Fun in the City.

During Spring Break, Taryn and I met up in the city, and took our kiddos (and a friend) to explore the Perot Museum and Klyde Warren Park.

The Perot Museum: exhausting. Strollers there? Almost impossible.
We saw one floor and that was it. The elevators were super slow and didn't always stop when you needed them to. There were grown women there who have ZERO sense of elevator etiquette. It was a BEATING.
So we left.

The kids actually had a great time playing outside. It was less congested and the kids had more room and opportunity to explore the displays without the big kid competition.

After that, we walked through a drive through ATM, and headed over to Klyde Warren Park. The funny thing about that---we were not the only ones walking through that ATM. Pedestrians dominated that thing.
:)

Lunch and dessert from a food truck? Sure.... But you can bet that you're going to wait in long lines. And, just when the line gets long enough, some security guard will come along, tell the line to shift this way or that, and you'll lose your place in line and it's like 12 new people will show up and be in front of you and your screaming toddler. Good times. Thank goodness Gage is old enough to stand in line by himself and get his food (I could still see him, of course) because we were waiting in long lines. Every truck had a long line. I can't imagine having to wait in line for one and then another.... These next few pics---that's E eating some of Gage's snow cone. {Thanks for sharing, Brother!}

After we ate, the kiddos played on the playground. We weren't prepared for the wet play area....but we will be next time!

In the end, E was exhausted and well beyond her usual nap time. It was time to go.

Gage was SUCH a help that day. Big Brother in the city....

Wasn't the best of days with the long lines and everything in the world testing my patience. I can own the fact that I didn't have the best of patience that day. The next outing down there will hopefully be better. I'll certainly work on my own attitude before we head out back to the Perot. I *hear* it's wonderful. So far, I haven't been able to see that for the crowds....

M&J & Stampede 66!

Some very dear friends of ours moved away, and moved again, and moved again! This time, back to Texas! Woohoooooo!!!!

It was so great to get together with this couple at Stampede 66. It's a restaurant in Dallas, that's actually within walking distance from where we all used to live when Mark was our neighbor.
:)

The food, should you go: get the fried chicken and butterscotch pudding for dessert.

 WHOOOOO is so excited that this couple is back in DFW?  WE ARE!

And then later that night, back at home with THESE two who were absolutely waiting up for us.... 

Gammy's 1st Selfie

So----I took Gammy shopping one day. She wanted to go to Belk. She'd heard through friends that Belk at the Galleria was nice, so she thought she'd like to try it. Done.

While there, Gammy and I shot Gammy's first selfie. How cute is that!?!?

She was exhausted walking from one end of the mall to the other....but in the end, she says it was worth it. She got some nice outfits and we had a good time.

Love my Gammy!

State Fair of Texas, 2014

 So, here in Texas, or at least in our metroplex, the kids get out of school for one day during the week to go to the Texas State Fair. They each get one ticket for admission too. It's pretty awesome! This year, Hubby wasn't feelin' it, so I took the kids to the fair solo. That's right. Solo. Who rocks? I rock.

Gage had fun on the Midway...Eliette only rode one ride and she could take it or leave it.

Eliette's favorite experience was clearly the little farm...

The Garden Center there on the fair grounds was sooooo neat. Gage and I loved it. Eliette....well, she didn't really care either way...

Part of the fun of the fair: eating! Junk food was all around. Gage enjoyed popcorn, snowcones, and cotton candy. I think there was a hot dog and corny dog in the mix too... Oh! And salt water taffy, of course. It's a fair staple... The closer was Dippin' Dots ice cream.

What else did we do? We visited some live farm animals...

See that little calf right there (above)? Right after that red cup was moved, Eliette walked straight over there and shoved her little finger right up that calf's nostril. Shocked that little calf, that's for sure. {The good news: hand sanitizer was everywhere.}

What else did we do? Well, we saw an Elvis impersonator, and Eliette danced for the crowd... that didn't last long.

We saw the cars.....Oh, the cars. I'll spare you the 50-million photos, but let me just say: Gage took over the photography task at that point, and I have a ton of car photos in case you missed any of the car pavilions at the fair this year.... A few of Gage, taken by Mommy:

Gage played the pay-to-play games and won himself and his sister stuffed animals. He ate until he couldn't eat any more. He rode all of the rides he wanted to...and before we knew it, it was starting to get dark. Did we really just stay at the State Fair ALL DAY? Yes. Yes, we did.

Gage will testify: we had a GREAT day! $30 for valet parking? TOTALLY WORTH IT when I was dead tired and dragging myself and two littles back to the entrance to head home.

We had a great day. I'm so glad we went!