I Have A Headache: An Obviously Unsponsored Review of the T.Rex Cafe

Last summer, Hot Guy took Ironflower and Lovebug to his parents' for a week. One of the biggest hits of the trip was a visit to T.Rex. It was such a big hit that naturally the whole family had to go back this summer during our trip to Kansas.*

Things did not start auspiciously. The large dinosaur robots posted outside, with their loud roars, made Hugmonkey cry and Lovebug cover his ears. We hurried inside, only to be assaulted by loud music and more roars. Between the darkness and the loud music, I may have had a flashback to the dance clubs of the early '90s. I'm pretty sure that's when the headache started.

We moved through the store area so that we could do the dinosaur activities. There are fossils to search for, computer games and gem stones to mine for a few dollars apiece. This is the best part of the experience. It was definitely the best part of ours, though getting through the store part without buying any over-priced toys was decidedly NOT the best part of the experience.

Next it was time to eat. Now, I have nothing against fattening, all-American chain restaurant food. Which you might have noticed if you've ever seen me in real life. However, I don't believe I should pay extra for that food just because I'm surrounded by robotic dinosaurs. And music so loud that no one can have a conversation. Which just leaves you to concentrate on the generic food. Though they do get an extra point for having waffle fries. I love waffle fries.

Of course, any joy the waffle fries gave me was erased by the trek to the bathroom. It was upstairs, so I had the joy of carrying Hugmonkey up a flight of stairs while chasing after Ironflower and Lovebug. Then the changing table was located in the last stall, which of course was being used. And used. And used. And did I mention that the loud music was piped into the bathroom? Because there's nothing like a blast of Foreigner while you're changing a diaper and trying to monitor 2 other kids in a cramped stall.

So yeah, I'm kinda hoping the kids forget about T. Rex before our next trip to Kansas. I'd much rather go to the Children's Museum (any Children's Museum) and go somewhere wonderful for lunch.


*There may be a T. Rex Cafe closer at hand. If so, I don't want my kids to know about it.

Disjointed Ramblings of A City Girl

"Vacationing" with toddlers is an oxymoron. We have been gone for over a week now and today is the first day I really feel like I'm on vacation. That's because Ironflower and Lovebug are at the farm torturing their grandparents and I have driven to KC to use the internet and shop. Well, seeing as the trip is way more expensive than expected (aren't they always), the highlight will be internet usage.

My in-laws live in the country and have no internet access. They also don't have much luck with cell phones, despite the new tower. My kids adore their grandparents and the feeling is more than mutual, but I'm a wreck. I'm having a very hard time living without the internet. Theoretically, I could write and then post when I got the chance but I haven't written anything worthwhile. Maybe it's the fear of the kids breaking one of grandma's pretties (this is not unfounded) and maybe it's the fact that I just finished A Thousand Splendid Suns (so good).

Hot Guy is so refreshed being in the country and the kids are quite happy. I love my in-laws, but I am not a country person. I can appreciate being able to see the stars so clearly, but that pales in comparison to being able to use the internet. Or to walk to the store. You would think that as much as other people get on my nerves that I would relish being so far away from them. But all it does is make me think of all the horror movies I watched in junior high in the '80's.

I'm probably going to hell for this blog. I feel so guilty about being so cranky there. I'm sure that's why Hot Guy sent me up here today. I've tried to hide it, but he knows me a little too well.
I hope today helps.

Things I've meant to blog about lately but haven't gotten a chance:

Lovebug said his first sentence (at 17 months, I think this is pretty good for a boy). He pointed to himself in the mirror and said, "I'm in there" (well, actually it sounded more like "Um indere").

Ironflower now says "Leave me alone!" whenever she's pooping, regardless of whether anyone is talking to her or not. I hope this bodes well for potty training.

We stayed in the trashiest motel on our way here. It seemed okay until we started observing the other guests. That's what we get for trying to save money. I tried to look at it as a sociological observation, but when a couple started having sex in the pool as soon as we got out (as her elementary school aged daughter pouted on a lounge chair), I started to lose it. The kids have never gotten such a thorough bath. And I wouldn't let them wear their bathing suits again until we washed the suits at grandma's. Ick.

Adventures in Travel Parenting

So, where the heck have I been? We have just embarked on the Z-family World Tour 2007 and let me tell you, it is not easy to drive 1200 miles with two toddlers. We didn't actually leave until last Wednesday, but Monday and Tuesday were a whirlwind of packing and planning and general hysteria.

The first leg of the trip has been with my parents as we traveled to Ohio for a family reunion. I would love to do descriptions of said family, but as most of them read this I don't want them to fight over which one is Supermom and which one is Funnymom. I will say that I really miss my cousin G who had to work and couldn't come. This just means we will have to do it again next summer and he will have to quit his job. Tomorrow we will be leaving the land of Meijer's (imagine Target stuff with Wal-Mart prices, I LOVE it) for Kansas City. There will have a mini-reunion with Hot Guy's family and our friends. I am so excited.

But all of this excitement has been hella hard on the children. Ironflower has seriously struggled with napping, which wouldn't have been so bad if each evening didn't contain family gatherings. Friday she melted down at my aunt's house with amazing histrionics, it was unreal. And this was after my aunt had made meatballs in her honor and after I finally got to meet the adorable and well-behaved daughters of my cousin who lives in Virginia. I knew that if Ironflower had to have a tantrum that seemed more like an exorcism that this was the crowd to do it with, but it was still SO embarrassing. Then after Ironflower was calm and her usual appealing self, Lovebug flipped over not being able to climb into the fish pond (we never should have taken him in the hotel pool). I don't think I got to talk to anyone for more than three minutes.

Yesterday's gathering was confined to a few minor tantrums (and had the bonus of middle school aged girls eager to babysit) but it did require me to appear in front of the whole extended family in a bathing suit , which wouldn't have been so bad except that Hot Guy and I were the only adults to get into my cousins' pool (my apologies to my cousin T, who is technically an adult but since he is the oldest of the following generation and still in college, he just doesn't count yet). It's one thing to go in front of strangers and my immediate family in bathing suit, but I didn't even like people I know seeing me in a bathing suit when I weighed 100 pounds. I'm just weird like that.

The kids had fun, though. Ironflower got over her fear of "deep" water and was perfectly happy to hang onto me, yelling "Jump!" at frequent intervals. Lovebug enjoyed the water immediately, but only with Hot Guy. After months of being the only love of his life (okay, maybe it was the nursing boobs), it's a relief and a disappointment to be kicked to the curb. He remembers me when Daddy tells him "no", though.

So I apologize for not posting much lately and it will probably be even worse next week when we go to my non-connected in-laws', but I will promise lots more humiliating anecdotes when I do get a chance to write.