Children's Museum of Dallas

Today's journey started out a little rough. Before coming to Dallas, I looked up the CMofD, got the cost, details and directions to the museum. As we headed to where the directions told us to go, which was a 40 minute drive, we discovered we missed the mark. We called information and the lady said, "I am not pulling up a Children's Museum of Dallas." Wow, what a big help and you are so very lazy lady because all you do is go to Google, type in Children's Museum of Dallas, and BAM! It's there. My mom called a lady she works with who had just gone and she was like, "Oh, I meant I went to the one in Ft. Worth, but there is one in Fairpark." Grrrrr. So I called my husband and BAM! he pulled it up and with the same directions I found. Well, come to find out, they were directions to a little hole in the wall children's place and the one I wanted was in Fairpark, which was another 15 minute drive. So, we finally get there and there are absolutely no signs that say Children's Museum...just signs for Natural Science, Planetarium, Imax, yadayadayada. Not what I am wanting. We drive around and I run into this one building and tell him what I am looking for and BAM! We finally arrive at our destination. Phew!
I so wanted to chew someone out for posting the directions they did and let them know how confusing it was. However, once we arrived and got started, it was a great museum and Joe had a blast.

This was by far his favorite place. It was called, The Backyard. It was a place he could climb up and down things and that he did for a very long time.

I just wanted to get a snapshot of a 1/4 of their museum. It was such a cool layout. Here is the lego table, construction zone, science discovery, musical discovery, and drama areas.

This was the water zone. When we first arrived, I saw some kids with these plastic coverings on over their clothes and some kids without their shirts on. I thought, "Oh please, it's just a little water." Well, as you can see...I succumbed to taking off his shirt.
Oh, he loved this huge duckie.

Joe on the stage laughing at himself in the mirror.

After the Discovery Farm, we made our way to the Firetruck Jungle Gym thingy. He loved this!

The kids could dress up with firemen's hats and coats. We couldn't get a good picture with the hat and coat on at the same time. Well, we did, but he is screaming in the picture and we like to post only happy memories.

Here we are 'milking' a FAKE cow. When my dad saw this picture, he thought it was a real cow.

I thought these pedaled tractors were so cute. I couldn't tell who made them, because if I found out, I would so get one.

Puddles

Tuesday we just stuck around the house and did a little of this and a little of that. Monday evening, Joseph discovered puddles. Here he is Tuesday playing in one on the back porch. In this particular picture, I am pretty sure he sipped some water. I was looking down at something and when I looked back at him, I could hear him slurping. So gross!!!!

Going Away Party

Saturday night we joined the Vowell's for a farewell party for Travis. We had some good eatin', visitin' and playin'. Today was the first day that I wasn't sore from hot box. (Never heard of this game? One of the funniest games I have ever played with the Kirklins. That and four square.)

Monkey See

Monkey Do

Monkey Get In Trouble Too!

I thought these were some cute pictures of Mark and Jack talking to Joseph. It looks like Joe is asking the older boys if he can play and then Mark and Jack are explaining a game to him. I can't wait for him to run around and really get to play with the boys. Hopefully they won't mind their younger cousin at their coat tails.

This is why

This is why we don't let men do or buy things without women's input!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7EVwIdrEyk

4 Years Ago Today

Today marks another amazing milestone. This day four years ago, Jeff proposed to me in front of 38,000 Astros Fans. I was really surprised and was not expecting it at all.
We started the morning by going to church and then we made our way to the game. After the proposal, I realized that he had been acting different. Right before the 5th inning, we made our way to the food court to get something to eat. I told him I was going to go to this one place and he said he was going to go to another place to get food. I said, "Ok, lets meet back by the entrance to our seats and then go sit down together." He ended up not coming right back and I was like, "Where in the world is he!" Come to find out, he was meeting the camera man who was going to film the proposal.
I waited for a few minutes and then decided to go and meet him where I thought he was going to get food. After not finding him, I headed back to my original meeting place. On my way back, I ran into Wayne and Melissa. I thought to myself, that was a weird coincidence. I shrugged it off and finally found Jeff. I saw that he didn't have any food and was like, why aren't you eating?
Soooo, we made our way down to our seats and the kiss cam came on. Down came this cameraman and the enormous camera right on me. I was so embarrassed and was trying so hard to not look at him. Jeff nudged me and pointed to the jumbo traun. I leaned over to kiss him and he kind of pulled away. I was like, "What are you doing?" He then popped back up, kissed me and then got down on one knee. My stomach just sang and I had a huge sigh of relief that he was finally going to ask me.
We have the proposal on video and I was wanting to post it today, but we don't yet have a program that can rip dvds. As soon as we get one, I will upload it.
I was so shaky and just beaming. Right after the proposal, Marnie came to congratulate us. Turned out the entire family was there and watched it. Jeff tried to get my folks to come down, but my dad had family in.
The reason Jeff didn't get any food? His parents were going to take us to Bennihana's to celebrate...mmmmmmm. Unfortunately, I couldn't eat from being so shaky and still didn't eat for about a week afterwards.
The most amazing thing about this entire proposal was that when Jeff and I were at A&M, we would eat dinner at the same place every single night and with the same group (Mark, Kimmi, and Paul). Those nights are some of the best memories I have of A&M. We would just sit and talk and laugh for hours. My face would literally hurt from laughing so much at dinner. But one night in particular stands out. Now, this is before Jeff and I were even dating. We, well, Kimmi and I, the guys just listened, got to talking about our dream proposals. At that time, I was a huge New York Yankees fan. I started telling them that I would love to be taken to New York and be proposed to at a Yankees game. After Jeff proposed, I couldn't believe he had remembered that night and actually made my dream come true. It just proves that I have the most amazing husband!
It has been an amazing four years and I am so appreciative that he mustered up the courage to propose to me in front of 38,000 people.

