Girls Weekend in Texas

Jeff has had a pretty crazy semester with school and work. This doctorate thing will be worth it, but it sure is hard!!  He wanted to make sure I had a fun girl's weekend before the baby gets here. With his school schedule this semester, January ended up being the best time for me to go. So I was able to escape the Utah winter and head to beautiful Texas for a weekend with my Mother & Sisters (in-law). 

It was SO MUCH fun and such a wonderful wonderful break.

I had a great flight and was able to READ the whole time. Oh how I love books.

Mom (Jeanne), Amanda, Amy, & Rachel all picked me up and we headed to a hotel in downtown Fort Worth. After we checked in we went straight to dinner at Joe T. Garcia's.  It has the coolest atmosphere and is the BIGGEST restaurant I've ever been to. We have a picture of all of us in front of a fountain that I need to get from someone...I'll post it later! 

But here is the restaurant from outside:

Then we went back to the hotel, freshened up a bit and headed out to check out the town. Here's the view from our window:

After browsing the shops (and Barnes & Noble, LOVE) we headed back to the hotel where we celebrated Amy's & Rachel's Birthday with Nothing Bundt Cakes. Mmmmm.. Heaven on a plate.  

Then, of course, we stayed up late talking & laughing and talking & laughing. 

It was awesome!!

Since we were on the 10th or 13th (or something like that) floor, we had quite a few elevator rides.  So we had some fun with the elevator's ceiling mirror:

Saturday there was a rodeo in town, so we were able to watch a bit of the parade after breakfast:

And then we walked through a bunch of the shops. We had to get a pic in some cowboy hats, so fun:

So my jacket looks like a duster with that hat! Oh well...

We also went to the movies, shopped, and had a wonderful day together!!  

That night I stayed at Joe & Amanda's. Amanda & April through a surprise birthday party for Amy. It was a lot of fun to visit with friends and talk about books, all in celebration of Amy. We love you!!  

Sunday was nice and relaxing. I'm bummed I didn't take any pictures, but I had so much fun with Cole & Owen. They were super cute and had drawn me some pictures. Then, while I was getting ready, Cole had painted another picture and slid it under the bathroom door. Love it. :) I had so much fun playing games with them. I only wish my boys were there for the fun, too!!  

Sunday night I stayed at James & Amy's. They had all the family over for dessert. It is always so good to get to visit with everyone:

Joe, Amanda, Cole, & Owen

Cute Ava(we did some coloring and painting on Monday together. She is such a hoot, love this girl!):

Sweet little Nora was in bed, so I took this the next day (and got my fill of girl cuddles in while I could!):

The kids had so much fun playing with Guy & Sharon:

Love Grandpa & Grandma Dean:

Guy & Sharon:

Jonathan & Rachel stayed to hang out after the rest of the family went home. We played Just Dance on the Kinect and laughed our heads off. Pretty much the funniest night ever:

Watch out! Prego-lady busting a move (kind of scary!)

Monday was another fun day. We went to the Half Price Bookstore (love that place!!) and then met Mom & Dad for lunch.  Then we headed over to Jonathan & Rachel's cute new apartment.  They gave me a Cliff's Donut that I saved for Jeff (yes, this is important!!  And then we left for the airport, where I got in some more reading. ah, bliss. :)

It was a whirlwind trip that was such a great break and a wonderful reminder of just how much I love family. It was just the weekend I needed to recharge and gear up for this next semester of craziness!!  

I am so lucky to have such an amazing family on both sides.  I truly truly wish we lived closer  to any or all of them.  We had a few years close to siblings (the last ones leave in the spring, boo)...you don't realize, until everyone is far away, how much it meant to have them close.  We miss the visits, the quick stops to say hi, the babysitting swaps, the birthday parties with tons of family, and just having people around who you can rely on because they are family. Families are meant to be there for each other. Maybe for some people being far away is better, but not for me. I need family and it is has been so hard to have that slowly go away.  

In the meantime, we will especially enjoy our trips like this. 

They are jam-packed full of everything great & remind us just how much we love each other. 

Okay, mushiness over. 

I couldn't have gone on this awesome trip, without this man's help. The boys love Love LOVED their Guys' weekend with dad. They had a slumber party in the living room, tricked dad into TWO nights out to eat (Weston's doing), and were spoiled with his TIME. They have missed having him around, so it was an especially sweet weekend for them.

Thanks, babe, from every bit of my heart. 

It wasn't nearly a big enough thank you, but he did enjoy EVERY SINGLE bit of that Cliff's Donut!

Texas Trip - July 7th- Last Hurrah at the Splash Park

Our last night in Texas was spent at the Splash Pad. We had been meaning to go, but with all of the other things, this had gotten forgotten. I am SO glad we ended our trip here. It was the best splash pad we've ever been to. We will definitely be spending more time here on our next visit! 

