Houston trip- the ride home

One moment I look back and Mina is conked out:

I look again and she's still out:

Next time I look she's hiding under her blanket making noises with her finger and lips:

Boo! There she is!:

Ahh! No more flash, please!:

Thank you Mikey and Lanie for letting us come visit you. We had such a great time!

Houston trip- Blue Bell Factory

We drove about an hour and a half just to go to the Blue Bell factory. If you're from Texas you understand the reason for this. Blue Bell ice cream is simply the best. Luck would have it that military got a special discount, too! Dru was able to get the three of us, Mike, Alayne, my friend, Wendy and her sister all in for free! Yipee. You get a free scoop at the end of the tour, too! We weren't allowed to take pictures inside the factory, so we just snapped a couple of shots in the gift shop with the cool hats they give you. It was very cool to see all of the machines and people working so fast. It's astonishing how much ice cream can be produced in one day with the help of machines. Just crazy!

The picture where we're all normal and smiling was blurry. The picture where Dru and I were smiling, Mina looked drugged. So, this is what you get.

Wendy!

We stopped to get gas on our journey back home and Wendy decided to lock her keys in the car. Apparently she's done this several times. Hopefully she'll learn this time. Haha. Several people offered to help try to unlock the car. Someone offered us a coat hanger and a fly swatter, but an hour and a half and 30 bucks later, we finally were able to leave this gas station.

Poor Wendy and Marcia.

This is the guy they had to pay who finally got the door open.

Mina was actually really good for that hour and a half waiting in her car seat with Aunt Lanie there to entertain her.

Houston trip- Water mat

My mom got Mina this cool little mat that hooks up to a hose and sprays water out in different spots. Mina enjoyed and probably would have enjoyed it a little more if the water wasn't so cold. Her bathing suit still had sand in it from the beach. That's why she is bathing suit-less. It was really funny to watch her. At one point she was sitting on it in a spot that one of the holes sprayed water directly into her face if she moved a certain way and she kept moving that certain way. I'm so happy she is so adventurous.

Houston trip- Johnson Space Center

We went to the Johnson Space Center one day and had a really good time. There was a lot to do and a lot to learn. We took a shuttle tour that took us to some of the actual NASA buildings which made if far more interesting than just staying in the museum part. We were able to see some training rooms where there are scale models of actual spacecraft for future astronauts to practice on. We got to see the old control rooms with all of the "high-tech" equipment that sent men to the moon and back. It was very impressive that they could do it without all of the technology we have today.

Who thinks Dru should be an astronaut?

What about Mina?

It's a space toilet. Of course Dru is going to be excited.

Where's Mina?

I trust her controlling a space craft.

On the shuttle bus heading to learn some cool stuff!

Mina had fun on the shuttle and held on like everyone else.

Some of the first rockets to head to space.

This was the last rocket to be used for the Apollo missions.

Now, you would think Mina would have been very bored with all of this boring stuff and, indeed, she did get very bored. But, when we returned from the shuttle tour, in the museum there is this huge kids play area. They had a section particularly for little kids to play in. Dru took Mina in it and she completely forgot how tired and bored she was. There was this object that you put little foam balls into and they get sucked up to this spacecraft high above. When the spacecraft gets too full all of the balls fall out. Mina caught on very quickly and raced to gather up the balls to put them in. I was impressed with how quickly she was able to figure it out. She absolutely loved it. She got a little upset with us when we made her get out.

Mina enjoying her favorite part of NASA.

Houston trip- The zoo

During the weekdays, Mike and Alayne had to go to work so we found things to do to stay entertained. The zoo happened to be free for active duty military and their family so we went on a free trip to the zoo. Also, because the weather hadn't been the best and it was a weekday, it wasn't hot and it was not crowded. It was a heavenly day at the zoo.

She is staring at the fish in the huge aquarium.

Such a sweet little fish.

Mina was fascinated by the sea lions. They are so talented and fun to watch and I'm glad we made it in time to see their show.

I love watching her be so interested in things.

So, there was a glass tunnel through an aquarium that kids could crawl through. Dru took her down there and I went to the other end to get her to crawl to me. She crawled in and about half way through she stopped. I tried to convince her to keep coming and she started to, but then turned around and went back to the other end. Dru tried to grab her, but she turned around and started back to the other end. Haha. This went on for a while until Dru eventually had to crawl in and grab her. She's such a funny kid.

The start of the tunnel.

Who knew she'd like it so much and never want to come out.

At least we got some cute pictures.

Dru crawled in to snatch her after she wouldn't come out on her own.

Daddy and daughter. Such good pals.

Look at that cute prairie dog back there.

Another one!

This is at the petting zoo section of the zoo. Don't remember what these animals were called and Mina didn't really know what to think of them.

This was the moment right before Dru got in trouble for trying to let Mina sit on this animal which is not a horse, apparently. Haha.

One of my friends from college actually lives in Houston, too! Wendy and her sister met us at the zoo to spend the day with us. It was so good to see her and to catch up. Wendy is probably one of the funniest people I know and it was great to laugh the day away with her. I'm also glad she finally got to meet Dru and Mina.

Wendy and me just like the good ol' days.

What a fun day!

Houston trip- Naked piano babies

Mike and Alayne had recently acquired a nice baby grande piano and both Mina and William loved to bang on it. We decided it would be cute to let them play the piano in their birthday suits. It was so fun to watch them play each time we let them, but for some reason when we took their diapers off, they went wild. We all laughed so hard at how much more enthusiastic they were being naked. I'm sure they'll hate us one day for this, but for now we're going to enjoy it.