Stacer Days: Christmas 2013: Part 3

I always said I didn't want our family to be one that travels around on Christmas Day. But, it seemed like the best idea to load up after lunch and head south to San Antonio. My grandma and my sister and her family were already at my parent's house so it was a party long before we arrived. And as usual, we did our best to destroy my parents' living room.

Brothers. Always keeping a close eye on what the other is unwrapping.

His "London Bus" book from Uncle Matt and Aunt Fi. We always send them Texas stuff and they always send us English stuff. The boys love it, they've always had a fascination with all things British.

Aaron's London Sticker Book.

Two-thirds of the Fischer family... Braelynn was sleeping.

The next day was for relaxing and hanging out with family. The boys soaked up their Grandpa time. It is so wonderful to me how much they adore him. He truly hung the moon - right up there with Daddy.

That evening we went to Fiesta Texas...

Grandma and the boys in the giant snow globe.

Grandma and Adam on the kiddie ride. I think Aaron was with Grandpa on the Road Runner Express.

The next day Alan had to head home but the boys and I stayed to get in a few more adventures. One of them being a trip to the San Antonio Children's Museum. It was a couple of days after Christmas so the place was packed... but I'm guessing it is always packed. It looks like it has seen a few years of hard abuse by small creatures. We picked up Jenny and Braelynn and braved the cold and rain toward downtown.

One of the boys' favorite parts was the ball room by the front entrance. There were all these chutes and wheels and simple machines that moved ball-pit like plastic balls around a maze of activity. It took a few minutes to get their bearings, but they figured it out and got near-tantrum angry when it was time to go.

Speaking of tantrums.... The miniature airplane was Adam's favorite, so much so I could not get him off of the thing. Every time I turned around he was in a new spot or back waiting in the line of aggressive children to gain access to one of the two small cockpit chairs. It was a really neat plane with a lot of authentic details but it was over run by kids and stressed parents.

Adam and Aaron in the cockpit.

Traffic Control Tower. Demanding little brother taking over. Big brother showing signs of acute disgust.

Hey, Adam is back in the plane again.

Then Aaron found something right up his alley. The little airport check in was the perfect mix of make believe and miniature realistic for him. He went to town. He was carrying luggage back and forth from the plane (yes, through the crowds of people and strollers), changing the arrivals board, and scanning tickets. He also checked in a few complete strangers who decided to participate in his elaborate game of pretend.

Grandma and Grandpa had a safe spot in the corner. See the lady sitting on the other side? She would eventually get up and move because the operation was just too intense for her. Aunt Jenny was highly amused.

Hey, look whose back in the plane. (Plus there's a little proof that I was actually on this outing.)

Trying out the flight attendant seat now.

Aaron was checking in this guy. Eventually he had taken over the area and people were just watching him. Yep, that's my kid. Everything is so serious.

We finally coaxed them away from the airplane area, which I can't recall exactly, but probably involved a bribe.

Yes, Aaron's head is in the bell. Why not?

The boys had no idea that the basement was just as much fun. The mini-HEB was fantastic. I've heard lots of people talk about it and they're spot on. The grocery areas at all of the other children's museums we've been to just don't compare. As usual, my boys got serious.

He's a mini-Alan, so of course he needs three loaves of bread.

The funny part about the whole thing is that I didn't really give them much instruction and they both filled their carts and walked right up to the registers, both of which were being operated by (stranger) girls at the time. They interacted with them and went through the process.

Aaron's choices were a little more balanced and practical.

Aunt Jenny and Grandpa lost in conversation.

Grandpa being chauffeured by the boys. They were pretending they were in Venice.

Next it was on to the giant-bubble-making-device. The hula-hoop on the bottom was a little uneven, so it didn't function all too well, but it was enough to entertain them for a few minutes.

The last stop on our museum adventure was the little farm area. Aaron lost interest pretty quick and moved on to the foam block building area, but Adam went back in to obsessive mode and decided he was not going to leave any time soon. And, you know how it is, there's only so much you can do with your sweet, iron-willed little punk in a small place filled with other people.

Milking the cow.

Collecting eggs and tending to the chicken.

Aaron was creating some sort of tower. More serious work.

Why won't that kid get out of the wagon? Where's his parent? Who is that kid.

He's obsessing. He's mine. I'm over here trying to come up with a plan to forcibly remove him from the wagon, so that we and the other members of our party can finally go eat lunch, without making a scene.

Nearly complete.

Aunt Jenny had to feed Braelynn before we took off so the boys and I found this cute little cabin and market store to play with while we waited. I ordered food and they prepared it for me. They set up this little cabin so "it would feel more like a home," (according to Aaron).