Trip to Houston

I wanted to take one last exciting trip with the family before having baby #3, because I think life is going to change drastically with another child to care for.

So, we went to Houston to visit my friend, Courtney. She came and visited this summer, and when she was here from Pennsylvania for Christmas, I told her we'd come see her. I love Courtney. She's one of the most fun, sweetest, kindest people I know.

I was impressed with Houston. Joe and I both liked the more cosmopolitan feel of the city. Courtney took us to her favorite pastry shop, to a BBQ restaurant, to the Galleria shopping area, and to the Water Wall. The Water Wall was extra cool. I have pictures of it with the flash:

(you can't see the Water Wall at all, right? Just Courtney and the kids)

Without the flash:

(can barely see Courtney and the kids, just the Water Wall). It reminds me of the Coliseum, or something. And that is what they're going for: ancient Roman architecture.

This is us inside the Water Wall.

With and without flash pictures. I like the water droplets on this with-the-flash picture.

Anyway, thanks, Court, for letting us visit! I'll see you this summer in PA!

We got to stay the night in a hotel, which was very exciting to Elliot and Dottie. They slept great. Me on the otherhand, not so much. I took a Sudafed, which I didn't realize was non-drowsy, and I don't think I slept at all that night.

The next day, we went to NASA. Now I'm going to try to describe our time there without sounding too complaining. I did enjoy myself, and I did learn a lot. Joe and I got really interested in Space Travel because of a film we saw there, and we rented Apollo 13 when we got home.
HOWEVER, my children were . . . horrific. No better word. We actually cut the day short because of bad behavior. And torrential rain. We got on an open-door tram in the middle of the rainstorm to tour the actual NASA facility, and we were all soaking wet. The kids cried, I felt like crying, so we went home after the NASA tour. But I did like the tour itself when we got off of the tram. It was cool to see real shuttles being built.

Here are pictures of the beginning of the day, when the children were more happy and carefree:

There was a fun little Lego section that had dress-up knight and lady clothes.
On the way home, probably half-way between San Antonio and Houston, there is this great gas station called Buc-Eee's. Courtney told me about it. The mascot is a big beaver. So we went there, got some undeserved Slurpees for my kids, and took a picture with Buc-ee the Beaver, especially for my brother, Bryan. You know why, Bryan.
Dottie thought Buc-ee was real, and was very intimidated, but I convinced her that it was just a statue. So here's to my last trip before Ruby comes! I'm glad we were able to get out and see Houston, bad children included.