Johnson Space Center in Houston Texas Field Trip

The Johnson Space Center was, in one word, AMAZEBALLS.

Here are some pics! We saw a little educational movie, toured all sorts of neat artifacts, mock-ups and more and went on a 1.5-hour tour of the facility. There were 2 other, different tours, and someday I want to go back with Mr. Kerrie and do them all because the kids totally were just putting up with me geeking out over this place. I mean, they had fun (Ripley's Believe it or Not area was a hit) but I should have shown them the movie The Right Stuff BEFORE going to the space center. Dangit. I have been lacking in my homeschool teaching of space, that's for sure. (also, head here to read Why Do We Need a Space Program? and I look forward to your arguments)

We made it at 3 p.m. but they did not close until 7 so we were a go for launch.

After a cool little movie, the doors opened to a dark room like a museum and it was super cool. Sorry, but my special writer words fail me about a place like this. I was astounded by the whole place.

This is made of toast. No joke.

This is made of computer keyboard keys. Again, no joke.

International Space Station mock-up and practice area. This we got to see on the tram tour where we got out and walked around this building.

I'm in this one partially because my dad was asking for pics of me since all I send him is pics of the kids! Why does it look like the flag is over my left shoulder when it was over my right? I don't get how photos work at all.

My boys spacing out.

Another old rocket.

I was in awe when we entered this building. This photo doesn't even show the entire rocket. On the walls there was info about all the astronauts and space programs.

DISH Network Hates Children and Loves Men

Yeah, you like that title? It's true.

Not one appropriate thing was on last night in the movie room at the hotel, where they subscribe to DISH Network, something I will personally never purchase for my own home, even if it is the only option and I live out in the sticks, which I plan to do soon.

The only "family-friendly" show that was on at 8:30 was Full House, which gets so old when it is all that is on in your hotel room at night too. At 9 we got The Fresh Prince of Bel-air, and the first thing we hear is Will Smith talking about getting a girl into his bed. What happened to cartoons? Disney, Cartoon Network, Sprout?

There were a lot of things you could ORDER for $5.99, like current kid movies, but we can't do that at the hotel and I would rather go to the RedBox up the road for one-third of that price anyway. They must cater to country folk with no RedBox and no Netflix streaming or something.

Appropriate cartoons (yeah, not like Archer) 24 hours a day is not a lot to ask when kids go to bed at all different times and wake up at all different times and wake in the middle of the night.

However, there were about NINE THOUSAND hockey and other sports channels.

Therefore, I come to the well-thought-out conclusion here in my dissertation that DISH Network must hate children or is run by someone who is totally clueless about family.

Prove me wrong. Tell me there is a better kid package and that I need to be taking my gripe up with the hotel where I'm staying.

#Houston Day 5: Cinderella and Nassau Bay and HEB

This lovely day started with my eyes popping open at 6 a.m. Ran down the stairs to grab some coffee and started working while Mr. Kerrie got ready for work. Listened to vintage Real Housewives of NYC (Bethenny!) while I got some stuff done online. Joel got up and got his Texas-shaped waffle (a daily ritual) and today's meal offering was ham, gravy, cheesey eggs and hash browns ... and chocolate muffins. After yesterday's WW weigh-in, I had to snub those freaking muffins and instead got some Activia because I'm 43 and probably need it. Moving on ...

We went to see the movie Cinderella after my daily ritual of getting lost on some off ramp or frontage road.

'Cuz, really, ya gotta take your Spongebob bat to see Cinderella in case anyone gets rowdy.

Hung out in traffic. My mom loves this part.

Went back to the room to hang out until I couldn't stand it anymore and said I had to see the dang water somehow.

So we went to Nassau Bay/Clear Lake Park. I used to be a Mac hater for some reason, but I have to tell you the pictures the iPhone 6 takes and the different effects you can put on a photo and how quickly they load to the blog ... astounding.

I am telling you right now my mom is going to LOVE THIS ONE! I took this for you, Mom!

That's concrete, not sand.

My new camera from Mr. Kerrie also is AMAZING and doesn't take blurry pictures like our old one.

On the way home we stopped at HEB grocery store off El Camino Real ... for fresh tortilla's my friend Jennifer told me about. They were yum! We got packages of wheat, flour and butter versions.

The Tortilla Model.

Buddy Bucks ... they put it in a machine and it spins a wheel and they get a sticker with points and then cash those in for stuff.

Came back to the room so the kids could swim in the freezing cold pool FOREVAH ... back and forth from pool to hot tub,  having a blast.

Dinner was fried chicken and mashed potatoes and green beans. Perfection.

I was able to get some time in on the treadmill before our ...

... movie attempt (see my post on DISH Network here and how that did not work out).

Brush teeth, pray, Mr. Kerrie reads to the kids. The usual disgustingly easy and happy family evening.  Rinse and repeat and I am in love with this life.

Click here to see Day Six.

#Houston Day 4: Aquarium, Inflatable Hammers, Siri, Traffic, Tacos and a Goose-egg

Here is day #4 of our travel odyssey. Enjoy.

Weight Watchers to weigh in and gain. Decide I would rather be a winner at losing. Check.

Houston Downtown Aquarium. Check. Tons of pics here but more witty words below those. Don't forget to check out the post to come called GIFT SHOP HELL. Come back because I'll link to it or just look for it in your email inbox!

Make sure my kids all win huge, inflatable hammers and bats so they can beat each other in the van on the way home. Check.

Lost in Downtown Houston. Check.

Get punchy and now have Siri call me "Queen McLoughlin" instead of "Kerrie." Check.

Stuck in traffic on 45 South until Siri wanted to call the suicide hotline for me. Check.

Taco Cabana for one taco each for our maiden voyage pre-dinner snack because when I get stressed I taco. Check.

Swimming pool before dinner with sodas and appetizers by the pool. Check.

Burgers and chili tots I did not cook, by the pool with Daddy. Check.

Discover the awesomeness of iPhone dictation. Check.

Sam gets a goose-egg tripping over inflatable bat and hitting the nightstand. I consider tossing the nightstand out the window since the night before Eva backed into it and hit her head. Decide that won't work because the windows only open 6 inches. Check.

12 Reasons Why My Big Family Loves #StaybridgeSuites (NASA Clear Lake Houston Webster, Texas)

So here is where we are staying. And this is a post about it.

Okay, so we have been here all of like 2 days. But I am in love. I have never stayed anywhere like this. I mean, Embassy Suites hotels are swanky with plenty of room but this place? Let me count the ways I love her.