Deep in the Heart of Texas

I know you are all anxiously awaiting details on the trip to Texas. Our adventure began at a Motel 6 deep in the heart of Texas. Boy, did we ever get a good deal on a room! Nevermind that we didn't enjoy quite all the modern conveniences of other motels, but who needs frivolous things like alarm clocks, tissues, tables & chairs, bathtubs, shampoo, or towels that absorb (or a towel that covers more than one butt cheek)? I ask you, Who needs that stuff?! Anyway, we made it on to see the grandparents, arriving in perfect 80 degree weather. Good thing we hopped in the pool, because that was the last we would see of the warm Texas sun.

The next day was the highlight of the vacation for the boys - a trip to Chuck E. Cheese. We arrived around 11 am, and found the doors locked. The sign on the door said they opened at 10 am. We could see the employees through the glass, all the lights on, the animated bear singing to nobody. I beat on the door. Nothing. I beat on the door again. Nothing. The boys joined in. Dammit, we were GOING to get into Chuck E. Cheese! (Think.. Clark Griswald and Wally World.) Finally, in desperation, Jim walks around the building and beats on a window to catch the attention of the employees. Surprisingly, they actually let us in. Not surprisingly, we were the only patrons for the entire two hours we stayed (can't imagine they get many customers with the doors locked). Then it was on to the zoo in Brownsville, where the 4 of us were admitted (not permanently) for just under $30. It was a great day for the zoo - the Texans stayed away because of the cool-to-them warm-to-us weather (60's). I think the animals enjoyed viewing us as much as we did them. Heck, THEY should have paid us for our visit. Cool zoo - highly recommend it if you are ever down that way.

We decided to drive through the night on the way home, figuring the boys would sleep most of the 17 hour trip. We left about 6 pm. Lance, the child who religiously goes to sleep at 7 pm every night, stayed up until about 9 pm. Brian, the child who religiously spends every night trying NOT to go to sleep, happily stayed awake until 3 am. We stopped at Denny's for breakfast. Lance screamed and cried pretty much through the entire meal. Tell me, WHY do people have to stare? Do they think they will shame him into silence? What happened to the people who politely look the other way, pretend like they don't notice, or shoot us sympathetic glances? Don't they eat at Denny's anymore??

The rest of the trip was so grueling that we had to bend the rules and let the boys out of their carseats. Lance thought that was his ticket to explore all unchartered territory of the minivan. I kept retrieving him back to the rear of the van and trying to explain (to a 2 year old, mind you) that he had to sit on his bottom. Brian got it. He chimed in helpfully, "Look at me, mommy. I'm sitting on my bottom so I can hide from the policeman." Great.

You'll be happy to know we returned safely, minus one pair of shoes and a lifejacket, plus a whole lot of other crap. AND two kids, spoiled stinkin' rotten by their grandparents.