Kemah Boardwalk, Space Center Houston, Microtel, and a spacey McDonald's

Greetings from Nassau Bay/Clear Lake City!

About a month ago, a lady posted to an unschooling group that she was wanting to visit Space Center Houston, but that tickets were $30 per adult. She said if she could get a group of 20 people together, it'd just be $10 per ticket... so we jumped on it. Now, we also decided to make a weekend of it, book-ending the discounted day with nights at a hotel, so we did spend more than $60 total, but we really needed a little family getaway! It's been about a year and a half since our last trip. Our teenager stayed home to cat- and house-sit, which also saved us some money.

First, we headed out from west of Austin at our own leisurely pace. We visited Brenham first, stopping by the Funky Art Cafe to get lunch to take to a park. I'm glad we had planned on picnicking, because that place was PACKED!

The famous pumpkin burger, vegetarian. From the menu: pumpkin, wild rice, corn, jalapeno, cilantro, & jack cheese; served on a whole wheat bun with chipotle sour cream spread, avocado, lettuce & tomato.

The Don't Knock It Until You've Tried It wrap, also veggie. A wrap "dressed with savory tahini poppy seed spread then filled with roasted sweet potato cubes, avocado, red onion, shredded jack cheese, lettuce & tomato,"

Those were both ridiculously good. If you're taking out, I highly recommend calling in your order. It took about 20 minutes for our food to be prepared. TOTALLY worth the wait, but we ended up spending $30 on a construction utensil and plate kit at the adjoining specialty store.

We ate and then played at Fireman's Park in Brenham. Lots of fun stuff to do. We happened to hit it just as a school group (three buses worth) was finishing up lunch, but we got to play on the playground alone for a bit before sharing.

You can't visit Brenham without visiting Blue Bell, so we did. They don't offer guided tours like they used to (before the listeria thing), but you can still look out from an observation window at the packing area, and you can get a very generous scoop of ice cream for $1.

We had one more obligatory stop before we reached our destination:

We checked in to our hotel which is, I guess, in Nassau Bay. The address is Houston. We're RIGHT across the street from Space Center. But I'll get to that in a bit.

After we got our bags to the room and settled in, Mal and I took a trip across the parking lot to CVS for some sundries while James heated his knees. Then we were ready to drive out to Kemah for the evening.

We went on a Thursday night, and it just wasn't too busy. There was a sign that said "free parking under the bridge; free shuttle" but we parked literally right beside the roller coaster, and we didn't pay anything.

Mal was super excited to be at the Gulf of Mexico, and beside himself while we waited in line for tickets to a few of the rides. He was less excited when we started to board the Century Wheel, but he ended up liking it a lot.

He liked the Hypnospin (aka Tilt-a-Whirl) SIGNIFICANTLY less, crying most of the time we had the most fun, i.e. spinning like crazy. Later, I think it was because he'd hit his head, but he was coping with the stimuli by tilting his head to put his hand over his ears, and that just makes the spinning worse. But there's no explaining that to a hysterical 3-year-old.

Once we got back onto the boardwalk, he was pure joy again, dancing to the "beautiful music" and chasing seagulls around.

This playground just behind Flying Dutchman is great. Super soft ground, and plenty for little kids and bigger kids. Mal burnt off steam before and after dinner.

The entire boardwalk is pretty much owned by Landry's, and the Aquarium Restaurant is part of it. The prices weren't overblown, and the food was really delicious. I got grilled shrimp tacos, and James got Cajun tilapia with shrimp, crawfish, and scallops. Mal got macaroni and cheese, and even though fries aren't listed as a side dish for kids' meals, they have "fish and chips" on the menu, so we asked for them.

There is plenty to keep a kid visually occupied while waiting for food, plus they bring you some delicious, mushy soft sourdough slices with soft butter. 

As we left the boardwalk, which was pretty much shuttered except for the rides by 8:30, we were able to give our three unused tickets (which Mal would not deign to use for one more thing, lest it was terrifying) to three tween boys in line waiting to get their own tickets. They were pretty excited.

Now I'll tell you about the Microtel. It's located literally across the street from the Space Center. In fact, here's a zoomed-in picture from our room's window.

For comparison, here's a zoomed-in picture of our hotel from the second level of the Space Shuttle tower.

We had breakfast included in our stay price, which was just at $100 per night for a mini-suite. Breakfast options included Texas-shaped or "half dollar" waffles, bagels, English muffins, toast, muffins, biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, juice, coffee, instant oatmeal, and cereal... but ponderously no milk to be seen. It might be that they run out of stuff and just don't restock.

