The Alamo

Today was so much fun!! Van Go has been going all day long today- first to the Mexican market, then the Imax and Alamo, and a final visit to the Witte Museum before heading back to the hotel. Whew!! The kids all really enjoyed the Mexican market, where Abby found a very Mexican hobby horse (lime green and pink) and JonMichael found some authentic Mexican playing cards-- no face cards or aces, but every card has its own picture! So fun! Josiah also bought Ana a Mexican flute-pipe, and everyone had fun looking at the cheap and colorful wares at the market! Van Go then kept going for a visit to the Imax theater where we saw an impressive historical re-enactment of the Battle of the Alamo. It was well done and stimulated some great discussion about man's role as a protector and defender- and it really helped us gain respect for the Alamo, which we visited right after lunch on the Riverwalk. The kids had so much fun feeding (and chasing) the sparrows, pigeons, and ducks during our meal. We even got to see a momma duck and her 13 baby ducklings! They were little balls of fluff, and momma enjoyed all the chips and tortillas the kids kept throwing to her!! Halfway through our lunch, the cold front came rolling in, and we all had to put on coats before heading off to the Alamo, where we spoke in hushed tones as instructed (except for that one time Abby got upset) and did NOT touch the walls!! Apparently people are still allowed inside the Alamo, but the historians are still making a valiant effort to protect it from human contamination. We enjoyed this historic monument despite the "no" signs inside and out, and Dad gave the kids a lesson on Texan history on the lawn outside, where hushed tones were no longer mandatory. After that, we visited the Witte Museum where all the kids had fun with the interactive science displays... and all the cameras ran out of batteries!! We were VERY tired and cold by the time we came back to the hotel, so Mom took some of the kids to the grocery for dinner while Dad and the others took a much-needed nap. After devotions, Abby and Buddy hit the sack early and right now the whole Smith Family is watching "Wreckreation Nation" at the boys' request and watching "demolition schoolbus racing". What a day!!