Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Dallas Day Date

Last Friday was forecasted to be a little bit rainy and so we decided to make the most of it and head into Dallas.

First stop was the Perot Museum for a 3-D movie and some exploring...



This was Griffin's first 3-D movie and she was a LITTLE bit overwhelmed.... but overall they all loved it :)










After the museum we met my brother (who works as an architect in the West End) for lunch at a taco place about a block away from the museum.


It smelled DELICIOUS, there were plants growing out of old toilets and they served breakfast tacos all day.  We ordered, found a table and were waiting for our food when it started to sprinkle.  And then drizzle. And then we were sitting in an absolute DOWNPOUR with absolutely no cover (those things that look like covers provide shade but not any actual rain protection).  As everyone at the stand was trying to cram underneath that tiny little awning the kitchen door of the adjoining restaurant opened and a PRECIOUS waitress led us through the kitchen and to the one empty seat at the bar of a packed house.  We scarfed down tacos, chips and queso huddled around one bar stool as we waited for the rain to end.  It was an adventure if nothing less!  And the tacos were DELISH!

There was a break in the rain and so we packed up super quickly and headed back out.  Mark was headed to the DART and we were heading to the aquarium.



It's been several years since we've visited the Dallas World Aquarium and we were all so excited to check it out.  

The first thing you see when you walk in is penguins - so you know it's going to be a good time!


There's a sloth just hanging out in that tree...


... and the whole place is BEAUTIFUL!  (humid and kind of smelly - but beautiful!) :)






These rays were by far Griffin's favorite part.  They followed her hands along the glass and she was absolutely enthralled.


I mean!  It's a waterfall (there were monkeys in those trees!) in the middle of downtown Dallas.  Pretty awesome!


 Manatees and turtles...


 and Nemo and Dory!!!




My favorite part is the "shark tunnel".  It's pretty magical.









And we finished the visit off with a stop to see the jaguar...


... and the flamingos.



There was some sort of squabble happening among a group of the flamingos and the kids got the absolute giggles over it.  ;)




A quick walk back to the car in the rain and we were all ready to sit for a bit on the way home :)


The 35-minute trip home turned in to close to two hours due to TONS of rain and water on the road and several accidents.  The kids all napped and I swung through Starbucks before pulling in at home because SO MUCH TRAFFIC!

It was such a fun day and one of "those moments" where I realized that my crew really is comprised of "big kids" now!  Literally all I brought with me that day was a handful of baby wipes stuffed into a ziplock bag and four TJ's granola bars.  The end.  No stroller, diapers, sippy cups, changes of clothes, extra underwear or pacifiers and we didn't have to worry about being home at a certain time for naps (or meltdowns because of lack of naps) ;)   It was bittersweet - but definitely more on the sweet side.  I am so looking forward to days of exploring with this crew!

PS - despite a 3D movie, morning at the museum and afternoon at the aquarium the part of the day that they can't stop talking about was after lunch when a car went around the corner we were waiting on and sprayed water on all of us :)  #itsthelittlethings 

27 comments :

  1. What a fun Friday and such a great way to kick off SUMMER BREAK!!

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    1. Yes ma'am!!! We need to head to the Perot together this summer!

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  2. Despite a few setbacks I'm pretty sure my kidsfavorite part of the day would have beennolants growing out of toilets at a restaurant. Ha!
    http://www.lettinginthelightblog.com

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    1. It was pretty awesome - they even had toilet seats suspended that you tried to swing washers (which were on strings) through :)

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  3. Ha. Don't ya just love kiddos. All that time, money and planning and all they can talk about is getting sprayed by a car. I absolutely love it. Thanks for keeping it real.

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  4. Ah! There were so many cute stories in this one post!! What a great day!

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    1. Thanks, friend!!! One of my favorite Dallas memories will always be you holding Mason's hand on the corner because he refused to hold mine - while he was pantless ;)

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  5. What a fun day!! We are getting to the same point as you with our kiddos and bittersweet is the perfect word to describe it!

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    1. Right?!?! It's so much easier and so much fun BUT then I see a baby in a stroller and get #allthefeels :)

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  6. What a fun way to spend a rainy day! Love that, mama!

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  7. What a fun day!! We can't wait to get our summer started!

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  8. Haha. I love your last sentence. We do our three highlights at dinner every night and without fail on grocery days, my girls ALWAYS say going to the grocery store was a highlight. As soon as they can drive, I'm sending them all by themselves because it's one of my least favorite errands! ;)

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    1. This comment made me smile :) ..... I couldn't wait until my girls were old enough to drive and they would LOVE to run errands for me. Now one is married and lives 2.5 hrs away and the other is working in our family business but if I need something, she is so sweet to get it after her day at work and drop it off to her mama! ENJOY!

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    2. Awwww!!! So funny! My kids love grocery day too... but I think that's because I push them around in the cart while they snack on fresh tortillas and get balloons :)

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  9. I am with you! My kids require nothing for a day trip and I have to admit it's pretty sweet! Dallas looks like so much fun!

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    1. It's weird! But I don't think it will take me long to get used to it. hahaha

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  11. Yes, it's bittersweet, but there is FREEDOM in "big kids!" Welcome to the club...though I'm not far ahead of you (my youngest is only 5).

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    1. It just hit me all of a sudden when I was packing up for the day - it's so nice to be able to just "go" and not have to bring anything!

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  12. Your last paragraph kind of made me tear up....it is so bittersweet but mostly sweet I agree! It's crazy how life just changes and we are on to the next chapter! I still have diapers and a 2 year old but I am seeing the next chapter just ahead. I also loved that your kids will remember the car spraying and the downpour at lunch. What fun memories to share as you kick off summer. Thanks for sharing it with us. xoxo ERIN

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  13. Can we just talk about those braids in G's hair!? You are rocking it mama!
    Also...I just bought my first pair of Native's for my biggest daughter last week. They are even cuter in person. Thanks for getting me hooked! Have a super week!

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  14. Looks like you all had a very fun day!

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  15. What a fun day!! Perot and aquirum....WOWZERS. Have you ever thought about taking the TRE to Perot? It's kinda a walk but the train ride is sooo fun.

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  16. We are edging into the big kid stage with our three and I'm so so excited. Despite the youngest still being in diapers, (I"M SO DONE) I've stopped taking a diaper bag to day care. I am just done carrying around so. much. stuff.

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