Tuesday, June 23, 2015

::Traveling Texas with Toddlers:: South Texas that is.... {Part 1}

This Summer we had a semi-planned trip to South Texas. Our first big road trip of the year. I finally sat down to edit our pictures and write our re-cap! 

Day 1- Day 3
::Houston,TX  to McAllen, TX::
Friday-Saturday/Sunday

Honestly, we loved our trip it was a great South Texas experience and we know that we can make it better every year to come. The main reason we planned the trip the first weekend in June was to be a part of my nieces birthday. We celebrated with Emma and basically visited with family that we had not seen in a year for about 2 days or so.

I grew up very close to my cousins in Reynosa. We visited them months at time, 2 to 3 times a year when we didn't live in the Valley. I want my children to have that same closeness with my loved ones. The same sense of family and love. The same innocent childhood that we all deserve.

On Sunday my parents were leaving us, we had breakfast with them in McAllen finding a lot of good snack and food places! Camila even got to see a lot of QuinceaƱera dresses. Her favorites. Something that really makes me happy. A tradition that will not end with my generation. My parents left soon after our morning in McAllen, they came back home to Houston. So, we headed over to the South Texas Museum of History, we found it through a brochure at our hotel.












::Edinburg, TX ::
Sunday
South Texas Museum of History

The museum was a wonderful exhibit from the moment you open the door! 

We transformed from Vaqueros to Conquistadores. We learned about our ancestors and how Mexico evolved from Tejas to Texas. The wars, the hardships, and everything in between. Mexico History, Texas History and so much more. Every corner of the museum held a new treasure of  interactive information. It kept the kids entertained and I honestly loved it. Every hallway elaborately and colorfully describing Texas History. Made us wish we lived in the Valley and could go to all of the events! They have so many great ones going on this Summer, make sure you check out their website. 

We loved the hands on, and narratives. Definitely a hidden treasure of the valley. I had no clue we had this museum so glad we found it. My kids truly embraced it all and took it one bit of brain developing information at a time. If you have children of any age, or not, and you are in South Texas, I highly you encourage you to visit this museum. 












Day 4-Day 6
::McAllen, TX to South Padre Island, TX::
Monday-Wednesday

::San Juan, TX::
Monday
Basilica de San Juan del Valle

Part of learning where I grew up and where we come from, has a lot to do with my faith. Being Catholic is something that I feel I haven't taken lightly. I want to instill in my children our faith, our culture and what it all means. I know that by exposing them early on to all of this will help them not only form their own beliefs but shape their future decisions. Even if they don't decide to continue in the religion, I hope that they would at least make informed decisions about what they want to believe in. 

San Juan is a church I grew up going to. The Miracle room is my favorite. The altar is amazing. My life is forever deepened in what I want for my family. I pray. I do. God knows us well. 



Oh and it wouldn't be a vacation without a little tantrum action... yep. We have those moments. We are real. We are not perfect. They ran and cried outside the church. Nice. I know.


To be Continued...... 

No comments: