So I'm just a little behind.  Here's what's been going on the last TWO weeks:

• We participated in VBS at our church.  Eric helped with recreation, I did registration, and Maddie went to the nursery.  Eric and I took her to the opening program each night thinking the music and videos would be exciting, but Maddie preferred to play with the offering envelopes and Bibles.  With the exception of one rough night, each time I picked her up from the nursery she was talking away and having the best time.  Next year she'll actually be old enough to be in a VBS class!

• Eric and I have been working to get everything ready for Maddie's Minnie Mouse birthday party.

• We went to the Fourth of July parade where we saw lots of horses and important people (or people who think they're important) riding in cars.

• Eric and I went on a mini vacation this past weekend.  This also happened to be the first time we have both been away from Maddie overnight at the same time.  On Friday evening we went to a murder mystery dinner.  It turned out to be a lot of fun.  Yes, the acting was cheesy, but the mystery required thinking to solve.  Saturday morning we attempted to sleep in; we made it until 7 AM.  That afternoon we toured Cowboys Stadium.  We attended a Rangers game with Chuck and Sarah that evening and thanks to the cool weather, it was probably one of the best baseball games I've ever attended.  Sunday morning we attempted to sleep in again, and this time we both managed to sleep a little longer.  I think we were both anxious to get home and see Maddie, so after brunch we headed back.

• Tonight is Maddie's first night without her pacifier, or "passer" as she calls it.  She only uses it for naps and bedtime, but with her second birthday coming up we decided it was time to get rid of it.  I read about several ways to encourage a child to give it up and in the end I chose to cut off the tip.  It did not go well.  She cried and cried and cried.  Those people online who said their child just said that the pacifier was broken and gave it up without a problem must be lying.  Over an hour after putting her to bed, she is finally asleep.  I can only hope that tomorrow's nap won't be so hard.

This past weekend Eric, Maddie and I went to Corpus Christi for a mini vacation.  We had a great time.  Here's our trip in pictures:

Checking out the beach from our balcony on the first morning.

Telling us what she thinks she's going to see at the aquarium.

First stop?  Texas State Aquarium.

Waiting for the dolphin show to begin.

Maddie LOVED the dolphins.  We ended up buying a stuffed one to bring home with us.

The otters were probably her second favorite thing at the aquarium.

Outside Blackbeard's restaurant.

Maddie enjoyed getting splashed by the waves, even when they got her face.

Before we saw three jellyfish. . . . 

Playing in the sand.

Padre Island National Seashore

Sifting for clam shells.  She could have done this all day.

Yes, we fed the sea gulls.  Shame on us.

Completely worn out from a morning at the beach.

Outside a souvenir shop.  Did I mention Maddie has a new found love of dolphins?

We HAD to stop and get a picture of this since Maddie likes sharks.

When planning a trip I love to get advice from people I know.  It's obviously far more trustworthy than the "anonymous" and/or angry reviewers on travel websites.  So if you're considering Corpus Christi, here are my thoughts:

1. Don't stay at Villa del Sol condominiums.  Although our view was great, the complex itself was VERY dated.
2. Stay on Padre Island.  You'll be much closer to the nicer beaches and there are plenty of places to eat.  We stayed in Corpus Christi on the mainland and about the only thing we were close to were the bay beaches (see below), Texas State Aquarium, and the Lexington.
3. Skip the bay beaches of mainland Corpus Christi.  The sand is gritty, the water is murky, and there are quite a few jellyfish.
4. Do visit Padre Island National Seashore.  The sand was soft, the water was clear several feet out, and the shore is teeming with wedge clams which is great fun for little ones.
5. Also plan to visit Texas State Aquarium.  If it had been just Eric and me, we probably would have breezed through it, but with Maddie it was an all day event (with lunch and a nap squeezed in, of course.)
6. Don't eat at Blackbeard's.  It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great.  We only ate there because it was on "our side" of town.
7. Corpus Christi doesn't have a whole lot to do unless you want to spend several days at the beach, so plan a short visit of two or three days.  That's about as much sand as Eric and I could handle!

A few days ago Eric decided we should take a quick vacation during his three day break before summer school begins, so this morning I booked a beach condo for us.  Here's our balcony view:

Where I plan to spend my time while Maddie naps.  :)

We went to Galveston last year, and even though I don't think Maddie really remembers what a beach is, she sure is excited about it.  Hopefully this time she won't want to eat sand. 

Other than spending time on the beach, our only plan is to visit the aquarium.  I asked Maddie if she wanted to go see fish and dolphins at an aquarium, she thought for a moment, and then said, "Sharks!"  Is it weird that her favorite sea animal is a shark?  The aquarium also happens to have recently opened a splash park that I think Maddie will love.

How fun is that?

Only two more weeks!