BonVoyage, Jennifer

I hope that the traveling with youngsters is going well! Have a GREAT vacation...and don't let that husband of yours work too much while you are there.



Let me know how the car/airplane trip went.



Sincerley,



Kris

My husband is LOVING interventional radiology. He says it's like surgery in a way with all of the procedures, but it's very laid back (LAZY). This is weird because it has the aura of a vacation, but Jon has to go work everyday. I do like getting saluted everytime I get back on base during the day. I've even started noticing big differences in the way people salute. Some are really lazy some are sharp and some have this little fake movement that makes them look like they should have a BOING sound to them. Anyway, overall it's fun.



Jennifer

So are you still on vacation? He is doing a rotation on base? That is kind of neat. How is the traveling going with kids...are they dealing with it alright?



Are you getting to see the sights you want to see?



Will you guys be doing a whole month there then?



Kris

We will be here an entire month. Since Jon is gone during the days, the kids and I explore San Antonio. We went to El Mercada and really had a blast. We took Jon back there the other night and he enthusiastically bought me some really cool clothes. Now, if I just had the right jewelry.... We went to this Mexican bakery/restaraunt (just me and the kids) and had the best pastries. I have always loved Mexican pastries and cookies (shortbreads, macaroons, empanadas, etc.) but Dallas just doesn't have any good Mex bakeries.



Everywhere I go people are hospitable and very forgiving of my crazy kids. Very different from Dallas. I had heard that San Antonio was very family friendly but now I know why! We all went to the River Walk. Very lovely. I took a hike through the historic houses while Jon watched the kids one evening. I took about 2 rolls of film and only saw half of the buildings! We still have to see the Alamo and go to Sea World. We just got back from the zoo today. That zoo is gorgeous and the animals actually look happy for a change.



Can you tell I like it here?



Anyway, it is pretty much me and the kids all day during the week, but Jon's schedule is very light. He's not busting his butt because there's no chance he will have a residency position here (complicated military match stuff). So, rather than call, they are just paging him for the cool stuff. He loves it and that makes me happy but anxious that he get the residency he wants - I want him to enjoy what he does every day.



Jon is on an Air Force scholarship. His father was a pilot in the AF, so Jon is a "legacy". His contract has him in the reserves right now as a Lieutinant. He has to do a few month long medical rotations during school. He gets to pick the place, specialty, and dates. He will owe the AF five years after all of his training at which time he will be a Captain or possibly higher. The pay as an AF doctor is laughable so we will be leaving once his duty is done. His family can accompany him on rotations if he requests.



Well, I'm in love with this city. I highly recommend it to anyone. So far, so good.



Jennifer

That is kind of neat. I lived in TX for several years (my dad was military (army), so we moved alot.) After he retired we moved to texas. I had a couple of chances to spend time in SanAntonio. The riverwalk is beautiful.



While we were doing residency in PA we met some people who had moved from SanAntonio and they told us that the only problem with the area is the high crime rate...and that a lot of crimes happen on the riverwalk....so keep an extra eye on the little ones.



She was glad to have moved away....



I never had a bad experience there though...of course, being a tourist and not having children was different. I will be curious to hear about your experiences there.



It is great that your husband is having an easier rotation....that probably makes it seem much more like a "paid" vacation.



I was glad to hear that the MagnaDoodle was a hit. When we drove from PA to Iowa we had one for each of our children (two at the time). They were so rough on them that I would say that we went through about 6 on the trip...at one point we were on the highway looking for an exit with a kmart, target or walmart so that we could replace them! They are neat though and have ones with little alphabet templates, etc so that little ones can "study" as you drive!



Another suggestion I forgot to mention was books on tape. We stopped by this outlet mall and bought a bunch of tapes: dumbo, etc....and they really kept the kids interested and occupied.



Kris

Alex (my son) actually wants to be either a train or a race car when he grows up (not the drivers - we're still talking to him on this). Yes, Alex's grandaddy (the train enthusiast who got my son hooked on trains when he bought him a huge, expensive Thomas set last Christmas) took him to see it before we went to San Antonio. I really have no desire to see it. I saw the Tigger movie and was entertained but dissappointed. It just wasn't as good as the old Pooh movie. My genre of film is more along the lines of scifi. My husband and I eagerly await the JRR Tolkien trilogy and the prequel and sequel to the Matrix (children should NOT see these movies).



We are enjoying it here. I just figured out Sally is nearby and also a military med wife. She is a fountain of information for me. The military medical route is quite a bit different from the normal route and she has a lot more experience. San Antonio would be a great vacation spot with kids if you ever decide to visit (not in August - too hot even for native Texans like me).



We're really just being bums out here. Even Jon is slacking. We go swimming a lot and do touristy things. I love the lazy life. The only problem is that our 5 year anniversary is next week and we won't be able to go out for it. San Antonio is a perfect place to celebrate, but with no one here we know to watch the kids it looks as though we won't be doing anything together. Oh well! Last year for our anniversary Jon was doing a rotation in CA and we were in TX with all of the nightmare stuff going on (surgeries and such). At least we're in the same city!



Jennifer

How is the working vacation going? I guess you guys only have a couple more weeks to go....we just took the kids to see the Thomas the Tank Engine movie. I thought that it was a bit boring, but my husband and children were mesmerized...my spouse actually used the word "magical" in response to the movie and is planning on getting the video. Andrew told me it was the best movie in the "whole world"....anyone else seen it?



Kris

That is so cute...my daughter actually wants to be a pumpkin when she grows up...I have absolutely no idea of where she got that from, but if you ask her, she will proudly tell you that she will be a pumpkin!



I think it is kind of neat that you will be celebrating your anniversary in San Antonio....it sounds like this year you will have to make it a family affair..which can be nice too!! Have you thought of anything to do to celebrate? i.e. dinner for all on the riverwalk etc...



When do you head of for California?





Kris

Truthfully, I feel pretty stupid whining about not having an evening out alone without kids. Good grief, it's been a lot worse! But, you know it is nice to go out occasionally sans children and do "adult" things. Last year to make it up to me, Jon took me to a nice hotel for the weekend (about a month after the anniversary). He got the room on priceline so we could afford it. We had a great time and all I can say is that a month of starvation and no kids around makes for a sleepless night! I think we'll go to Sea World this year - not romantic but at the moment I feel so happy that I have had so much time with my guy that I don't care about the romance. Sometimes I do wish we were independently wealthy and could just take vacations together whenever we wanted. Sigh. But I guess then we probably wouldn't appreciate the things we had.



Jennifer

I know...but sometimes it would be nice to have time as a couple again....I really do miss that aspect of our relationship at times....Some days I think that I would give anything to have a vacation with just him....of course, now we will be having it for a week and I am hysterical about leaving the kids... Thomas needs the phone...gotta get off.



Kris