We realized that this is the perfect place to stay if you're taking a little kid who might tire out to the Space Center. By midday, when Mal was done, James just walked back to see more stuff while I stayed with our child. Then James walked "home" and I spent a couple more hours at Space Center.

There is a small outdoor pool, a (very busy) Luby's and a CVS right in the same parking vicinity. There are plenty of restaurants around, both chains and local places. And I'll get to that in a moment, too. So, our impression of the Microtel Houston is a positive one.

We were able to walk over and get some pictures we wouldn't have gotten from the car. Then we met our contact and entered right as Space Center was opening. The lines look daunting at 10 AM, but people process quickly through security and disburse through the building. The same cannot be said for parking, which seemed to have a constant line until about 3:00 PM (the center closed at 5 PM the day of our visit).

Most important tip: If you want to do the tram ride, queue up for that immediately upon opening. Space Center used to do "timed tickets," where you'd reserve your ride. They have stopped that within the past month, so it's first-come/first-served. James tried to get in line at 1:20 and was told that he was too late for the last shuttle tour, which was to leave at 3:00 PM. Who wants to spend two hours of their day in line for a 90 minute tram tour?!

So get there early if you want to see "backstage."

If not, the first place you should head is Independence Plaza, which is the big Boeing airplane with the "high fidelity" Space Shuttle mock-up, Independence. We toured it at around 10:50, and when I went back alone to review a couple of exhibits, it was standing room only. I couldn't move around freely, but had to be herded with the crowd. So if you're planning to take time and really enjoy this exhibit, and I think that the interactive elements here are much better than the ones in the kids' area inside (and less beat up!), the morning definitely beats 3:00 PM.

Here are some highlights from our morning.

Midday, we just walked practically next door to a cool space-themed MdDonald's.

There's an Indian fusion place next door, between McDonald's and Space Center, where my husband got a veggie burger to go and just brought it to McD's, where our kid blew off some steam in the play area.

Walking to lunch is a great way not to have to pay $5 to reenter the parking lot, if you decide you don't want to eat whatever they're serving at the center. Also, you can't take food inside of Space Center, but they have a lot of picnic tables outside, so you can keep food in your car and eat on the cheap.

This was when Mal decided he wanted to go back to the hotel and chill. James walked back to the center and we walked "home." Then a couple of hours later, the grown-ups traded places.

Final thoughts: If you like space, you can easily spend a whole day, especially in this slower period when they're only open 10-5, at Space Center. Getting our tickets for a third of the price probably helped us feel like we were having a great time at a bargain, and actually the picture at the top of this post cost more than our entire entry did (because Mal is 3 and was free). And, yeah, I know his eyes are closed and there is hair in his face, but immediately before and after the photographer snapped this picture, my son had his finger in his nose, so this was the premium take.

I can't believe some people made this a day trip from Austin, and I'm glad we didn't have to.

Just a Little Detail

Today, we went to get Mal's hair trimmed for the second time in his life. I'm not going to tell you where, because I have a gripe and we LOVE this place. But here's what happened:

When we walked in, Mal looked past the toys at the front of the salon to the seats, realized what was going on, and ran out of the store. I tried to grab him, and he just dropped onto the sidewalk, yelling, "I don't want to get my hair cut! I'm scared!"

I picked him up and told him we'd just browse at the toys, to start. He went back in and eventually found three toys he wanted. I said I wasn't buying anything until I paid for the hair cut, which he still said he did not want. So I invited him back to the back of the salon to play with the train set.

He was happy to do that, and while he played, "Moana" was on the televisions in the store. He was chill and having a great time. I was so glad we'd arrived a good 10-12 minutes early. When his stylist was done with the previous child, she invited Mal to come over. Once again, he flopped down on the floor.

I said, "It's fine; you can stand up. Listen, she has a soft brush like you have at home." And she, who had cut his hair the first/last time, said, "Do you want a sucker when we're done?" That got Mal, and he hopped up and started toward the chair. Another stylist said, "She's just going to brush your hair."

In my head, I thought she meant, "We'll start with just that." I'd told Mal already he wouldn't be subjected to the razor or blow-dryer.

He sat in the fire truck chair and had a super hero cape put on. The stylist got detangler and a brush. She was very gentle, moreso than I am. Mal's hair was really long. At this point, she asked him to look down and said, "You have a pretty big tangle I need to work on." I believed her. But in a minute, I realized what she was doing.

