Houston Trip 2019

All the way back in February, Sam's residency paid for a study course for the upcoming OKAPS exam for all the first year ophthalmology residents. That meant Sam was going to be in Houston for an entire month while I stayed home with all the kiddos (Joey had school). At first I was a little nervous to be by myself, but Sam said he would come home when he could and I would go see him one weekend. Sounded like a plan! Here was my "Sam's going to be gone for a month" stash at the store (cereal, ice cream, corn dogs, frozen pizzas, etc.).

Sam said most of the residents who took this course ended up studying on their own in the hotel rather than attending the course. Sam was no different. Sam actually took it a step further. After attending the course the first day, he never went back. After studying in his hotel room for a few nights, he drove back home, saying he might as well be home. So much for a month without him! We did end up going back to Houston (since there was a nice hotel for us) for a weekend trip.

McDonald's before the Children's Museum

Cute chickadees. My mom has 14 back in Albuquerque.

Making tracks.

Eden loving Daddy holding her.

This boy can never stay still for a photo.

I love this photo so much. The boys loved the water play area.

 We loved the Houston Children's Museum. I think it topped San Antonio's Doseum, which is saying something! My favorite was a section where children learned different trades and careers and had a little city based on those things.

*Ugly sobbing* So sweet!

We enjoyed a yummy Mexican dinner with some of his resident friends and I got to know them a little better.

We checked out the Houston Zoo on Saturday. The weather was very nice, I would love to live in Houston...in February.

Ready to start our adventure.

Joey sporting elephant ears.

They had a couple baby elephants.

Boys liking the lion.

Look at those huge horns!

Capybara.  

Tapir.

Chimp? I need glasses.

Brushing this goat!

Otter.

Boys feeling at home with the monkeys.

 We also checked out Ikea since we were somewhat close. It's always cool, but boy does it take a while to get through!

Joey checking out their beds.

Popping a squat.

We need a hammock in our lives.

 On Sunday we headed to Hermann Park after attending a cute ward (whose boundaries covered an area the size of Albuquerque!). We enjoyed looking at the Japanese Garden and feeding ducks.

Sometimes they are friends!

Eli in his element.

Then last minute we decided to go to the NASA museum. I took a lot of photos but I forgot what everything was...so enjoy!

Real life space rock!

Learning how to grow things off of earth!

Spaceman Jo needs to grow a foot or two.

Then Sam came home with us never to return to Houston. I will say the nights were A W F U L. Getting the boys to sleep was a nightmare in the hotel. I'm glad, as fun as it was, it was short lived!

By the way, Sam scored in the 95 percentile on his test, so he really didn't need to be in Houston. He was the only resident that went home during that month. That's Sam for you!