This is how we continued our Texas trips for the past several years. Now, with the addition of Smaller Child, we do that with a stroller and a baby monitor again! This summer trip was no different, and BOY did we have fun!!
The week started out with a Tuesday morning drive to Texas. It was me and the boys. They were both very well behaved in the car, despite one getting over a respiratory illness, and the other just coming down with one, and teething to boot! The drive was pretty uneventful, save a few very ruthless semi drivers on the highway. We made it to GeeGee's house (what my boys affectionately call their Grandmother) and spent the rest of the afternoon and evening relaxing around the house. They sure were glad to see Gee Gee!!
An aside: I have to say, since Larger Child was first introduced to this world, dare I say the moment he took his first breath, he and my mother have shared some sort of unshakable bond. She may very well be his all time favorite person (with the exception of his Daddy, of course). They get along like peas and carrots, and they both just light each other up the moment they get near. I can see the same bond forming between her and Smaller Child now too. My mom is such a phenomenal grandmother. Those boys are truly blessed.
Any way.... Day two was the quintessential visit day. We spent it shopping! No Frisco visit is complete without a visit to Ikea. I swear, those Sweeds... they know how to make weirdo cheap but irresistible furniture and knick knacks! How can one resist? Even the baby is hooked!
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| I told him if he could say, "Abacus" I would buy it for him. We did not come home with an abacus. |
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| Care for some Skorpor Fullkorn? |
Thursday, my Dad decided to take off work, and we all went to the Dallas Museum of Science and Natural history and the Dallas Children's Aquarium. Both are at Fair Park, and both are good enough to have been visited by our little family several times. The Dallas Museum was hosting a traveling exhibit about SHARKS! Which was really pretty neat, though it did freak out Larger Child a couple of times.
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| This was a fake scared face... just so you know... |
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| as was this one.... |
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| baby cage? |
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| I can't decide with side of that cage is more dangerous... |
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| Aaaack! Shark Attack!! |
Realizing that the aquarium closed in about an hour, we made the decision to leave the museum and book it to see the stingrays. Larger Child has learned that they are not something to be feared, and loves to pet them. They both enjoy to watch them. Larger Child also learned about hermit crabs, lobsters, horseshoe crabs, and anemones. Perhaps he is a future marine biologist?
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| Hanging out with a Mastadon |
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| The Children's Aquarium with the Texas State Fair Ferris Wheel behind it. |
That evening Smaller Child's respiratory illness took a turn for the worse, so we grabbed some burgers to take home, and got the Little Man to bed. He was whooped. I think we all were.
Friday morning, Grandpa took Larger Child out fishing. This is something that they do nearly every visit. Larger Child LOVES it! He tells stories to anyone who will listen about his fishing adventures with his Grandpa. He even insisted that I pack his "fishing shirt" for this visit, being for CERTAIN that he would be going. Dad sent me these pics from the trip.
Apparently, it is catfish season, and the fish are biting! They caught over 30, and from what I understand, Larger Child caught the majority. I know one thing, they both came home pooped and smelling like fish, so you know it had to be good!
Once they got a rest, and a shower, we made the (perhaps poor) decision to take the kids to the Ripley's Believe it or Not museum and Tusseaud's Wax Museum. Larger Child has always had a taste for all things bizarre, and has had a recent fascination with world's records... so I THOUGHT it would be a perfect fit! I could not have been more wrong!
Outside were some really awesome dinosaur statues that were made from car parts. He thought those were pretty neat. Smaller Child was pretty impressed too.
Once inside, we started in the Odditorium, where they housed all of the strange and bizarre, like artwork made from toast, a house made of pennies, a painting on the head of a pin... so far so good, but you could see that the LC was getting more and more tense. I think it was the delivery. It was the way the rooms were set up, you couldn't see around corners, and the whole place kind of had a "jump out and getcha" kind of vibe. I understood his trepidation. There were a few times that I had to put on a brave face to show him there was nothing to be scared of. BUT, there was an ultimate meltdown. There was a room with wax statues of world record holders. Worlds Fattest Man, Worlds Tallest man, etc. they were a lot. I get that. But Larger Child's reaction was gigantic! Yelling, screaming, insistence, tears.... I eventually told him I would carry him through the room as quickly as possible, and he could shut his eyes and hang on. That did the trick.
