Hello! My name is… Imelda Bettinger

wife, mom, computer geek, photographer talking about total randomness

Best of 2009: Best Trip – San Antonio, Texas

I am participating in Gwen Bell’s The Best of 2009 Blog Challenge. December 1st, Gwen asks what was your best trip in 2009?

In late January, I took an impulse trip to San Antonio, Texas with my 2 kids, Danielle and Mason. Little did I know, I was already carrying my 3rd child Jack. I am not a huge fan of San Antonio but looking back, this was my best trip because it was impulsive and with my kids. We took an 8 day trip to Colorado in June that was awesome but this was still my favorite.

I hadn’t been to SA in years and wanted to show Mason The Alamo for the first time. Danielle loves the Louis Tussaud’s Plaza Wax Museum and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! so she was totally in.

Family!


We stayed at the historic La Mansion hotel on the Riverwalk, had a nice Italian dinner at Luca Ristorante Enoteca, found a cute coffee shop and even visited the top of the Tower of the Americas at Hemisfair Park and played with candy blocks. The kids really enjoyed the River Taxi ride as well.

I just loved spending quality time with my kids! I let them choose what we were going to do on the trip and that made it much more meaningful. I’m so blessed to have them. When Jack gets a bit older, I look forward to more impulse trips with my family. :)

View entire Flickr photo set.

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12/01/2009 | Best of... | 1 Comment

My bucket list starts with: Go to Ireland

Go to Ireland
I have loved the color green and Irish music and beer for so long that I really really really really want to go to Ireland. Should have gone for my 35th birthday, this April 3rd, but didn't make it.

Go on a hot air balloon ride
I just really really really want to go on one, maybe in New Mexico or Europe or even Houston.

Go back to Belize
Because I honeymooned there and want to take my kids to the cute and quaint island of Ambergris Caye!

Go to DisneyWorld at least once
Growing up I had family in California so we always went to DisneyLand. I have never been to Florida or DisneyWorld and would like to go at least once.

Go on a Buddhist retreat
I just want to learn more and have more peace in my life. Not sure about a silent retreat but at least a get away to learn.

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03/25/2009 | Plinky Prompts | No Comments

This past weekend…

My best friend KC and her kids were visiting Texas from California and we met up with them in Austin.

Here is a set of photos I took while driving to Austin. Matt never stops to let me take photos, but this time was different. He turned around all on his own and took me to a “Scenic Overlook” on Highway 71. We got to Austin and visited with Dan and Margaret in their newly remodeled home. It looks great! Then we met up with KC and our other friend Jennifer who lives in Austin at South Park Meadows in South Austin. This place used to be a concert venue and now its all commercial. It rained when we got there but it finally stopped and we were still able to eat Amy’s Ice Cream and Mama Fu’s Asian House. Yummy! The kids liked the play scape and ice cream and the big kids enjoyed visiting.

The next day we woke up to Dan already gone but got to hang out with Margaret. We locked up and then ate breakfast at Taco Shack on Lamar at 40th. We’ve been here a number of times and the food is always tasty! We stopped to let me take a few photos of The Capital and Congress. I didn’t take my phone and Matt has to move because the meter man was coming and so he drove around for 15 minutes trying to find me. That was no fun for him. Good thing was I could hear his little TDI zip around all the one ways an anticipate where he could come by next.

We then headed south to meet KC and her sister Katy for a while and said our goodbyes. We were next off to the Snake Farm in New Braunfels, Texas. We had recently watched an episode of Dirty Jobs were Mike Rowe visits the Snake Farm. We had been before but it had been years and we were in the area so what the heck. Mason loved the snakes! The other animals were sad but we are told the new owners are improving the place. Take a look of the photos. Let me know if you can help me identify some of the snakes.

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07/31/2007 | Close to Home | No Comments

I’m ready to book my next cruise

Get this.. Cunard’s 2008 Pathway to the Explorers World Cruise

January 13, 2008 – April 28, 2008
Queen Victoria / Queen Mary 2 – 105 days

Early Booking Fares start at $20,004 and go up to $203,004!!

105 Days!! I can’t imagine being on a ship that long but would be very interesting.

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02/06/2007 | Uncategorized | 1 Comment

My first flickr explore!

I got too excited. This one really shouldn’t count considering I didn’t actually take the photo. My mom actually took this one when she was in DC back in Nov 2006. Congratulations Mom! This is a big deal!

02/02/2007 | This and That | No Comments