Don't Mess With Texas

As we entered the visitor's center just over the Louisana State line into Texas, the guy behind the counter handed the kids a stack of big Texas stickers. In moments Nate was covered from head to toe with "Don't Mess With Texas." Finally some warm weather! The days were a nice 85 degrees and the nights... not much cooler. We had a great time hanging out with Kev's sister Colleen and son Greg. We shared a fantastic meal together and even celebrated all of our collective burthdays!

Since we were staying in San Antonio, we spent one day visiting the Witte museum, a cool natural history museum with a kid's hands-on science center called "The Treehouse." And coolness upon coolness it is free to the public on Tuesday afternoons! So we had the most fun learning about pulleys, air cannons, presses, Bernoulli's Laws, solar, wind and water power, and various musical instruments. Joe and Louisa even rode an "air bike" which was suspended high off the ground and traveled on a thin metal cord... like a tightrope walker.

The next day we headed to the Alamo for a bit of US history. Rather than read a story about the battle or explore the internet in a scavenger hunt for facts, we took advantage of the local IMAX theater and went as a family to see "Alamo... The Price of Freedom." Even Nate and Savannah were impressed by the size of the screen (and the fact that the seats folded up and down!) The movie was impressive and emotionally moving and a great 45 minute introduction to the Alamo itself just 200 feet away. The kids stood at the front of the mission and each crossed over the line that Col. Travis drew with his sword in the sand..."Cross over and come die with me for freedom..." or something wonderfully dramatic like that. The kids loved it and then of course, we hit the gift shop where they bought a bag of plastic toy soldiers so that they could re-enact the battle at their leisure.

Later that day we got to visit with Mark and Deanne and their kids. Long-term supporters and friends of ours from Durham, it felt a bit like Blacknall was reaching out to hug us through them. They drove down from Austin and took us out to another wonderful family owned (Mexican- this time) resturant where we shared some of the last ten years over enchilidas and chilli rellenos. Wow.

As we began wrapping up our time in San Antonio, the kids all remarked on how much this place reminded them of home. The days and nights were hot and humid and the bugs were huge! It was a good chance to debrief with them about Bundibugyo and the whole concept of "Home."

On a personal note... I stepped in a big nest of fire ants in the early morning hours while making yet another sippy cup of strawberry milk. My left foot is a bit swollen now and covered in tiny bandaids to try an prevent me from scartching at the pus filled wounds. Yuck. I can't believe I'm even thinking this, but I would rather have been attacked by empali's (our dreaded African ants!)