Houston Zoo

If you haven't figured out already, I am in love with deals and bargains. Ok, who doesn't love saving money. I wish I was a little more savvy with finding stuff, but I felt pretty good about the free entrance to the Houston zoo because of Fernando's active duty status. As aforementioned, the weather didn't really permit many outdoor activities and for some strange reason, the zoo (as well as everything else) didn't open until 10 am. Even still, it was amazing. Have I used that word too much yet? The zoo was huge and like a twofer. The zoo was a mix of animal exhibits and beautiful landscaping. Make that a threefer. . .I forgot the children's area had playgrounds, climbing areas for the kids to practice being like various animals, your standard goat petting, and a splash playground.




We even got to see some of those animatronic dinosaurs (the kids liked them and I thought it was funny how one spit on you its "poison").

Reciprocity

I have been loving the opportunities we have been afforded with Fernando's Medical school program. Besides getting the chance to move several fun places (check my positive attitude in a few years), we have been able to visit for extended periods of time in other great places ie Destin Florida, Dayton Ohio, and now Houston Texas. We loved it so much that we extended our three day stay to over a week of adventures. Weather aside which I might add was abysmal, Houston was beautiful with plenty of activities for my kids to participate in. One of our favorites was the Children's Museum of Houston. Thanks to our travels years earlier to Dayton, we found out about the beauty of RECIPROCITY. Turns out that many memberships to zoos and museums will be honored in other cities. With a little research, I discovered that buying a discounted military family membership to that Boonshoft Museum in Dayton allowed me to enjoy free entry to not only the Houston Children's Museum (amazing!) as well as some around San Antonio and several in Utah which means easy, cheap ideas for when we are up there again.

It was kind of a bitter sweet experience though. The museum was one of the most incredible hands on museums I have ever seen, unfortunately that makes returning to our less than exciting museums all the more difficult. Day after day, for hours on end, we were educated, exercised, and enamored! Hear are just a few photos from our adventures:













The kids' favorites were a three story climbing structure that looked like giant pringle chips bound together by cords that created a vertical maze. Pictures didn't really capture the coolness.

They also loved Kidtropolis where they could do jobs and earn money to put in the bank and on their atm card. Tiago just took money at first because he loves LOVES money. Mia on the other hand tried her hand at being a vet, store clerk, police officer, and waitress to earn over $300. Not bad for an hour of work. Tiago eventually got excited about really earning the money as well and ended up with about the same amount. Talia just bopped around with her curls finding all sorts of fun things to do. Mostly she loved the "baby" she found that was some mangy looking dog.




We loved the obstacle courses, face painting, rocket/paper airplane making and launching, water works, etc The rest of the exhibits were really fun but I won't bore you with the details. All I can say is we are already planning on heading back. Too bad school got in the way of fun.

Cuteness

So while I was blog hopping one day, I ran into this blog Make It and Love It. I love it. I have made only a few things from the site and feel a mixture of happiness and sorrow for not owning a sewing machine. I am happy because I think I would spend my days making things that probably wouldn't turn out. I do think I have plans for when all my kids are in school. Check out the site. . .if I could make these,




think of what you can do.

Little Read Wagon

I just stumbled onto the best library event this side of San Antonio. It's a program to increase literary awareness in children. They bring activities and interactive books galore. We missed the first 4 of the 6 sessions at our library and we now drive about 15 minutes to get to the other library that is hosting it. The kids love it for the hour and a half and we come home with great ideas.








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Yum! Old Easter Candy

After exploring all the options minus the TV during a day long friend visit, we busted out the Easter Bunny House kit I purchased post Easter of this year. Originally, I thought it would be a fun FHE activity months ago, but alas it sat up in our pantry waiting for that special moment. The kids, against my suggestions, licked up the nasty frosting that was some magical powder mixed with water. They also had a hardy helping of rock solid "gummy" candies that couldn't have tasted that great. In the end, I had to put the hatch up so the kids wouldn't eat any more.

Matters Into our Own Hands

What do you to get rid of a kinked neck? I have done exercises, massaged, heat packed etc with no avail. Every night I would wake up with one inch worth of motion. Fernando excitedly brought home some acupuncture bling for my ear and my personal porcupine needles. I am a believer. Fernando helped me look at it as a chance for my body to heal itself.


Mia decided to take matters into her own hands with her wiggly tooth on Sunday even to the point of making that a part her fast. After almost over an hour of wiggling with distracting stories from my childhood, Mia finally lost her tooth.

Do you Blame Him?

Tiago is a man's man. He has built a number of transformable transformers out of blocks and plays rocket exploding games with pretty much everything. Yet, when his old sister gets great ideas, he can't help but join along.


I knew those ballroom dance gowns would come in good use sooner and later. Sooner with the chance to have the best twirl and later with blackmail for better behavior or dating better people. (just kidding on the last one. . .that would just be mean). It is a shame that dresses, high heels, nail polish, and make up are social no no's for boys, because they are amazingly fun to wear.