Bob Bullock, Bonnel, Ben's office, and Bats

One of these years I'm going to find time to upload my recent pictures and get them posted. Tonight is not that time.
Yesterday we had such a FUN day!
We went to the Bob Bullock History Museum, watched the Texas propaganda movie (yes, it made me tear up again), perused the museum (wow, the boys were so much better than 18 months ago, the last time we went. They actually looked at things! And liked it!), and then treated my brother (and the boys and I) to Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince at the IMAX, in 3D. Wow! I didn't even know 3D was an option. Now THIS is the way to watch a Harry Potter movie. We had the best seats in the house, instead of the worst (2nd to the very front row the first time).
Brigham and Joseph were very interested in the artifacts from the days of the Spanish colonization of Texas. Lots of intricately carved sword hilts and suits of armor and other such things. They couldn't be bothered before, I guess they were too young. They sat through the movie about the Texas revolution, and even asked to stay at the museum after the movie to look at a few more things and show me this awesome crown up on the 4th floor. We went to the gift shop and managed to escape, not only with no tantrums from Mosey, but also with no cheap merchandise! Miracle of miracles.
Then we drove back home up the Capital of Texas Highway (always an impressive drive for first timers to Austin). After being at home for 30 minutes we got back in the car and headed to Mt. Bonnel to meet Ben. Ben, Benjamin, and the boys hiked up to the top and I drove to County Line (Texas barbecue). By the time the boys got down off the mountain (Mt. Bonnel is as close as Austin gets to mountains, all 760 ft. above sea level, or whatever it is), they were drenched in sweat and had cheeks the color of strawberries. It was HOT. We stuffed ourself with meat, meat, and more meat, then finished it off with Mile High chocolate cake and peach cobbler a la mode. Who's counting calories this week? Not me.
And THEN we drove to Ben's office so we could all admire his new corner office on the top floor of his building. Oooh... It is nice! Too bad his salary didn't improve along with his office when they moved his department last month. :-)
Finally, we drove downtown again, to the Congress Street bridge, to see the largest urban colony of Mexican freetail bats in the world. 1.5 million of these little creatures roost under this bridge over the Colorado River, just south of the Capitol building, and then come flying out all at once in huge black spirals up into the sky over the river. We got there JUST on time, getting to our seat on the grass literally 2 minutes before the bats emerged. It was very cool.
Then home for bedtime for some very tired boys.
It was an awesome day.