Space Center Houston

Glen decided he was going to spend his weekend in Houston a few weeks ago instead of coming home and invited me to go along with him. Was I ever glad I went because I got to see these five adorable grandchildren.

Natalie, Emma, Luke, Claire and Logan wanted to play Life with me. It was the longest game ever! Lasted over several days. One thing was certain--after all was said and done, I was definitely not the winner of the game.

Jacob took Friday off work and the grandchildren were on their spring break, so we took a family excursion to Space Center Houston.

Apparently we saw the state's newest landmark...

Everyone enjoyed spending some time in this kid-friendly exhibit.

Then it was tram time where we were driven all around the Space Center grounds.

This is the International Space Station.

We went to Rocket Park. The children were tired and hungry at this point in the tour.

This building houses the Saturn V lying on its side just how it is drawn in the picture. 

As per what is written on the Space Center's website:

"The Saturn V Rocket is the most powerful rocket ever built and operated. Its design played a major role in successfully transporting and landing American astronauts on the moon during the Apollo missions. Over 36 stories tall, this Saturn V is one of only three left in existence."

There was a kid discovery area set up outside and the kids particularly enjoyed this one where they took water balloons up the stairs and launched them from up high.

The Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory is a gigantic pool of water where the astronauts put on their full space suits and go down underwater where it best simulates how they would feel in space.

There is a space station under water where they can practice doing what they would do in space inside and around the space station.

Jacob's high school friend Laura works for NASA and was so kind to give us a special guided tour.

This is the current Mission Control Center. The astronauts on the International Space Station had just gone to sleep for the night.

This is the historic mission control room. The flag hanging was flown on the moon.

Quoting again from the Space Center's website:

"This is it. Located in Building 30 of the Johnson Space Center, this is the facility where NASA monitored nine Gemini and all Apollo missions, including the historic Apollo 11 trip to the moon."

"In fact, from this room the NASA team exercised full mission control of Apollo 11 from launch and liftoff at the Kennedy Space Center to splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. You can feel the history from the monitors to the rotary dials."

Here comes my favorite part of the quote:

"The truth is, there's more technology in a modern watch than there was in this room in 1969. Impossible."

After touring NASA, and upon questioning the grandchildren if they now want to be astronauts, they all answered with a resounding NO to NASA.

March Birthday Cake Masterpiece

That Amanda has done it again! She made the absolute cutest birthday cake ever! And I mean ever!

It was in honor of Spencer. Or in other words, Amanda was enlisted to make a birthday cake Spencer would like just so his own mother wouldn't have to make one.

There's birthday boy Zack, telling us he would blow the candles from the couch--assured the little people would take over from there and get the job done.

Kathy is another March birthday person.

She got a little help from two eager boys.

This is what happens when you eat the black road part of the cake.

Now let's look at something much cuter than black tongues.

This would be Preston. He was looking so cute that day all dressed up in his Sunday clothes. I guess handsome would be a better word to use than cute. But, can he help it if his aunt thinks he's cute?!?!????

And look at these cute girls--Madison and Maggie.

On St. Patrick's Day I went to Sarah's to take a peek at the little one she was keeping sequestered away from public germs. Sarah had taken Eli and Carson to the family birthday dinner and had left without getting her leftover cheesecake. She was happy when she saw I came bearing gifts.

Food gifts that is. Cheesecake. And Costa Vida lunch.

 In return, I got to see baby Lincoln.

 

It almost seems like he's a figment of the imagination until I see him and then I realize he really exists. And some day soon the rest of the world will also get to enjoy his cuteness and sweetness.

Quotes of the Week

"There is only one boss.  The customer.  And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else."
--Sam Walton

"The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority."
--Kenneth Blanchard

"Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought."
--Henri Bergson

"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."
--Albert Einstein