We have just returned from a 2-week visit to the great state of Texas.  Husband hadn't been "home" in 2 1/2 years, so the visit was long overdue.  The boys didn't really remember last visiting, so we knew it was time.  The drive was horrendous- 20 hours.  I am grateful for the mini-van the in-laws gifted us last fall.  It made the drive easier, but still- 20 hours.  

We left at noon on Sat. Feb. 23.  Gabe played his last Upward Basketball game, and we then hit the road.  We drove as far as we could, and we spent the night in Baton Rouge, LA.  Sunday lunch found us in Orange, Texas, where we enjoyed opening day of crawfish season at the Cajun Cookery.  The etouffee was unreal.  This would be the 1st of many gastronomic adventures on this vacation.  Husband gained 5 lbs., wife gained 3.  Benjamin decided that he wanted to see the crawfish up-close and personal, so rather than obey his screaming mama, he headed into the creek that ran in front of the restaurant.  He stopped when the thick, stinking mud was up to his calves.  He shouted, "Help me. I'm in sink-sand (quick-sand)."  It would have been funny except we still had 10 hours to go, and we smelled him the entire way.   

 Husband's family lives in Brownsville, TX.  5 minutes from the Mexican border, 20 minutes from South Padre Island.  We spent our 1st afternoon at Boca Chica, an isolated beach on the Gulf of Mexico.  Since it borders the Rio Grande and Mexico,  Border Patrol agents are quite noticeable, and you are forced to stop at a check-point on the way out to declare your citizenship.  We enjoyed playing in the ocean, fishing,  and Grandpa Angel's new four-wheeler.

 Day Two found us visiting the Gladys Porter Zoo, while Gabe went antique shopping in Harlingen with Grandma Thelma and my mom, who made the trip with us.   Since we couldn't cross over to Mexico (we didn't bring our birth certificates) we shopped in Brownsville's old downtown, which is basically like a little border town.  Trinkets and junk, mostly.  The boys go nuts in these places, but I seem to have trained them pretty well as of late.  They look at the label, and when they realize it 's made in China, not Mexico, they say, "Oh, little kids probably made this stuff."  Or "It's probably made with lead."  Oh, the joys of socially-conscious children.   We visited a little, hole-in-the-wall hamburger joint called the Rutledge that husband frequented with his grandfather when he was a kid.  It was definitely the smallest restaurant I've ever seen.  Spent the afternoon with Angel's Tio Sergio and Tia Ninfa, eating amazing pastries from Los Ebanos Bakery.

Later that day, we drove to Port Isabel, which is the gateway to South Padre Island.  We always eat at a seafood joint called the Last Galleon, which sits by the entrance to the causeway bridge that leads to the island.  The fried flounder is too-die-for.  We were so disappointed to find that they no longer serve local fish!!!  The fish comes from China.  Isn't  that crazy?  It's cheaper to import fish from China rather than pull it from the ocean in front of you!!   Also visited with Angel's Aunt Maggie and Tio Ruben.  He owns a fleet of shrimping boats that have nearly been put out of business due to our trade restrictions and agreements with countries (like China).

We learned that these flamingos are born white and get their color from the type of shrimp they eat.  Because the zoo cannot afford to import the shrimp, they dye the shrimp with red food coloring so the flamingos will get their distinctive color!  Just doesn't sound right, does it?  We also enjoyed the kangaroos with their joeys, and the boys were able to feed cockatoos and parakeets in the bird exhibit.

We were thrilled with our in-laws back yard.  They have an orange tree, a banana tree, and a mango tree, all of which were bearing fruit. 

 Wednesday was another activity-filled day.  Bought the boys hermit crabs.  Visited the Palo Alto National Battlefield, then drove to Los Fresnos to look at a piece of property that my husband's folks had purchased, and picked up their camping trailer while we were there.  Gabe and Grandpa Angel drove the camper out to South Padre Island so we could spend a few nights there during our visit.  Had dinner again in Port Isabel, but this time we ate at a place that does serve local fish- the Pelican Bay, which is run by husband's cousin-in-law.  Went for a late-night walk on the beach.  We saw a huge Jackrabbit (Joseph said, "It's a little deer!!").  Benjamin ran right up to it and I thought he was going to pick it up.  It bolted, though, and a chase ensued.  He chased it over a sand dune and then we heard screams.  He fell on top of a cactus!! I spent the next several hours picking needles out of his legs and arms. 

Spent the next morning fishing on the jetties and enjoying the dolphins frolicking in the Gulf.   The entire week we were visiting was billed "Charro Days,"  and it was a weeklong celebration of Texas-Mexican heritage, with parades, dances and a carnival.  Great fun and more great food.   Saturday was a full-day as well.  Returned to Palo Alto Battlefield (the 1st major battle of the U.S.-Mexican War was fought there) and witnessed a reenactment, complete with cannon fire.  Very cool.  Celebrated husband's 36th birthday with a large family reunion hosted by his parents.  Family from around the area convened on their home, and we feasted on brisket and loads of fixins'.    

 Family traditions that my husband experienced growing up are sorely missed, and since we weren't going to be around for Easter, we celebrated early with confetti eggs.  You can't find them in Tennessee.  The kids (and adults) enjoyed it tremendously.

Left for home on Monday March 3.  Husband wanted to take the boys to see the places where he spent time growing up, and also to travel through some of the bigger cities in Texas.  We made our first stop in Hebronville, where his mother grew up, and we visited the cemetary where her parents are buried. 

Spent Monday night in San Antonio, TX.  It was freezing there, but we braved the low temps and enjoyed the River Walk and the Alamo

We next traveled to Austin, TX, then on to Fort Worth, the city where Angel and I met in 1997 and married in 1998.  Gabe was also born there is 1999.  Angel proposed to me back then at a Macaroni Grill.  He had taken his guitar in earlier in the day, and after dinner, a waiter brought out the guitar, Angel stood up, played me a song he had written, then dropped to his knee and proposed.  Surreal.  People were clapping and whistling and taking pictures.  Fast forward 10 years.  Our 10th anniversary is next week.  The hotel we had booked in Fort Worth was just down the street from this same Macaroni Grill.  When Angel and Benjamin went out to pick up dinner, he went by the restaurant and again left the guitar.  After dinner,  my Mom encouraged us to go out, so he said, "Let's go back to the Macaroni Grill for a glass of wine."  I agreed, and after a bit,  I noticed Angel nodding to the waiter, and out comes the guitar.  He plays me the same song and asks me if I'll spend 10 more years with him.  Pretty amazing stuff.  Our waiter said, "I was sweating with you, man.  I'm about to propose to my girlfriend too."  And Angel said,  "Well, after 3 kids, I wasn't so sure she'd say "Yes" again."  We drove around town and revisited our old haunts.  Everything had changed, but it was great reconnecting with the city.

So all-in-all, it was a great trip.  A visitation, not a vacation, because we certainly didn't come home rested.  In fact, after that night in Fort Worth, the boys were begging to go home.  So we drove 15 hours and made it home late Wednesday night.   Joe said, "It feels so good to be home.  I'm gonna hug that mean old rooster when I see him!"