Our Family Vacation to Houston Part 4
The kids woke up bright and early after our first night in a hotel–of course! I began going through the duffel bag that I had packed full of the kids’ clothes. I made a nice pile across the bed with each child’s clothes. I looked at my piles and was one short. Grace’s clothes were missing. I searched the duffel bag again. There were absolutely no clothes for Grace. I had packed in two separate duffel bags filling each bag with four days worth of clothes. I frantically ran out to the van and retrieved the second bag and found some clothes for her, but only the four days worth. “Grace I guess you’ll just have to wear some of your outfits twice. I’m sorry honey, but I forgot some of your clothes.”
She gave me her best smile and said, “That’s okay Mommy. I don’t mind!” My day just got a whole lot better!
We took turns getting ready, and while we waited for Jason to finish up, as he got the bathroom last, I turned on a cartoon for the kids and got online for a few minutes. I was happy that all of the hotels I booked came with free internet–woohoo! So while I was typing away, one of the kids shouted, “Mom, there is a huge beetle on the wall!” By now I should know better than to ignore my kids’ outbursts about unwanted critters, but I just uh huhed and kept typing. Then I heard a gasp from another daughter and a similar exclamation. Still, I continued catching up on all my online duties.
When Jason got out of the bathroom, I looked up and there on the wall was a Texas-sized cockroach. And you know everything is bigger in Texas. Now, growing up in the country, roaches are a fact of life, but it is somewhat disconcerting, finding one in a three star hotel room. So I handled it like any self respecting wife would: “Jaaaaaaason! Come quick and kill this cockroach!” He gallantly came to our rescue though quite grossed out himself. I quickly laid out some ground rules, “No open food in the hotel! If you eat something finish it off, and for goodness sake don’t leave any crumbs!” I can’t say it did any good, but it sure made me feel better to say it!

Uh – oh YUK! I’m a little grossed out seeing your kids sitting on the floor. When I go to a hotel, (even a VERY nice one) I touch as little as possible and that includes first and foremost – the carpet. Or maybe the comforter. I think they tie for first place 🙂
I lived in Savannah for a few years and not only were they HUGE but they could fly! Something out of my worst nightmares. Mari, I do not touch a pillow, ever!!!!!
Oh, I don’t know if I would have been able to sleep well after finding a bug like that. Glad you found some clothes for Grace. That would happen to me. 🙂
Growing up in the country we’ve dealt with them ourselves too! But a Texas sized roach? Ack!
Aaahhh!! So glad we don’t have those here. I’m not sure I would have slept well after that either!
I found a cockroach in a hotel in Disney I freaked out! LOL they told me it was Florida and I should get used to it! They did give me a free night and a new room after I got really upset about it!
Yuck! On my 8th grade trip to DC, there were some people on our floor (NOT from our group) who were smoking some illegal drugs. The fumes/smoke started seeping through the AC vents and ended up getting into some of our group’s rooms. After everyone started getting a headache, they gave us some new rooms. The hotel itself was also really dirty.
While attending CBC, we had roaches in the bathrooms…it didn’t take but once to remember to put your slippers or shoes on before making the trek to the bathroom. Ewwwwwwwwwwww
Yuck!! Here in FL we have some massive ones that fly. The first time I saw one, it flew into my chest and fell down my shirt. I was a sobbing mess!