Ryder thought the water was great fun:

Tave & Owen waiting for the water:

West & Cole being silly:

Cute little Ava splashing:

I know I already got one of Ryder, but I love the water in this:

Their favorite spout was the one biggest one, it was super strong and they thought it was hilarious:

I LOVE this shot of Cole:

Amy & Nora.  

I am so blessed to have married into a family with AMAZING sister in laws. Seriously, I don't know what I would do without them and I am so grateful we are such good friends. My aunt gave my mom this little saying years ago:  Sisters by chance, friends by choice. I  never really got what it meant, until now.  I am so glad that we have chosen to be friends and hope our friendships last forever. 

Because we're pretty much going to be in the same wonderful family for that long!

The amazing men in the family: (we miss you Jonathan & Rachel!) 

Once we were done in the water we headed to the sand pits.  

The guys played horseshoes, or ring toss...

And here are the boys...this picture cracks me up because they are each doing their own thing:

We seriously could have stayed here for hours, the boys loved it! Which means the adults did too!!

It was the perfect end to the perfect trip.

We had a wonderful, wonderful vacation and are so glad we were able to spend so much time with our family (sickness and all!)  Thanks everyone!!

Texas Trip - July 6th-7th - Cabelas, Date Night & Saying Goodbye

We had one last hurrah to say goodbye to most everyone.  

We met Grandpa & Grandma Dean and Guy & Sharon at Cabelas for lunch.

Mom, Joe, Amanda & the boys, and Erin & Luke met us there also!

We love all of the animals. They have the neatest displays:

Our little family with Grandpa & Grandma Dean:

Our little family with Guy & Sharon:

The cute cute boys with their pop guns. They ABSOLUTELY LOVED these guns and had so much fun playing with them the entire time we were there. So much fun, in fact, that Aunt Sharon decided to get them each one. Thanks Sharon!!

 Jeff's cousin & her hubby, Erin & Luke,  came up for a quick visit.  We had dinner with them at Joe & Amanda's the  night before and then they joined us for lunch here. It was so fun to hang out with them and get to know them better!! 

These boys have way too much fun together. It is so fun to sit back and watch them play:

Me & Amanda. 

I LOVE this girl. I feel so lucky to have a sister in law who is such a wonderful and truly amazing friend.

Someday maybe we'll live close enough to get to hang out on a weekly basis. (if I don't drive her crazy!) Miss you. :)

DATE NIGHT:

That night we got a babysitter and went on a date with Mom & Dad.  I love all the fun we have with kiddos, but it is always so wonderful to have quality adult time as well. I love spending time with them and talking the night away. It was great:

JULY 7th:

Since Mom & Dad were packing up and heading to Estes Park with her family, we packed up a day early and went to Joe & Amanda's for our last day. I HATE saying goodbye. Really hate it.  

We got one last shot with the kiddos and the grandparents on our final day with them:

And here are a few fun ones of Mom & Ryder playing one day:

We love you so much Mom & Dad!! 

Thank you for a wonderful, memorable, and amazing vacation!!

Texas Trip - July 5th - Legoland & Rainforest Cafe

One of the BIG activities we wanted to do was Legoland. 

It was definitely a hit with the kiddos!!

Mom & Dad took the two littles: Ryder & Nora to walk the mall while we went inside and had a blast!

It's all indoors, which made for some seriously weird lighting, so forgive the photos.

Loved the awesome lego motorcyle:

Weston:

Tave:

Cole:

Ava:

 Somehow I missed Owen...bummer!

They loved playing in the big lego playground:

The lego scenes were incredible.  Here is Dallas Cowboys stadium:

They have Duplo town, where there are big legos to build with and my kids loved climbing them:

James, Amy, & Ava:

Joe, Amanda, Cole, & Owen one of the three rides. 

We rode all three. And loved them.

 (If you happen to go to this legoland in Dallas, just be warned: there are only three rides and you only get to ride them each once. Weird? I agree.) 

After the rides, the kids had a blast building a car to race on the track. The dad's were a big help with these. I didn't know what I was doing!

And then we went to the 4D lego show! SO COOL and cute. :)

 (another warning, I think these glasses are where I got pink eye two days later...so bring sanitizing wipes if you are going to EVER wear 3D glasses!)

And here is Jeff with Dirk Nowitzki:

 We loved Legoland. It was a fun change from the typical places we visit.  

Afterwards, we met up with Mom & Dad and we all went out to Rainforest Cafe!
The boys had never been there, so it was a cool experience for all of us!

Each of the kids got to pick a balloon animal, awesome!

I love this shot of all the grandkids (minus Nora who was sleeping!) with Grandma & Grandpa.  

They were so exhausted after Legoland & Rainforest Cafe that they wanted nothing to do with this!!  

Aren't they all so stinkin cute though!!