Pete has a week off from school, so we decamped to Galveston for some time by the sea. Americans like to sit around a table and violently argue politics with their family at this time of year - we Brits save that for Christmas - so hotels are incredibly cheap. And "cheap" and "Davies" go together like turkey and trimmings.
Aside from beach combing we went to a maritime museum, where the guide (on finding out Dad was a Royal Navy veteran) spent over two hours giving us a tour. Mum and Pete somewhat lost the will to live, disappearing to a kids' play room there. We also took a boat trip down the bayou, played some mini golf, and visited The Rainforest Cafe, the height of American fine dining.
Mum and Dad are now back home, several pounds heavier and several dollars lighter. It was a wonderful family holiday, mostly because I could use the phrase "I'm just popping out - Grandma's in charge" as frequently as I liked. Maybe we'll come back to Britain for Christmas...
Your best-childcare-in-Houston team.
The city from the water.
Grandma receives some musical instruction.
Who knew we have a maritime museum in Houston! I do now, having spent several hours inside.
Navy talk.
I used to be my mother's favourite...
...but that changed some time ago.
Family pre-Thanksgiving.
Watch out, buried treasure!
Dad taught me how to fly a kite on the beach at Woolacombe, and here he is proving he's still got it!
Actual Thanksgiving dinner.
Carving the turkey with surgical precision.
"Try a brussel sprout, you'll like it!" And other lies we tell children.
Traditional post-Thanksgiving entertainment.
Mini golf! Hannah's winning.
Another trip on a boat, this time pedal-powered.
And after taking care of this lot, I need a holiday.
