Spring Break in South Padre Island

Yes, you read that right.  I took my family to South Padre Island for Spring Break.  We were ready to have some fun in the sun and the beach.

My daughter has been asking us to take her to the beach.  She was born a human but in another life she was a mermaid. 

South Padre Island has beautiful beaches.  We had visited a couple of years back but my husband was not able to make the trip with us.  I am sure my daughter does not even remember since she was so little.  We headed to the island for a couple of days to get away from everything.

My favorite things about this trip:

1)  Family Time-We have not taken an entire week off together in - NEVER!  My husband usually works for Spring Break.  I normally take time off and hang out with my kids.  We do weekend trips, or staycations but never actually plan to get away from it all. 

2)  Location-I love the beach.  I did not realize how much my little girl loved the beach too.  Why do I love the beach?  The beach is a fun place.  I love reflecting on the beach.  I love listening to the ocean.  Seeing the beauty of the sky meeting the land.  It did not matter where we would have went as long as we were together.  But the beach did make a perfect spot for us to enjoy ourselves, each other, and it's beauty.

3)  Memories-A vacation sometimes is not all fun, happy, joy-joy times.  Most of the time we forget something, we get lost, kids have tantrums, etc... but even those memories one day will be funny stories or things you miss once your kids grow up.  I am learning to let go.  I am a very controlling person and this hard.  I am a perfectionist and forgetting, losing, or under planning really suck for us.  Lately I am spending more time laughing at myself, laughing with my kids, instead of stressing out, I laugh, laugh hard. 

A specific moment I am learning to let go is the perfect shot.  I put my kids in a spot, expect to pose and smile, and then it happens.  They move, no smile, closed eyes, etc...  My husband loves getting the moment shots.  He has been telling just take the picture.  Remember those moments who cares if it is the perfect shot.  And guess what, those have been become the shots I am loving.  Check some of them out from this vacation:

My daughter was so excited that we were getting ready to hit the water that she could not sit still for a shot.  I snapped this picture off centered, caught her trying to put her shoes on, and actually didn't even take the picture right.  I normally delete these kind of pictures but not anymore. 

This is one of many shots I took.  Again, I was trying to get her to smile for the camera.  I ended up just clicking a lot of shots.  I loved them all.  You can see how much fun she was having in every shot.

This is when I gave up trying to a good picture.  I just starting snapping action shots.  I like this picture because it has the rest of the family in the shadows.  We were having so much fun just watching how much fun my daughter was having.  The water was freezing but she was running, chasing waves.

Every shot has a story.  Our story.

Have you been to SPI?  Do you hit the beach?  When was your last vacation?  What places do you like to visit with the family to unwind? 

Schlitterbahn South Padre Island #BahnLove Celebration

***Disclosure-I am a USFG blogger.  I am posting this information in exchange for complimentary resort stay and waterpark tickets for my family.

Schlitterbahn South Padre Island Waterpark is celebrating 15 years since opening.

Built in 2001, this park is home to our Transportainment River system that is designed to maximize time in the water and eliminate lines.  This river system connects eight attractions that feature rapids, chutes, and gentle currents.

South Padre Beach Resort is Green.  The ropes, Green House, lobby check in counter, parapet walls, chandeliers, waterslides, and handrails are all repurposed, and recycled.

3 years ago, we got to visit and learn about the Loblolly Pines from the Bastrop County fire.  Jeff Henry, with Schlitterbahn, offered to take the fallen trees, then had them milled, beginning the process of transforming the pines from scorched wood to the most dramatic feature throughout the Schlitterbahn Beach Resort at South Padre. 

Check out my post for more pictures-Travel Tuesday-Schlitterbahn South Padre Island

When you head to Schlitterbahn South Padre Island you can go to the beach, sit back and enjoy your tube ride while you tan.

Head on over to Schlitterbahn.com to plan your next visit and make sure to follow online and enter any of the contests on Schlitterbahn Waterparks, Schlitterbahn South Padre Island, Schlitterbahn Galveston, or Schlitterbahn New Braunfels Facebook pages.  Your next visit could be FREE.

Aren't You Suppose to be on Vacation?

So, yesterday my boss walks in and says, "Aren't you suppose to be on vacation?"  See I had a trip that was tentatively planned from May 1-3 that I had put in vacation time for but it got postponed until further notice.  While I was bummed about that, I wasn't going to be able to take my family with me.  I feel so selfish taking trips without them. 

Then a couple of days ago, I was invited to a blogger retreat that I could take my family on.  And right about now, I could really use a vacation-a real one.  My job is very stressful, especially around the end of the month/beginning of the month.  There is so much to do, and take care.  But now I get to pack up my family, forget about work/schedules/etc, and go relax for a weekend getaway.  Guess where we are going?

We are headed to South Padre Island on a weekend getaway sponsored by Schlitterbahn Beach Resort.  Our weekend getaway includes a 2 night stay and 2 provided meals.  I visited Schlitterbahn New Braunfels for a Senior Day trip many years ago and my family has visited Schlitterbahn Galveston several times.  This weekend we get to learn about Schlitterbahn South Padre Island Beach Resort.  So I know, you are asking yourself isn't too cold to visit a waterpark?  Well lucky for us, Schlitterbahn is an indoor waterpark.

So I am packing our swimsuits and trunks and we are headed to South Padre Island.  I along with other Texas bloggers will be sharing our experience.  If you would like to follow along on twitter, follow #bloggerretreat.

***Disclosure-As stated above, we will be guests of the resort for 2 nights and 2 meals will be provided complimentary to our family.  All opinions expressed by myself or my family will be based on my personal experience and as always will be our HONEST opinions.  If you would like more information on Schlitterbahn and their parks, please visit http://www.schlitterbahn.com/.  All pictures were provided for us by Schlitterbahn Waterpark and Resorts.