I picked up Tony, Jessica, and Ryan from the airport Saturday night. Here they are arriving!
After a quick snack, we all went to bed. Jessica and Esther shared her queen bed which Esther loved. Having someone to talk to forever before they went to sleep was Esther's dream come true!
After church the next day, we had lunch and relaxed a bit then drove to the Dallas Temple and then to Founder's Plaza, a fun place near the DFW Airport where you can watch the planes come in.
On Monday, we went to the National Scouting Museum which is right here in Irving! It's been a number of years since we went to it and I had forgotten what a nice museum it is. Norman Rockwell paintings, the history of Scouting, videos, animatronic figures, rifle shooting, Pinewood Derby racing, etc.
Instead of speeding through the museum, we just took our time and really enjoyed it. Both Ryan and Nathan did scavenger hunts to answer questions (Ryan's was harder) and they each got to bring a ribbon home for their troops. It made us think a lot more about what we were reading!
We headed to Dallas to go to Jimmy's Food Store. I was so afraid that it would be crowded as we got there at their usual busy hour. But we parked right up front and did not end up waiting too long for the food. Just long enough for Tony to buy out their olive selection!
After we were stuffed, we drove to Daron's parking garage. The garage was right next to a trolley stop. The M Line trolley is great because it's free! They do have at least one air conditioned one but we didn't get that one. It was HOT and humid! We were sweating. But, like Tony said, some clouds came in with a breeze and there was a little rain.
The trolley indeed stopped part way through the ride. Since we had parked in Daron's garage, he walked over and grabbed the van to pick us up. Then we dropped him back off at work.
The trolley was actually really crowded. This was taken after everyone had abandoned it when the power went out. We stayed in for a little while when we were waiting for Daron to rescue us.
After a quick trip to the mall, we met Daron at Blue Sushi where Tony already described a fantastic meal. Jacob tried a piece of California roll and actually liked it. Esther is just beginning to like sushi, though she didn't try much beyond the California roll either.
On Tuesday morning, we drove to Waco. We got a later start than we had hoped. Isn't that always the case? We saw the Dr. Pepper Museum that Tony really wanted to see. I think Debbie would have really enjoyed it!
A number of years ago they unearthed the original well they had used. It is now covered with glass so no one falls in and there is a mirror above it. This shot was into the mirror with Nathan and Jacob looking up.
We had been planning on going to In-N-Out for lunch but noticed there was a Twisted Root Burger nearly next door. There are a couple in Dallas and their burgers are good so we thought we'd go there instead. It was a lot crazier than the ones in Dallas - it was like a big warehouse. There were four huge movie screens with music videos and sports playing, couches in the corners, huge fans overhead, Chuck Norris quotes all over the chalkboard painted walls in the bathrooms... Loud and party atmosphere but yummy food.
Nathan's appetite was low which should have been our first clue that he wasn't feeling well. Sure enough, as we continued our drive to Houston, he started complaining of being cold and throat hurting. By the time we got to Kemah, where we were meeting Daron's nephew for dinner, Nathan's temperature was 102.5 degrees. Fortunately, I listened to the Spirit that morning when I was prompted to grab some children's Tylenol on the way out the door. Daron took Nathan to the hotel while the rest of us had dinner at a fun little seafood place. Kemah is right on the ocean. I was worried about Nathan so I didn't take any pictures. Hopefully Tony did.
We stayed at a Townplace Suites that night. It was too late to swim in the pool like we had originally planned but Nathan would have been sad to have missed it anyway.
Early on Wednesday morning, we went to the Houston Space Center. Jessica was drooling before we even got inside! Nathan and Daron stayed at the hotel until check out time and then joined us. Nathan was on Tylenol and was feeling just well enough to see the exhibits and take the tram tour.
I didn't take as many pictures inside as I thought I did. Partly because of the lighting. Maybe Tony took more. Here is Ryan at part of the Mythbusters exhibit they had, trying to dodge a bullet.
Jacob trying to change fast like a superhero.
Nathan, back in action, and so excited to see a robot! Then we went on our tram tour!
Our first stop was the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility. It was pretty amazing! All sorts of mockups of pieces of the space station for astronauts to practice.
Nathan's future job right there!
Next stop, the Saturn 5 building!
A new exhibit - a replica of the space shuttle Independence mounted on the original aircraft. This was pretty cool!
Adah was done with all the sightseeing after that! So was Nathan. After a dinner at a nearby Noodles and Company, we quarantined Nathan in Daron's car and drove home. The kids watched movies and were pretty good until Adah screamed herself to sleep and Jacob freaked out about dropping his blanket and Esther cried that Adah was so upset. Ugh. But they finally all settled down and we got home safe, but late.
The rest of the trip next time!
