We had big plans for Spring Break.....which ended up fizzling out. Friday we headed to the creek for some relaxation, family time and friends, but on the way down Mark started not feeling well. He ended spending that night suffering from the worst part of the violent stomach bug that attacked our family. Gage had it first starting Tuesday night. Jane kept him Wednesday home from school and she came down with it Thursday night. She even went to the ER Friday morning. Keaton had it Wednesday night and now Mark on Friday. We later learned Jane passed it to Ed who came down with it on Saturday night. Somehow Cort and I were unscathed, at least for now. This was our 1st night at the creek getting unpacked and ready for bed. Cort helping mommy by entertaining Gage. 
When left with the weekend to entertain the kids since Mark was down and out, I started planning things to do besides sit in front of the TV. I could have taken the boys down to the dock to fish, yes mom can do that, but Gage would not have fared so well for long. Instead we planned a trip to the Sea Center in Lake Jackson. 
In the big tank, they have a Nurse Shark. The day we were there it was not swimming around, but just laying on the bottom. We had been to the Sea Center before several years ago and there were two sharks then and they were both swimming around. It was very exciting to see. Along with the Moray Eel that is sticking his head out from the rocks. 
Cort found Dori 
and Nemo 
They have a touch tank. The kids really enjoy getting their hands in the water. 
This is a spider crab. 
Hermit crab
Turtle Family
Cort at the craft table. You can make imprints of all kinds of Sea Creatures. 
The lobby was filled with all types of fish that had been caught and donated to the center. There was a list of the species with their length and weight along with the date caught. Some held records or previously did.
We purchased the boys a souvenir from the gift shop.
Shark tooth necklace 
Yes, that's right, Mark ventured out with us after all. He just couldn't stand the thought of us having fun without him or being couped up all by himself. But he stayed in the car with the baby when we stopped to eat lunch since food in general was not yet appetizing, much less Taco Bell. 
My little Kindergartner was quick to point out the bluebonnet since they just finished their unit on Texas. 
This is the wetlands behind the center with different plant species and animals. There are different markers you can read about the animals and plants that live in this environment. 
They also have a hatchery, that you can see by tour guide only. We didn't wait for the tour, but they have redfish, trout and flounder. This center releases 25 million juvenile fish into the wild to enhance the population. This is an ariel view of the hatchery stock ponds. 
This was Cort snapping some pictures with the camera as we left the center. Back seat view with Keaton.
Perfect view of Gage. And believe me they entertained him on the ride to and from the creek. I love it when they get him laughing. 
The weather was great, but still too cold for swimming. So in dire efforts to entertain the kids, as Mark still was not feeling that great, I thought why not a simple messy experiment.
J-E-L-L-O
On my way to serve up some fun. 
We're at the creek, we can be messy! 
Gage investigating it first. 
I think he got the idea. 
Taking a taste. 
Mmmm, good. 
Now he's just getting plum crazy. 
Where did it all go??
Keaton's turn 
Cort really just wanted to eat his. 
Our view from the swing. I had looked forward to sitting on the swing or dock with Mark in the evening once we got the kids to sleep and enjoying some quiet, peaceful adult time, but he didn't recover enough from the stomach bug. 
Please excuse the dirty face. I think he just ate a graham cracker. 
Early one morning the kids and I went for a walk.
Again, fresh from learning his Texas unit, the kids wanted to take this picture by the cactus they saw. 
Gage on the dock. 
Keaton and Cort made a new friend. Dylan from across the street joined us for some fishing. They were inseparable from then on. 
Gage wanting some more outside time. 
Let me out! 
Having fun with brothers. 
Gage loved this big soccer ball. 
I want to swing too.
After the weekend was pretty much a bust, we decided to come home early. We had planned on staying until Tuesday, but packed up and left Monday morning. Our friends that were to join us Sunday night were not feeling well either and it just seemed that everybody needed to catch up on some rest. 
I think Gage was ready to go. He crawled over to his car seat and climbed in all by himself.
Future Builder
Mark was wrestling on the floor with Keaton and Cort
And of course Gage wanted in on the action. 
Oh, how I love that smile!
And laugh!
Gage is learning the word no. He doesn't say it yet, but definitely knows what it means. I will tell him no-no and he will look at me. Then he will shake his head no-no. He is so cute and smart. Later he may go back to that object I told him no-no about and will again look at me and shake his head no-no because he remembers.
This is on our way to church on rodeo day. This post almost didn't happen since I lost the camera that day. Luckily, someone found it and turned it in 3 days later. I thought these pictures were gone, but so happy to have them back.