All in all, he hated it in there. There were a couple more times I had to physically remove him from rooms, or carry him through all the while he was crying. But, we made it through. (I am starting a savings account for future therapy as we speak.)
There was also a giant mirror maze, which was AWESOME. We stuck together as a family, and took all the same turns and twists so no one got lost. It took us three tries, but we made it through. Go us! Smaller Child seemed pretty entertained in there. So many Smaller Childs to look at all at once!
So, after some relaxing and laughter in the mirror maze, we decided to try the wax museum. I fully expected epic meltdown, and not being able to finish... but we had paid for it, so I thought we could give it a go. The funnies thing... Larger Child didn't seemed skeezed out at ALL by the wax figures. He actually seemed somewhat entertained. He wasn't too keen on touching any, or getting that close. But he was a trooper.
There was a Life of Christ exhibit that he was particularly fond of. I think the soothing music and comfort it brought him was exactly what he needed after the terror he felt. I guess he knows where to turn when he's afraid! ha!
I also managed to get him to stand pretty close to Batman, to get a pic. Though he would still have none of the Joker. (Can't say as I blame him!)
Smaller Child was very stimulated by the whole thing. I don't think he quite could figure out why the people weren't talking to him though. He kept waving and waving, but not a single one would respond. It was hilarious!
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| Now, that's just RUDE Mr. Depp. RUDE! |
The MOMENT we went through the door, I grabbed on to my Mommy like a damn spider monkey baby. I had to resist the urge to literally climb up it. I have NEVER been good with haunted houses. I HATE the jump out and scare you thing. Wax figures are just kind of creepy anyway, you add in the horror factor, and the jumpy ness, and you get one SCREAMING MEEMEE (that's me). Yes, we squealed! Yes, we ran through some parts as fast as we could. Yes, we jumped about ten feet in the air at a car horn. BUT, did we have fun? ABSOLUTELY! I think it might have been the best part of the day. I sure enjoyed the fun with my Mammers too. She's a pretty awesome partner in crime.
After a quick (and I mean, almost run to the stall) potty break, we did a little gift shop shopping, and a couple rounds at a Laser room (very Mission Impossible style) we headed back to Frisco. We grabbed some pizza on the way home, and I then proceeded to spend the rest of the evening convincing Larger Child not to be scared of the things he saw that day. To make a long story short. He ended up in bed with me that night. But, come on... how great is it to have that face looking at me in the morning?!?!
Saturday morning we went out for an "early" breakfast. (I put that in quotes because "early" for a late sleeper like my Mom, and a mom with two kids in tow is more like 9:30!) It was pretty good. SC liked the breadsticks, and felt like others should see why...
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| Wanna bite, Grandpa?? |
We also went for a short walk. It was a nice morning. Larger Child and Grandpa traipsed together. LC was like Grandpa's mini me over the week. He sure is fond of his grandparents. Can't blame him. I kind of like em too!
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| Focus! |
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| Look at that bridge! |
An afternoon rest was followed by a trip to the local Splash Park. The kids had a ball!! I will admit, I did too.
Then home where Dad cooked us DELICIOUS steak. We (me and the boys) went to bed early after a long day in the sun and not much sleep the night before.
Sunday morning, Mom made us breakfast, and then we packed up and headed out. Goodbyes are hard. Even after ten+ years of doing them, it is still hard to drive away. I was missing my Beautiful Bald Husband something fierce though, and my Weirdo Olivia too. (Though Chloe was a good stand in,)
The drive home was completely uneventful. The boys slept most of the way. Though, there was a moment when I was struck by the beauty of my surroundings. While some may disagree, I truly think we live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. The colors, clarity, and sights can floor me!
It really was a wonderful week! While I got home exhausted, I have to say how lucky I feel to have the parents that I have. They truly are two of the most loving, adoring, supportive, and entertaining people I know... and I get to call them MOM AND DAD!! How cool is that?? Not many people I know have two best friends named Mom and Dad. I am a lucky lucky girl! (*and... and it's a GOAT!)
*Inside joke for my favorite comedian.
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