January 4 - January 20

Our time at the Reddigs was cut short by a couple of days due to the change in plans.  But, we did get to see Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Megan, and Uncle Scuba once more much sooner than we had expected.  As well as meet Mocha and Pepper.  Molly was over the moon on that one.

Molly also had her hair done properly for the last time until Nana comes to visit in March.  (Isn't Megan's scarf lovely?)

 During a break day in Oklahoma, I looked up various activities to do in San Antonio with the kids while Eric was at work.  I found a Children's Museum in downtown San Antonio that had a partnership with another science museum we are members.  Despite the scariness of driving in big city traffic and figuring out the least expensive place to park (I succeeded at one and failed at the other), we all enjoyed the experience.  So much so, we went back the following week and I even brought my camera.

 Highlights of the children's museum included a large replica grocery store with bar codes that actually scanned, an small jet, an area for science experiments, a ball factory, a play house, and  Molly Trolley.  I have pictures of a few areas and pleasant memories of the other areas.  The first day we visited, we were able to take part in a science class.  William happily told the teacher at the end that he was a scientist and Dom declared he was a sports guy.

 Another highlight of our stay was a ride on a sightseeing boat to see the famous Riverwalk.  We originally thought we'd go for a ride on the weekend, but were put off by the 2 hour wait.  Luckily, the midweek rides have zero wait and we only had to share the boat with one other party. 

Most mornings we went to the library and borrowed a study room for an hour or two to do some of the activities I had for school.  I wasn't quite sure how this would work out, but the boys quickly learned to just buckle down and get through their lessons and the free wifi meant that Molly could watch some videos of her own choosing.  Everyone left generally in a pretty good mood.

 We spent our afternoons reading books, playing at parks, playing basketball, just running in circles (literally, there was a large grassy area behind Eric's hotel and the kids were just run in circles for 30 minutes to an hour), or watching some movies.  Though not nearly as many as one might have guessed.  The kids really did entertain themselves quite well with what we had on hand.

 This is a random picture of Molly.  It could have been taken at any point during a car ride.  She is reading her Minnie Mouse book collection to Minnie Mouse.  Cute, huh?  The really neat thing about those Minnie Mouse books is that they are simple enough for Will to sound out most of the words.  We'd be driving along and I'd hear him practicing his phonics.  Pretty cool, huh?  The really not neat thing about those books is that there are 12 and somehow always manage to be all over the floor....but, that is a small price to pay and they are extremely easy to pick up.  Nothing like the 52 cards that will also manage to always be on the floor or the 100 piece puzzles.

 Obviously, no one should go to San Antonio without visiting the Alamo.  It is an incredible story of courage and epitomizes Texas' independence.

We were all pretty fascinated by the chain of events.  The boys and I had read a small picture book on the subject and we watched a couple of movies as well.  For a brief period of time, I would say we were all experts.  Though, Will has recreated the event so many times since then with various revisionist adapatations, I would not trust his version of events any longer.  And my memories are getting a little foggy as well. 

 Naturally, as with most tourist traps, a particular highlight was the gift shop.  Molly is rocking the coonskin cap and pink rifle.

 We did elect to splurge on the cap (though, just so you know, it is a least a dollar or two cheaper directly across the street).  We did not purchase the guns.  But, never fear, the boys just use their umbrellas whenever the need arises in their re-enactments.  They also like to use them as rifles whenever the song 'Davy Crockett' plays on our CD.

 There were many models of the Alamo scattered around the site and the boys always looked at them with great interest.  Even though the Alamo was right there! (Can you see it?  It is RIGHT THERE!!!).   

We also went and visited a few other missionaries that were also very interesting and nowhere near as crowded.  And also more intact.  I highly recommend them if you should ever go to San Antonio.

 But, of course, the greatest part of being in San Antonio was being a complete family.  Eric really enjoyed having us to come home to and I enjoyed sharing parenting with him.  I've said it before, but it is nice to share those moments when you don't think you could be prouder of your kids with someone who feels the same.  Not to mention sharing the bathing duties. 

 Actually, my favorite night was the last one in San Antonio.  We had gone out to the grassy area behind the hotel.  I had some hot tea and a cheese danish, the kids had water and some sort of a snack.  And Eric and I just watched the kids run around and around and around.  It was a perfect evening.  (Much better than the night before when Eric dealt with broken washers and dryers and spent 6 hours attempting to get our laundry done...right, Eric?)

One last anecdote to share so I don't forget it.  We had told the boys that we would go bowling, but the night we decided to go happened to coincide with league night as well as major remodeling at the bowling alley.  Therefore there were no lanes available.  My back-up plan was to go to Fuddruckers.  No one else was quite as excited about this, but as I'm the mom, it didn't really matter.  We drove to the restaurant, but on the way, Eric turned into the wrong parking lot.  I noticed a Chuck E. Cheese, but didn't mention it as I didn't want to recreate the Alamo at that particular moment (traffic was harrowing).  As the kids didn't say anything, I assumed they had not seen it.  However, as we got out of the car at our destination, Molly started whining a bit about going to "The Mouse House".  I thought: "No Way, that is not what she calls that place".  But when I asked what she was talking about, Dom mildly responds that she wanted to go to the Chuck E. Cheese we had all apparently seen.  Incredibly, they had all seen it and kept their mouths closed because they sensed the tension in the car.  Super smart kids we have.  We ended up going the next day and we all had a great time.  It was the nicest one I've been to and luckily, traffic was not nearly as bad in the morning as it was at night.

On Friday, January 18, we left San Antonio around 1:30 in the afternoon and pulled into our driveway around 2 AM.  The drive was really not so bad and we were all very happy to be back home and get to sleep in our beds...the kids in particular as they had not slept in a bed in many weeks.  And that completes my posts on our December/January adventure.