San Antonio Texas

Our first stop once we got to San Antonio was the Alamo, a very neat place. These missions are very interesting the set up of how they were,  the Alamo started being built in 1724- and still stands today despite everything that has happened to it- one neat place!

Around the Alamo grounds- Zak with his parents. His parents got there a couple days before we did, so they picked us up from the airport which was super nice!

A cactus at the Alamo- nice warm weather!!

Our second day we visited the Natural Bridge Caverns, we enjoyed this, it is so neat and interesting. I think Geology is so neat. This cavern has the 2nd biggest room for all caverns.

The jelly fish- what one stalamite grew to be. This has taken thousands and thousands of years to grow!

We thought it would be cold inside the cavern, so we dressed pretty warm- but it was about 75 degrees and 99% humidity, we were pretty toasty inside the cavern.

After the Caverns we went to San Jose Mission, which was a pretty big mission. We are standing in front of the church- which started being built in 1719 I believe.

The front entrance of the church. When the armies took over this mission after missions were dissolved, they used the church as a target practice, so there is bullet holes in the walls. It is amazing that most of the missions in the San Antonio area still standing structures, because most were abonded for some time.

More of the San Jose Mission

The river walk, every night we walked along the river walk and ate dinner outside along the river walk. It is beautiful and the atmosphere of it is so neat!

We took a boat tour of the river walk and learned some San Antonio history!

Our hotel was right along the river walk!

And the reason we went to San Antonio is with Farm Bureau. Zak won the Idaho Discussion Meet for the Young Farmer and Ranchers of Farm Bureau. It is where they put 4 people in a room, pose a question and they discuss about the topic and come up with ideas about it, you are judged on your ideas, how well you work with others, cooperative attitude, and opening and closing statements. Zak did amazing, both rounds he was the only male, with 3 females, and judges were 2 females and 1 male. I was honestly surprised and I think everyone else was surprised with the outcome. The girl I had ranked in 4th place(and about everyone else did too) made it to the top 4. I was honestly shocked and it was tough, Zak had prepared, called to talk to people about things for ideas and studied hours upon hours for this- I thought he actually did the best! The only thing we can really think is that he seemed to be to aggressive considering he was in a room full of females! He was the only male competetor that happened to- a little unfair. But what an accomplishment- not many people can say they have won 2 things with Farm Bureau and got to go to Nationals to compete.

We had an awesome trip and thankful for Zak's sister and her husband and my parents who were able to watch our kids for us!