Meant to....

I meant to blog this yesterday, but my day got away from me and I was busy with some other post. But yesterday marked 2 years to the day when I found out I was pregnant with Joseph. It was like any other Sunday morning. I got up to get ready for church. I had a little bit of a back ache, but that is usual for me because I have always had lower back pain since I was a child. Well, it was the day to, well you know, so I thought just for fun I would take a pregnancy test. Jeff was already ready for church and was in the kitchen having breakfast. I secretly went into the bathroom and took a pregnancy test. To my surprise 2 lines quickly appeared. That, and holding Joe for the first time, was one of the coolest feelings I have ever had. I always dreamed how I would feel when I saw 2 lines. I also dreamed about ways to tell Jeff. I thought about wrapping the test and giving it to him, waiting till my appointment and framing the picture, etc. I couldn't wait! All stunned, I went out to the kitchen and said, "Jeff, I might be pregnant." He was so surprised and we went back to the bathroom to look at the test again. Me and my insecure test taking skills said, "I could have done it wrong; it could be reading wrong since it's a dollar store test," and some other excuses followed. We went to church, both glowing with excitement, and had to hide it all morning. To make matters worse, we went to an Astro's game with Marnie and Poppy and had to keep quiet. After the game we came home and went and bought a more expensive test and took that to confirm our excitement. I believe I ended up taking about 5 test just to make sure.
So, we didn't tell anyone for about 2 weeks, which wasn't much fun because I wanted to shout it on top of the mountain. I ended up telling my family and Jeff's family because I was being called in to interview for a public school teaching job that Leslie was hooking me up with. I wanted to be honest with the principal and not make Leslie look bad since she had been talking me up and pushed for me to get this interview. So, I spread the news to a few people, but I think a lot more found out before I publicly announced it.
Anyway, I hope this wasn't a waste of your time. I just wanted to remember this wonderful day. I still can't believe he is here and what a joy he is in our lives. I can remember looking into his empty crib before he was here and thought it was going to be forever when he slept there. Now he takes up most of the crib.
God bless

G-n-P's visit

This past weekend my parent's came in and we stayed busy. After I picked them up from Hobby, we went straight over to Kemah to eat some lunch and ride some rides.

Joe and Papaw

This picture reminds me of the movie, even though I have just seen the previews for it, Blair Witch Project. But in reality, it is Joe not wanting to be on the train because he can still see me.
"I guess I will ride this train!"

A little tid bit, children 2 and under can ride 4 of the rides free and have one accompanying adult free as well at Kemah. (Train not included)

Saturday we spent the morning at Frankie Carter Park and then in the afternoon we went outside and played in the water.

Joe and Grammy sharing some birthday cake and icecream.

Another booboo.

We ended the weekend by Joe falling off our front porch step and scrapping his nose and forehead. FYI, I do watch my child, he just hasn't learned to fall with style yet.

Joe with his fresh booboo.

The day after.

Goin' to the Zoo

Going to the zoo this week has been our new thing. This was the first time I really enjoyed taking Joe and not feeling exhausted afterwards. He loved being out of the stroller and just walking everywhere. He loves the children's area, petting zoo and spray park. We went twice this week and just had a blast!

Joe and I on the carousel.

Joe at the petting zoo. One thing I have discovered lately is that my child isn't afraid on anything. He was so cute petting the goats. He just walked right up to them and started touching them... I thought he wouldn't want to be put down at first. He was even pushing the goats out of his way to get where he wanted to go. One time he was standing nose to nose with a goat..it was so cute, but I wasn't quick enough with my camera.
Joe going through an under water tunnel.
An elephant painting.
We look like we are enjoying the train ride more than Joe.

Our Wittle Bunny Wabbit

Our little bunny.

"Where are you, you wittle wascally wabbit?"
The bunny behind the workbench.
This is Jeff using a stick that has nails in it, don't worry though, no bunnies were injured during the rescue mission.

Friday morning Joseph wanted in the backyard to play. I was going to let him out, but realized I had one of his pools full of water in the back yard. So, I proceeded over to the pool to drain it so my child wouldn't fall in. First, I spotted this nasty lime green frog in the water. I screamed because it went swooshing by my hand when I went to pull the drain. After I started draining the pool, I picked it up to empty the rest of the water out and out ran this little rabbit. Scared me to death! It stopped and sat in the grass so I called Joe over to look at it and he walked right over and scooped him up. I freaked and was like, "put it down." I didn't know what it would do, so Joe did as I said and threw it down and then threw his ball that he was holding at it.

Fast forward to arriving home after our YMCA workout and the bunny was in our front yard just chillin. We all went over there to look at him and off he ran. Joe followed him trying to snatch him up again. Eventually, the bunny ran into the garage and behind the work bench. So, this is how we spent about 45 minutes of our Friday morning...trying to rescue this bunny. We tried blowing the blower on it(hoping it would freak him out and he would run out), but it just blew the bunny under the workbench more. The successful tool...a golf club.
Then Saturday I was doing yard work and two more bunnies scurried from behind the air conditioning unit. I think there was a nest around our house somewhere. And what's really funny about these cute wittle bunnies, is last week I noticed my flowerbeds were being dug up...around the bushes. My interesting neighbor has a chicken, yes, a nasty lookin' chicken, so I thought it might be that animal and was going to shoot it with the pellet gun if I saw it in my yard again. Glad it didn't come to that.

Happy Birthday

MMMMMMMMMMAWWWWWW! Happy Birthday Grammy! Hope your day is wonderful and congrats on 5* wonderful years. You are the best mom and Grammy and we love you so much.