Is This Still Summer?

This is what a Texas summer usually looks like....

 

...but this is what we've had for the past week.  This time last year it was about 100 degrees every day without a drop of rain in sight.  This week has been a welcomed change!

 

The only downside is that the stormy weather has taken the pool off our list of things to do each day, so we've been exploring other indoor activities.  We loved the new paleontology hall at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.  Unfortunately, Alex got tired of my commentary and kept telling me, "Mom, stop talking!  I just want to look!"

I wouldn't go swimming if this prehistoric shark was still around!

 

 There were several things on display that I had never seen or even heard of, like this guy.  I was guessing it was a giant bear or something.

Turns out it was a mega-sloth.  Who knew?

We also went through the energy wing so the kids could learn a little about oil production, a subject dear to this family's heart.  The kids loved turning valves on the christmas tree, but their favorite part was the "geovator" that simulates a ride down an oil pipeline.  We did it twice and I had to draw the line at a third time!

Ben's favorite part about the rainy weather is that he gets to use his umbrella.

We also checked out a body exhibit at Moody Gardens because Ben has been fascinated with anatomy and asks tons of questions, so I thought this would be a great learning experience for him.  It has real dissected human bodies so I did prepare the kids with what to expect (I've been to two other similar exhibits) and they handled it like champs.  I was able to answer most of Ben's questions and Alex even listened to me on this visit!  The best part is that they compared healthy lungs with smokers lungs and the kids were horrified - hopefully we've scared them off smoking for the rest of their lives.

My little tree frogs!

 
 Who wouldn't want a little cotton candy for the ride home?

As if all the rain didn't have things wet enough, the kids wanted to play in the sprinklers one afternoon when the rain stopped.  Alex got the cardboard house wet (the very one I've been plotting to trash for several weeks now) and saved me the trouble of having to tell the kids it was time to recycle it!

A couple of other cute pictures from my phone...
Ben's glow glasses from the 4th of July!

Getting a kiss from Abby, his favorite kitty in the world.