Dallas Here we Come!

Trinity and took a girls only trip over the weekend to see our BFF's Hannah and Amie Donothan. We have a great time getting to see a little of Dallas and the area they live. We went to the Arboretum (very cool) and I ate Chic-Fil-A because Jer made me promise I would. Okay he didn't care that much but he suggested I try it. We had BBQ at Hutchins' and Cliff watched the girls so we could go to a chick flick which I seriously haven't done since Jane Eyre, unless you count Frozen with a gaggle of girls. I don't. As a BONUS we got to see my friend Lynne (from back home when I was young, ah, youth) who moved to Dallas about the same time we moved to the Seattle area. It's really hard to believe she's been there that long! Our kids had fun swimming for the whole morning of our last day. Thank you Hannah for mimosas and driving me all around and for reminding me how good God is to me to have a friend like you. Loves!

 at the entrance to the children's portion there is a large circle of seats and misters

 I thought this was a fund set of abbey jumping down them

 very cool kaleidoscope

 Do. Not. Start. the peace signs and scrunchy faces. You are not a teen nor a twenty-something.

 This holly bush is quite large, apparently some dude spent like 70 years pruning it into a Bonzai tree and the arboretum took it on when he got tired of it. It's root ball was over 12 feet when they moved it. 

 classic photobomb, thanks Amie

 Trinity "asleep" in the wind tunnel. How do these ideas come so natural to kids? No one told her to do it. 

the giant treehouse at the center of the children's part

 Trin was hesitant to jump so high off the ground. These nets were suspended around the tree

 there was lots of misters but I didn't think they were adequate. I may have also sampled a honeysuckle which I'm sure I would have been chastised for had an employee caught me. 

There was a large portion dealing with water, solar, and wind energy. I didn't get many pictures of that or the "weather" station area but the kids enjoyed those parts the most probably. One building housed some incredible digital aspects such as the information GLOBE like you will find at the Seattle Science Center and video that either responded to your touch or allowed you to speed up or go backwards on many nature themed stop motion movies. The children's part took 13 years and 36 million or something like that and I believe it as there are touch screens EVERYWHERE throughout every installation including all the outdoor ones where the kids can hop on and try related games and read related info.

So cute. Ready to head out.

BBQ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

all the girls enjoying their last morning. Hi Renna! Hi Lili!

Easter 2014

We had a wonderful Easter with friends and family. Here are some pics of the kids from our little back-yard egg hunt. Picture overload I know but that's what happens when you live away from family.

get ready, go!

 They were making sure they got the ones they dyed

 what is this we're doing?

 daddy thinks he's clever. . .

 Okay so the next series is adorable but let's just say "candid". it's impossible to get them all to look at the same time but they make up for it in adorableness.

 and. . .I give up

 bossing us around

 bless her heart, big sister tried.

 I like the shadow

 and the picture was supposed to be better with just the older two

 again, double checking the dyed eggs lol

I COULD EAT HIM

adorable or future serial killer?? 

 finally get him smiling and not looking away from me while he travels

 happy with his goodies

 showing his brother how to do "enthusiasm"

 "see, Isaac?" "that means your special!" is what he said. =)

spring edition Skylanders

 "enthusiasm. . .for chocolate!