Last Day Out in Houston! The Natural Science Museum

We started out our adventure when we saw a billboard for the Faberge collection, which I have seen before when it was in private ownership (that's another blog post!). Lil'Bug was excited to see the Romonov crown tiara and the "Easter" eggs. Me too. My heart has a soft flutter spot for the faberge glitter and history. I just love the elegance and artistry and I could go on and on about it all. Seriously.

Unfortunately, first thing Lil'Bug saw as we turned the corner into the exhibit was the dinosaur bones in the other wing. Dino bones vs. princess eggs? Yeah. Dino bones win hands down. She humored me for about 5 pillars of the Faberge exhibit but could not contain herself past that. There were dino bones right over there Mama! Oh and there was also a MUMMY!

We saw a real MUMMY. It was awesome. We saw an exhibit on the ancient people of South America, their religion and musical instruments. Lil"Bug called it the Age of the Jaguar- thanks Disney!

We saw an exhibit called the gem vault, which featured both cut and naturalized gem formations. So glittery and interesting.

There was a hands on section based on a science theme. Lots of things to touch and move and play with. Good stuff. It helped the balance between look and don't touch exhibits and a child's NEED to interact with what they are learning. Wonderful.

The unfortunate thing about the adventure for YOU the reader is that photography was not allowed for most of the museum exhibits!

Even so, it was a nice relaxing day at the museum. A good time for all three of us, even Blueberry.

Family Matters

Friday afternoon our family gathered after the services for my beloved aunt. We ate, laughed, cried, hugged, and shared memories.

Oh, and Cousin C. brought out his fiddle. Lil'Big laughed and danced and tried to sing in Cajun French. She might have my language skills, but she definitely loves the fiddle. She really wants lessons right away and C. let her try and play. She did really well for her first touch!

C. has only been playing for 3 or so years, but wow. The music just breaks my heart though, as Cajun waltzes tend to do. I tear up and long for home.

The day was also full of fun and exploration for Blueberry and Aunt Bee. Blueberry was introduced not so cordially to Texas fire ants and mosquitoes. Everything is bigger in Texas, even mosquito bites. Poor baby.

Me, I am just hanging in there. I loved my Aunt Chris. She gave me my first How To Draw kits when I was 16 and really in the rough part of surviving my teen years. She stood in for my Godmother since the one at my baptism left my life in my toddler years. She prayed for me. She loved people unconditionally and my family was always more peaceful and full of laughter when she and her family would come to visit. She will be missed, but always loved.

On Board the Elissa, Galveston TX

Any museum that kids (and kids at heart) can touch and do stuff is a winner with me. This ship had teh added bonus of having a busy crew raising the top mast post hurricane season. The cleaning crew was on hand to help answer question in the tighter quarters. Couple things amazed Lil'Bug.....the steering wheel was HUGE and the compass was pretty fancy.

Approaching The Elissa, Galveston TX

Lil"bug insisted all the way to the bay that this was just going to be some, "stupid plastic playground crap." Whoa. Where on earth did she learn that kind of language? Blush. Me? Oh my. When we walked up the ramp she stopped in awe. I believe her exact words were, "Ah Mama, I am so sorry I said it would be stupid plastic. That is amazing. A real pirate ship!" Actually it was a cotton freight, but it is the same era I guess. It is a triple masted tall ship, cast iron and wood. The test it on open waters a couple times a year. Sea trials.