After a few moments, when Mal could look up again, I said, "It's going to be so great; she's cutting off the thin bits at the end that get so tangled." The stylist said, "I'm not cutting it; I'm just brushing it!" That's when I finally clued in that they tell nervous kids they're not getting their hair cut; it's just getting brushed. I assured her that the brushing is what worries him, and he was fine getting his hair cut. He was actually not at all concerned the rest of the time.

So... lying to kids. I get why they do it here. Kids are scared. There's no reason to be scared. But instead of being empathetic and talking them through the process, they lie to them.

I guess whatever, but I don't want my kids being lied to. And I think another adult should take the parents' lead, testing the water if they want, but then when the parent tells the kid the truth, go with that. Don't "correct" the parent's truth-telling to make it jibe with your lie.

Last time we were there, Mal had me hold his hand the whole hair cut. This time, he was scared at first, but by the time he was in the seat, he was great. Next time, he might only be mildly nervous, then remember it's fine. That's how I choose to address fears. Not by avoiding them with untruths.

A Day in the Life of My Little

Usually, Mal wakes up with his computer, like some grown-ups do coffee. But today, he jumped headlong into playing, and just did not stop all day. So here are some pictures of the way his days usually go. Spoiler alert: There is lots and lots of Disney's Cars.

A lot of times, after he's played Cars, he adds in other stuff. Here, we're playing fire station Cars.

Here, he's acting out a racing scene from Cars 3.

At this point, we'd gotten dressed and were playing Cars for a minute, then would read "A Very Hungry Caterpillar," comparing the pictures in the book to our refrigerator magnets. We read it at least half a dozen times.

Then Mal brought in the "marble maze" he does with his dad's carboy and funnel.

Mal is making a "pathway" with the bulldozer, then he used the marbles as a track outline to race the... yes... Cars.

Outside break, because it's a GORGEOUS day!

He was "hiding" from me.

We moved to the back yard to play for a while.

We ended up at Veteran's Memorial Park for an hour.

Then we went to the sculpture garden.

We met James at Logan's Roadhouse for dinner, then James took Mal to Target to get some soda, and Mal talked James into buying... MORE CARS.

So when Mal got home, we had to get out the Paw Patrol track to use as a racetrack.

He did finally watch TV for about half an hour, then took James into his room to play for a while. He finished up the night by playing "Cars get stuck in the 'mud'" (play dough).

When he was finally ready to go to bed, it took about 4 minutes. But most days, it's non-stop from wake-up to falling to sleep!

Thanks for spending our day with us!

Half a Decade Down...

Five years ago, I had a secret. James and I were planning to get married, and we were doing it quietly for a few reasons. One of the biggest is that we're just nerdy enough to think announcing our nuptials on April 1 would be extremely humorous. Another is that we were not making an event out of it. I wasn't 100% confident that a specific individual from my past wouldn't try to show up and mess with things. There were several people in our lives who had definite opinions about our getting married (these were voiced out of love, I know, but were still negative). Plus, this is my third marriage. I figure most people are rightfully like, "Oh, again? Well, good for you, I guess."

Suffice it to say, I have made some pretty substantial mistakes in the past. But the idea I had as a 16-year-old, that James would probably dig me a lot if he just gave me the chance, and that we'd make a good pair, was not mistaken. It just took a while to pan out.

It's cliche to say "I love him more now than I did then," and I'm not sure that's an accurate statement. I was deep in the throes of limerence and quite smitten with James before we got married. But now, all of that is settled. I don't freak out any more. We were coming from such divergent places, there were times for each of us early on when we had our, "Ugh; this is hard. Is it worth it to go on?" moments. Before we got married, I mean. But even afterward, getting used to living with someone and building a family... you learn a lot, and not all of it is fun.

But we've worked and compromised and have been at a place of equilibrium for years now. I've never had that in any relationship before in my life. It's incredibly comforting, and secure, and very exciting.

Photo credit Alec Hilliard Photography

We laughed a lot that day. We've laughed a lot since. We've cried some, too. But mostly, it's been a great time. We've moved 4.5 times. We've blended a family. We've had a beautiful, eye-opening, life-affirming visit to a foreign country together in the midst of a miscarriage. We've had a child in our 40s. We've purchased a home together (his first!). We've gone through lay-offs and job searches and new opportunities. Sleepless nights, days of exhaustion, moments of joy so acute it's almost painful. Tedium. Health issues. Sharing ideas. Growing closer. Navigating speed bumps. Learning each other's strengths. Filling in where the other is weaker. Being comfortable. Being home.

And it's only been five years.

Here's hoping James takes better care of himself over the next 40 years than he did the first; I am looking forward to our 50th anniversary!

