The Sixth Time is the Charm

One of the exciting things about being in Florida during this time was that we would get to see a space shuttle launch. We were actually staying in Titusville which is basically home to Kennedy Space Center and the launch sites.

Before we came, the launch had been scrubbed two or three times already, mainly due to weather conditions. Gavin and I arrived the day before the fourth attempt, excited that we were going to see the launch the next day at a house of one of D.'s Florida co-workers. Before we headed over there, we ate at a seafood restaurant which had these shrimp I had never heard of - rock shrimp. They are supposed to be a sweeter variety of shrimp.


To be honest, I didn't think they had much flavor and were more work because I had to peel the back shell off. But, at least we had a pirate obligingly take a picture with us.


We arrived at the waterfront house with a rocket shirt-wearing Gavin.


At this point it didn't look very promising that the launch would take place this day either because of the dark clouds over the sky. Apparently, there can't be any bad weather within 20 miles of the launch site.

About twenty minutes before final countdown, the launched was indeed scrubbed, but we had a good time talking with our very nice hosts and we saw manatees and dolphins swimming by their pier.


The next launch was scheduled for the day of our anniversary. I picked D. up from work and we headed out to the Lobster Shanty. Despite its name, it's a really nice restaurant by beach standards. However, we were in a little bit of a predicament because by the time we were seated, we did not have enough time really enjoy a three course meal with an impending launch. Needless to say, we apologized to our waiter, packed up our belongings and went on a hunt for some place to get in and out of in fifteen minutes. What did we behold, Wendy's! Neither of us were really excited about it. Gavin could care less, but we were able to eat and get out of there in time to hear that the launch had been scrubbed again.

To make up for some disappointment (although being together on our anniversary was what mattered most) we had fabulous desserts at the Caffe Chocolat.



This is a nice photo of D. and Gavin.

If you're still with me, we decided to view the launch two days later on a pier across the water from the launch site. I can say that it was definitely worth the wait. I'm just amazed at the bravery of the men and women who put their lives at stake for the name of science.



I like this photo D. took of Gavin and I while waiting for the shuttle to launch.


Oh, and we did end up going back to the Lobster Shanty several days later. It was as good as we thought. Plus we were rewarded with several dolphin sitings! I thought their fins sticking out looked just like a shark's fin. You may have to click on the picture to get a better view.


And the day we were flying out of Florida, Gavin and I were able to witness the shuttle landing from across the water. It was nearly as neat as seeing it take off. Prior to viewing it, we heard to very loud noises as the shuttle crossed the sound barrier. D. even said it shook the windows of his office building. Unfortunately, I don't have pictures, but I do have the memories.

Oh, the Places You'll Go

We're back! I was really tempted to turn our last three weeks' adventure into a Where in the World is D, A and Gavin? Don't you remember that cool traveling kid's show with Carmen Sandiego?

I was also trying to leave my last month's posts pretty vague so that the Internet world wouldn't know that we were away from home. Who am I kidding? I think the only ones who probably read my blog already knew we were gone.

D. was asked to head to Florida to work on a month's long project. Gavin and I didn't really want to be away from him for that long, so we packed our bags two weeks later and began an impromptu vacation.

Let me just first say, that with a lot of prayer, Gavin did awesome on the plane. I think it's a mom's biggest compliment when upon exiting the plane, the people seated in front of us turned and said they didn't even know there was a baby behind them. Hallelujah! Of course lots of snacks and a few new and small toys helped as well. I couldn't get that great of a picture with just one hand, but here he is wearing the airplane shirt I made him.



And after a week of being gone without Daddy, we had a lot to tell him when we got to Florida.


The first week, Gavin and I were on our own because D. was working some pretty crazy hours. That didn't stop our adventure though. We went to the zoo where I got to feed a giraffe.

And Gavin rode on a train.


We actually went back to the zoo to their splash park. Gavin wasn't wanting to play that long, so I was really glad our Houston Zoo membership got us in free both times.

On another trip, we decided to check out Daytona Beach which was only about 45 minutes away from where we were staying. Gavin and I went to an old sugar mill that became BongoLand, a dinosaur theme park in the early 1900s', and is now a botanical gardens.

As you can see, there are still signs of dinosaur life.

We also visited a chocolate factory and partook in their tour. This was great because it was here that we first learned of Florida's almost daily afternoon showers. I know you're not feeling sorry for us having to seek shelter in a chocolate factory.
The factory:

And Gavin scoping out the goodies we bought everyone.

We also drove down the main rode by the beach, so we would know where to go when we went back. I couldn't believe that Daytona has a drive through church. I guess it's so you can wear your bathing suit and head down to the beach when the service is over.

We also went to Fort Christmas, an outlet mall, several Targets, swam in the pool, and somehow found ourselves in the Disney parking lot where we had to turn around so as not to pay the $12 parking fee. Let's just say we weren't going to be stuck in the hotel.

I'll post more about our week with Daddy, the shuttle finally launching, our anniversary dinner at Wendy's, trip to Miami and of course when we finally paid the $12 to park and go into Disney World.

Freedom

That's what comes to mind when I think of swinging-freedom. It's been a while since I was last on a swing. Not that I wasn't around one practically every day during the school year, but at those times, I was telling little ones to sit correctly, push your friend from behind the swing, don't jump from the swing, etc. Now that we've had Gavin, there's been a few opportunities to be around swings this summer, but they are mostly the full enclosure swings and I'm not about to try to get myself into one of those.

That was until a few days ago, when D. had Gavin playing in another swing and I decided that it was my turn. At that moment there was nothing better than feeling my feet lift from the ground and the breeze blowing in my hair. It kind of takes you back a few years. But in this particular moment, I was in a place I'll reveal at a later time, but let's just say I could hear the waves crashing in the ocean. Yes, the ocean, not the Gulf.

