The last part of our trip was spent at my aunt and uncle's lake house on Lake LBJ. Since LBJ is a constant-level lake, people build really neat boat houses and docks. There is no concern about droughts or floods since the lake is always maintained at the same level. It makes for a great vacation spot. M, my best friend since about 4th grade, met us there with her family. Her boys are close in age to Elise and NIna.
We arrived at the lake house a day before M and her family to have a little time to ourselves there first. Within the first hour or two on the water, I managed to run over a tow rope and kill a jet ski. Nice.
I got the privilege of calling my aunt and uncle... "Um... we love the lake house! We're having a great time! Thanks so much for letting us use it! But... uh... um... well, you see... I may have destroyed a jet ski." Fortunately, their response was something along the lines of, "Oh! No worries! That happens all the time. They know us at the boat repair place. Just tell them it is ours, and they'll probably fix it while you wait." Whew! Unfortunately, the vehicle we were driving didn't have a hitch. We called M and R who were busy packing their car and begged them to switch to their truck, so we would have a hitch available. The morning after they arrived, R and JC spent the morning at the boat repair shop... not exactly how they wanted to spend their vacation, but I was very thankful! A morning wasted, and fifty bucks poorer, but we were back in business racing around the lake by that afternoon.
While the menfolk were gone, the kids had a ball jumping off the dock.
Even M got in on the fun!
All the kids got along great, but none moreso than Nina and B.
I suspect there may have been a bit of puppy love between these two. All weekend, all we heard from B was, "Where's Nina?", "Oh Nina, you're going swimming? I think I'll go swimming too.", "Have you seen Nina?", "Hey Nina - over here!", "Nina... let's jump!"
It was very sweet, and really... Nina can't go wrong with this kid. M would make a fabulous mother-in-law.
Actually, B wasn't the only one smitten that weekend. JC was quite taken with R... in a "you're really macho, I want to be like you" sort of way. R could make crazy killer big waves on the jet ski. He would zoom by the dock, and you'd think you were being hit with a tsunami.
Try as he might, JC never did quite master it.
It was certainly not for lack of trying though. I give him an A for effort. It will give him something to strive for next time.
Despite the lack of photographic evidence (I put Nina in charge of the camera, and she didn't do her job very well), I actually rode in this inflatable contraption. Anyone who tells you that this is fun for people over 40 is lying. It is not. I'm pretty sure I broke a few vertebrae in my neck. The kids seemed to enjoy it though.
Notice there are no pictures of anyone waterskiing or taking a ride in the ski boat? There is a story behind that. Earlier in the week, Addie broke a picture frame at a kiosk in Rivercenter Mall. Then I mangled the jet ski, and the guys had already spent part of their morning at the boat shop. Then, Saturday evening, Addie and B were beating on a door trying to get Nina to come out of a locked bedroom, and they knocked the door completely off its hinges. (not very good house guests, are we?) JC and R had to spend their evening at Lowe's buying door repair parts and then repairing the door. After that, they put their foots (feet?) down and declared, "We will not be taking out the boat. It is just one more thing that we may break and have to repair." Really, you couldn't blame them, so... no boating for us. That didn't stop us from having fun though.
After eleven days of vacation bliss, we drove back to my aunt and uncle's house. Along the way, we took in the sights... the high tech internet cafe in small town, Texas...
That sign pointed to this joint. I bet their dial-up line is screaming.
I wanted to drive through this place just to say the words, "1 Corona, 1 Chardonnay, and 2 red velvet cupcakes to go, please." Where else can you say that? I don't believe I've ever seen a drive thru that specializes in beer, wine, and cupcakes. It is clearly an untapped market. Who knew?
We spent our last night with my aunt and uncle where we tried desperately not to break anything else.
Then, it was time to pack up the swimsuits and head home after a great trip.
So long, San Antonio! Hope to see you again soon!
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