. There is a mesh fabric over the openings at the top, but who knows when it might decide to give way. We need to remember to inspect that every time it's going to be inflated. Once we figured out how to arrange it on the ground, we started trying to hammer the pegs that anchor it into the hard ground. That was quite a job. Then you have to thread the plastic tubing all around and up to provide the water to keep the slides (there's a smaller slide below the area that you climb on) wet and slippery. There are also water cannons to spray and torment whoever isn't operating a cannon. The pool is about a foot or so deep. The first time or two we inflated it we let the pool fill up, but then realized that Carlee could play more easily if we disconnected the cannons and let those tubes just water the grass. The kids played for hours each time we set it up. We're much quicker at setting it up now.

Tito, Brian and Tatum stopped by. We hadn't seen them for quite a while so it was nice to visit with them. Tatum really had a good time playing with all her little cousins.

Wayne came out in his muscle shirt that I got for him when I was in Hondo a year or two ago. Those shirts are really a hoot! From a distance they are pretty convicing.

Carlee's 1st Birthday

Carlee had a really good time on her birthday. She loved her cake, made by her mom and Cookie. She enjoyed the cards and gifts. All in all, she had a super fun birthday!

Carlee

Carlee usually got a response when she did her "fake" laugh, so in this video you can see that she kept trying to make me laugh back at her. I wasn't trying to ignore her, just trying to be quiet. I've noticed that I do a lot of chuckling when I'm videoing the grands.

At this point in her young life, Carlee is less than two weeks away from her 1st birthday. She still does a "wounded soldier" crawl, although she occasionally gets on hands and knees. She refuses to pull up by herself or even remain standing if we stand her next to a chair. It's just not something she's ready to try. She still has those fabulous abs from pulling her legs into a sitting position when we try to get her to stand!

Brent and Frank built a play set for the kids. It's really nice with a big spiraling tunnel slide and three ways to climb up. Kate's little picnic table is underneath it. Brent also built a swing and some benches.

Carlee, working hard

Carlee was working so hard in this video. I think her clothes might have been holding her back, creating drag against the carpet. She was nine months old at this time. She seems to be fussing, but she really wasn't. I think she was doing the type of yelling that people do while executing karate moves.

January 1, 2008

I sure like having special occasions at Carolyn and Brent's house. Maybe one of these days I'll get mine de-cluttered...maybe not.

We had New Year's Dinner at the Bubela's. Wendy, Kelly, Gage and Zane were there as well as Robin and Chad and Wayne and I.

A few days later we went to Mr. Gatti's for Gage's 5th birthday party. He had lots of little boys and a few little girls there to help him celebrate. They had lots of fun playing the games there.