When was the last time you were in a swing? It's rejuvenating. And, if you don't believe me, take a look at the smile on this kid's face.

Children's Museum

If you're in the Houston area, check out the Children's Museum. We went there with Gavin for the first time. Actually, I think I had been there before to do some volunteer work years ago, but this time we got to explore it all.

I have to say that I think Gavin will enjoy it more when he's a little older as there are tons more things for him to do. But they did do a great job with the Toddler area upstairs. That's where we spent most of our time. Gavin loved it, especially the small sized cars they could sit in. That probably comes from his love of riding the mule - the golf cart, not animal.

Here's a little tip, plan to wear shoes and socks that day because everyone has to take their shoes off in the Toddler area and either wear socks or hospital type shoes that surgeons wear.

It was also nice because they limit that area to just two years old and under. There's no worries of big kids hogging the toys or accidentally stepping on a baby.

The rest of the Museum is pretty neat too. It has lots of activities to feed the brain. They have a mock city where kids can earn pretend salaries and shop for groceries, take their "animals" to the vet, join an art studio, or order food.

Here's Gavin picking out some chicken for dinner.

D. and Gavin did a little art work for us. I don't think I was their muse though.


There's even an outside butterfly garden and water experiment area. Just don't plan on bringing a bathing suit for the kids. It's not that kind of water park.

Gavin helped us find our way around the two-story museum using the map. Although his way of using the map was to play Peek-a-boo with it.


From the smiles on their faces, we had a pretty good day.

Surf and Turf

Gavin and I went to the beach this week. Actually we went twice, but I only have pictures from one day. There are some really cute pictures on my phone from the second day, but I'll have to figure out how to transfer them to my computer.

It was his second time to the beach and I think he's getting the hang of it. I'll be honest, I'm not too crazy about having sand everywhere and I would much rather be in fresh or chlorinated water, but once I see and hear the waves crashing to shore, all is well.

It was especially pleasant yesterday when my little buddy took an hour nap in my arms while I got to people watch. I think I would have made the day without getting sunburned except that the sun was peeking in through our umbrella during that time and so I have a nice red strip down one side of my leg.

When I take Gavin down to the water, the part he seems to enjoy the most is sitting between my legs in the shallow water as the waves come by. He got really excited about one wave and was laughing until the next wave came by and splashed water in his face. He was a little more cautious from then on out.

Just look at those cheeks.

Despite being covered in sand, only once did I see him attempt to put a sand covered hand to his mouth.

This is just one of the many crabs that kept popping up out of holes in the sand and then going back down again. I think one threw something one time.



Gavin kept trying to put my sunglasses on and this is about as far as he got.

And not long after we left, he fell fast asleep.

Very Hungry Caterpillar Birthday

***I know I only posted this a couple of weeks ago, but I'm reposting because Kelly's Korner is hosting a share your kid's birthday party link system to help generate ideas for everyone. If you're new to our blog- welcome!

For Gavin's 1st birthday, we went with a Very Hungry Caterpillar theme. Beware, this post is going to have quite a few pictures. First let's start with the cake. I got the idea from here a cake someone else had done similarly. As soon as I can figure out the links, I'll post it.

And this is what it turned out to look like:

Making red icing is really, really hard. I know you can buy it already made, but I wasn't having much luck finding it. There's a good reason why we decided to have his cake outside (red and green icing don't mix with tan carpet and furniture.)

I actually liked Gavin's personal cake just as much, but the little guy wasn't having any of it.

In fact, he couldn't get past having the icing on his fingers and this is about as far as he got with his cake.

After the paint fiasco at Mother's Day, I'm really beginning to think he may be more of a paint brush kind of guy.

I made Gavin's banner using the die cut machine at work. I strung it with ribbon and taped the pieces on the back to each other. I think it did best hanging against a wall because of the weight of it.

Here's a little bit closer shot.


The kids' party favor bags were filled with a Very Hungry Caterpillar coloring sheet I downloaded from Eric Carle's website. I rolled them up and tied with twine. The bags also contained fruit shaped snacks, bug stickers, a mini pinwheel and were topped off with labels found on etsy.

For the adults, I bought these cute party crackers on sale. I first saw something like these on the Mr. Bean show. They're pretty popular in Britain. When twisted, they make a firecracker pop sound and there's a prize hidden inside.

I don't really have a wide shot of the backyard, but we set it up two large tents or else all of our guests were going to be large puddles of sweat in the 90 degree heat.

I had a station for all of the kids to plant a seed to take home. They decorated their pot with washable markers and bug stickers and before they left I tied them up in cellophane bags and red ribbon so that parents wouldn't have a bunch of soil dumped in their cars.

While the kids were planting, I scattered plastic bugs around the yard. One was a prize bug with a blue mark on the bottom. The child who won, got a large pinwheel lollipop. I think the kids really enjoyed the bug hunt. After some time of playing outside with the other toys and ball pit, we headed inside for refreshments.

For the food, I had prepared with the help of Nonna and Me Me the foods from the Very Hungry Caterpillar book. We had things such as a large fruit salad, watermelon, cheese and summer sausage, lollipops, cherry pie and chocolate cake brownies.

D. scanned in pictures from the book to put on the front of the table, and my mom helped me create an outside scene on top of the table using butcher paper and die cuts.



Gavin even took a couple more steps that day.


He then opened presents while everyone else cooled off inside watching A Bug's Life.

We are so blessed by having all of our family and friends celebrate this wonderful first year of Gavin's life.