When Your Kid Makes You Grow Up

Friday, I was in the car on the way home from a movie with both kids. A song came on the radio to which Mal reacted positively.

D asked, "Can I change this?"

I said, "No, Mal and I like it."

D waited a moment, and said, "The reason I want to is that they use a slur at the beginning of the song."

"What did they say?"

"'Gypsies.'"

I thought about it for a moment, about how "gypped" is definitely a racially-insensitive word, but, in this case, "She says 'travel like gypsies.' I think that nomadic aspect is literally the definition of a gypsy."

D visibly hardened and requested, "Can you not argue with me about slurs? Neither of us gets the last word about that, anyway."

It stuck with me, so later in the day, I asked James about it as I hadn't had the chance to research yet. And then I had time to I look it up. We both found article after story after encyclopedia entry that confirm D's assertion. The first one James found is here.

Well, dang.

The next time I saw D (who's nocturnal, so it's not always a given), I apologized. I said, "You were right and I was wrong. You were being thoughtful, and I'm sorry I shut you down instead of listening."

I could see a loosening this time. "I understand; it's easy to get defensive about that kind of thing. Thank you."

This kid. There are so many things I might never think about if not called out by my older child. It's often uncomfortable, but I'm grateful for the opportunity to examine what I think and why, and how frequently this results in a change.

I hope, and am pretty confident, that D will carry into the world this obstinate refusal to quarter nonsense or to allow people to speak in a way that hurts others. Pretty proud.

Dratted Energy

This kid. It's 10 PM, and we're probably looking at another hour before he's ready to lie down, and another half hour after that before he's nursed to sleep. Going to bed at 11:15ish is bad enough, but after this week, it'll spring forward until after midnight. I get that we stay home, so the shift shouldn't matter. But James works. He is having to go to sleep before Mal does, and he leaves the house before Mal wakes up, and often before I'm out of bed. Because I end up staying awake until 1 or so just to wind down.

And we *try* to wear him out. Tonight at sundown, I took him to the lake and he did this stuff.

But he's still running back and forth through the house. He's hurt himself once, which resulted in my throwing out the stool off of which he'd pulled the no-skid stickers about a year ago, and I'm justifiably concerned that there is the potential for further injury before bedtime happens.

In other news, Mal has honed in on something I'm sure I had no awareness of when I was three: personal musical themes. The first one he glommed on to, a long time ago, was Darth Vader (I know; it's the Imperial March, but it might as well be called "Darth Vader's Song"). But then, he focused on Finn McMissle's theme in Cars 2 (it's super James Bond-y).

Recently, he asked me what Mater's song was. I told him I didn't think Mater had a song, but the more I thought about it, I realized that whenever he's doing something particularly characteristic, there's a twangy banjo thing happening: "cow"-tipping, towing in a guy at high speed, showing off his backwards driving skills, etc.

And if Mal's playing Cars 2, racing a couple of cars, and I sing, "Run the race!" he'll correct me with, "No, that's from Cars 3."

Today, he hit the jackpot. James and Mal went to Little Land to play (actively, see above) but they were closing early for a birthday party, so instead, they went next door to a game shop. They came home with something I thought was either a microwave or a kegerator for James's office, but when he brought it in and set it down, I saw that it was this:

Yes, that is a store display for two out-of-production Lego sets. It has a bunch of circuitry at the bottom, and lights across the top. Since we don't really have anywhere to put it, we've pulled everything out. The pieces are glued together, so we can't take them apart (which is a blessing, honestly), but Mal has had fun playing with those this afternoon.

Incidentally, the Minifigs it came with would cost more than double what James paid for the whole thing, which was $25!

It's 10:35 and James just went to bed. Mal is still going strong.

One day last week, I was just over how tired and accident-prone and fussy he gets, and having watched the night before as he was acknowledging being tired, but his body would not wind down, I gave him .5 mg of melatonin. That worked; he was asleep within about 15 minutes. But his heart was beating so fast. Tachycardia is a potential side effect of melatonin, and since Mal seems prone to it, I cannot justify having him take it, even though I know his body is wanting to go to sleep and having issues.

The following night, though, Mal was outside several hours during the day. First, we went to the park with friends after story time at the library, then played out in the back yard in the afternoon. I don't know if it was a hold-over from the supplement, or having gotten so much sunlight, or a combination of both, but he was out cold at 9 o'clock, which is the earliest he's gone to sleep in months.

If anyone has any advice (other than "just make him go to bed and stay there," because that won't help the problem with his not physically being able to wind down), I'd love to hear what worked for your kids!