Say a little prayer tonight

Hey everyone - I finally got back from DC and was going to post pictures of Ryan and my trip, but I decided instead to ask everyone to say a prayer tonight for all of our family and friends that live along the Gulf Coast. Most of Heidi's family lives in Central Louisiana - and is right under where they project Hurricane Gustav to pass on Monday/Tuesday...and still be a strong Category I storm. Our thoughts and prayers will be with them. If need be, we're going to head out - after I get back from my second trip to DC on Thurs - and help out anyway we can with Heidi's family.

Observations on our Nation's Capitol

I've been in DC for almost a week now and it's been a great experience - I've had the chance to see old friends again (some I haven't seen since 2002) and tour just a little bit of our great nation's capitol. Today I got out to the National Air and Space Museum annex near Dulles Airport - it's listed as a free museum (it is part of the Smithsonian) but the $12 parking fee reminded me of that FreeCreditReport.com commercial..."Free museum admission implies enrollment in our daily parking plan..." I digress. The museum was spectacular - I spent about 3 hours there walking around and gaping at all the exhibits. The one thing I was struck by was just how SMALL the Space Shuttle really is...I guess I always thought it was bigger than it really was...must be the camera angles they use in space...definitely the angles.

Last week, I was walking home from the Metro Station to my hotel (after a grueling day in the Pentagon) and was amused to see a couple 5 or 6 Greenpeace activists on a corner, passing out flyers, and decrying America's sins against the environment. Oddly enough, they all turned away from me when I walked by them and they didn't offer me a flyer or an enrollment application. The nerve. The next day I walked by the same area, and you guessed it...more do gooders trying to do good things. This time the issue was our banking system and how they were raising interest rates to bankrupt our society. Interestingly enough, it was the same group of people from the day before. Different Day. Different Issue. Same People. The idealism of youth...changing the world one street corner at a time. I wonder what they'll protest on Monday...too bad I changed hotels this weekend.

Deep in the Rainforest of...San Antonio?!?!

Tonight we all went down to the River Walk and ate at the Rainforest Cafe - the food wasn't terribly different than what you'd find at Outback...but it really wasn't about the food (for the grown-ups at least) but more about the location. Ryan is really into Diego lately, and that entails rainforests...could it get any better?!?! Our food was good and it was a plus that the kids' menu items are cheap...Ryan was too busy looking at everything going on and not so much on his meal. The fact that we also got him a giant icee in the souvenir cup MAY have had something to do with his lack of appetite for the more solid culinary offerings tonight...just maybe...

It was hard to get Ryan to turn around to take this picture. He loves waterfalls, fountains, and rainbows. This had all three.

Ryan loved the entrance area -- snakes on the ceiling, a crocodile, and a macaw were all there for him to gaze at. The Mommy Macaw is a character on Diego, so he latched onto that real quick.

I was amazed I could get a good picture of him here. He wanted NOTHING to do with the Tiger (up close at least). In his defense, it did look a little scary...


It was a good experience. Every 30 minutes a 'thunderstorm' happens and all the robotic animals go crazy. The kids love it! Every 10 or so minutes each animal comes to life - and can distract your kids from eating...but hey...isn't that what this whole thing is about...the experience. Ryan already wants to go back, so we know we have a winner here!!

Afterwards we walked along the River Walk for a few minutes and I can already see another trip down there to go on the boats...Ryan was excited about them and I think he just might enjoy it.

The Wit and Witticism of Ryan Grunwald

It's official. The child knows how to manipulate situations to his advantage. Yesterday, Heidi and Ryan were out in the van while Mike was inside Home Depot. Ryan and Heidi had a conversation that went something like this:

R: "Mommy, my tummy hurts. I have to throw up in the toilet."
H: "Do you have to throw up now?"
R: "Yes."

-- Heidi put Ryan outside the car and told him he'd have to puke there. He stood there for a minute and told her he didn't have to throw up anymore. Heidi put him back in the car and put his seat belt on. --

R: "Mommy, I want to put my coins in my pocket."
H: "Ryan, you're in your seat and I'm not unbuckling you just so you can put your coins in your pocket."

-- A 30 second pause ensued --

R: "Mommy, my tummy hurts. I need to throw up."
H: "OK, baby, I'll get you out."

-- Heidi takes him out of the van and puts him on the ground --

R: "My tummy feels better. I put my coins in my pocket." (Said with an impish grin on his face)