The Puddles

Thanks to my mom getting an award in Austin, we were going to the capital city so we made an entire trip out of it.  There was a beautiful water fountain outside the capital that used to bring fresh spring water from the aquifer, but it has since been replaced with city water.  The kids still thought it was fascinating.  They agreed that this kind of water fountain was way cooler than water bottles!  Then we headed inside for a tour.  Our guide was an interesting man.  I was disappointed that some of his facts were not correct, but I didn’t correct him.  It was when I had to put my hand over Madie’s mouth to keep her from correcting him that I had my proud moment of the day!  (The kids and I had just gone to the newest historical park in Conroe that commemorates the flags over Texas and who created the first Texas flag.  The guide tells the story of the first flag without ever mentioning Montgomery county or the story of the first flag that this park in Conroe speaks of.  He also gave incorrect info about the Stephen F Austin statue in Brazoria County.)  But in the end, the guide did a good job of telling the story of Texas to the non-natives.  The natives and the children of natives probably should have just done the self-guided tour.

I loved all of the  details at the capital.  Even the hinges were special.  The capital is so beautiful.  When you think that when it was built that it was at the edge of the frontier with only muddy roads leading up to it, it makes the entire building even more beautiful.  Riding into Austin must have been like Dorothy seeing the Emerald City for the first time.  Awesome and inspiring!

p.s. If you ask Ben about his favorite part, it was the place where they filmed Spy Kids 3.  If you ask Madie, it was the library.  If you ask Ainsley, she says, “Everything!”