Day 2 :Terra Cotta Warriors

Day 2: Terra Cotta Soldier Exhibit at the Houston Museum of Science
Here we are striking our archer poses like the dude on the poster....except we're not made of Terra Cotta....

We were really excited to be able to go see these dudes. This is the first and last time they will ever leave China. They are only going to 4 cities in the U.S. ...and Houston was one of them!! They are now in their final city before they head back on a slow boat to China--Washington,D.C., so any of you folks live out there, you HAVE to go check these guys out!
They are cool.


Here we are by one of the warriors...right before my kids knocked it over and shattered it to pieces.... Just kidding...it's a replica....and they really didn't break it....at least I don't THINK it was my kids that did that...
This is "the General"
I'm not quite sure what Conor was planning to do to him....
Right before we entered the exhibit, a lady who apparently works at the museum asked if we came to see "The Boys"-- as she informed us that she likes to call them--when we said yes, she showed us a picture on her iphone of a full scale replica of one of "the boys" that she has sitting on her front porch guarding her front door.

????

That lady needs to get out more.....I think she's watched night at the museum too many times...I think she thinks they all come to life at night....

Apparently I've seen too many Indiana Jones movies though...because I always pictured this little Chinaman out digging in his field and voila! Would you lookey here! It is an army of Terra Cotta soldiers!!

Like this.


I should call Dr. Jones and tell him of my marvelous find!!

nope.

they looked like this when that little Chinaman farmer found them

and this...
Dang.
It's going to take all the kings horses and all the kings men for this one...


...but I don't think they'll be much help...

The detail on these guys is amazing!
Their heads were put on the bodies very last, then they individualized every one of them---and they figure there are about 6,000 of these dudes-- with different noses, facial features, hair, etc....wow!!!!

They have already put 1,000 of them back together.
This must have been one of their first ones...ya know, before they really got the hang of it...

Simon says, face front!!!
OK, Joe...yeah you---third one back....you're out buddy..

The famous kneeling archer, although, without his bow, he just looks like he's getting ready to karate chop someone to me...probably a short person since he's kneeling...probably the naughty kid who broke all of the statues.
Hi-Yaaaah!

Apparently they were all painted at one time and holding actual weapons too! The Emperor must have thought all of those guys come to life at night too, cuz, dang! Or he's just really vain and superstitious...
It was a really cool exhibit-one my kids are still talking about. I'm glad we got to see them while they were so close by!

Fun Family Weekend! Part 1

So we had a three day weekend and decided to take the kids on a mini-vacay to Houston

Our first stop was in Brenham at the Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory of course...we can't go to Houston without stopping there...I think it's illegal...



And then of course...the post-sugar crash...

After checking into our hotel, we headed for one of our favorite restaurants,
The Downtown Aquarium

We like it because it has a Ginormous aquarium inside full of all kinds of fish and stuff...obviously...
also, the food is pretty good

and they have fun deserts like this paint your own Rice Krispie shark

or paint your teeth...

These guys have GREAT manners...
and you can build your own sundae...which is great because we didn't get enough ice cream at the ICE CREAM FACTORY.....I sense another sugar crash coming on....

After dinner we head outside to the rides. Our favorite is the train ride that takes you through the shark tunnel

see?
daaaa DA...daaa DA...daaaa DA
these guys are scared to death...babies.
Next we went on 0ur other favorite ride..the carousel!


Madi was split between which critter she wanted to ride....

Chase had to wrestle his ride


Conor's choice wasn't any more cooperative...


In the end...everyone got to enjoy the ride!





Wyatt wasn't feeling that great, so he bailed on the train and carousel, but joined us for the indoor aquariums

They have some pretty cool displays


Conor...I mean Capt. Nemo

Chase's favorite...treasure!
...until Capt. Wyatt the dreaded pirate came along...

They even have Siberian Tigers....why they are at an aquarium?...I don't know....

but one tried to eat Chase

The touch tank is always a favorite!

Chase getting cozy with a ray

Madi among the stars...fish that is

here's a weird critter....

Lauren tried to pet him...

Lance and Conor checking out more rays

and yet another freak of nature...

A good time was had by all!

Tomorrow: Part 2: The Terra Cotta Warriors!!

So, my mom decided to catch up on my blog and the first thing she saw was that picture of the rattle snake we killed in our garage.

That wasn't good.
Mom doesn't do snakes.

AT. ALL.

She called and told me that was not ok, and she's never coming here again.

SO

This post is for my mom.
(and anyone else out there who might have been bothered by previous posts)
(oh, and wussy baby-girls)

Isn't this a pretty picture mom?
It is a picture of the unicorn we're buying for Lauren.
It eats rainbows and poops butterflies

These kinds of Unicorns only live in sterile, icky creature-free environments.
Which is why it is going to live here!!!

When we were out back clearing our land for the unicorn, we came across a fairy ring. Apparently we have Tinkerbell and her friends living out there!


Not to mention the beautiful flowers that have just spontaneously begun to spring from the earth--they only LOOK like weeds--it is their defense mechanism--ask anyone that works for Discovery Channel.

Can you think of a more beautiful place on earth to visit?
I can't believe this is where I live!!
I mean, Just this morning as I was eating breakfast, I look out my window, and who should be there, but Julie Andrews spinning around in circles singing, "The Hills are Alive!...With the sound of music...."
It's like the Garden of Eden out there!
So. see mom?
Nothing to fear here!!

Also, there are some pretty cool creatures inside our house too...

our little bubble boy


a couple of buccaneers

and our french exchange students...

oh wait, it's the girls :)

No worries.