Family Outing

This weekend we had another family first…. Going out in public!  I was starting to get restless at the house and wanted to see how hard it would be to get the family out of the house.  We spent the whole week before trying to decide where to go – it’s too hot to be outside, it had to be somewhere fun for Bryan, and it had to be somewhere manageable for 2 double strollers!  We thought about the Dallas Boat Show, but didn’t know if Bryan would enjoy that…. He loves animals, but the zoo is too hot and crowded…  Dallas World Aquarium is too big, and crowded… Fair Park Aquarium was just right!!  Thankfully, Katie and Cerah decided to join us so Bryan had a playmate and we had an extra set of hands.

The plan was to leave after the second set of bottles on Saturday morning, which is generally around 10:30.  As usual, when I make plans, the kids don’t cooperate!!  Bryan didn’t get up until 10:00, which was great because he wouldn’t need a nap until late afternoon!  The babies slept until 11:00, so we were running a little behind schedule, but no big deal, I had extra time to pack!

By 11:45, we had everyone in the van along with formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, snacks, extra clothes, and 2 double strollers.  We met up with Katie by the aquarium, and we were off!   

The first thing they came to was the alligator.  Cerah and Bryan spent 15 minutes running around this area checking him out!!  Bryan loved him so much we ended up leaving with a stuffed alligator which he named Tick Tock and now sleeps with!

*The name comes from Peter Pan, the Tick Tock Croc.

Checking him out

Posing with the "Tick Tock"

They couldn't get enough

Alligator Snapping Turtle

Sea Horses

Bryan also loved the octopus exhibit.  He had such a good time playing with the fake arms!

Getting Attacked

Octopus Hug

In the aquarium, there is a small shark tank at one end.  Beside that there are risers that you can sit on to watch the sharks.  It quickly became the stage for the Bryan and Cerah show!

They couldn't care less about the sharks!

Poor Trey volunteered to push 2 double strollers so I could chase Bryan....

This is what we looked like...

The other great thing about the Fair Park Aquarium is the shark tank and sting ray bay in the back.  I didn't get pictures on our camera, but Bryan LOVED putting his hands in the sting ray tank.  He wasn't so keen on petting them, but watching them was right up his alley!!

After the aquarium, we had planned to go to lunch, but we couldn't figure out where to take our herd!  Also, we knew that Ruby, William, and Savannah would need to eat, and probably wanted out of the carriers, so we opted to head home.  Katie, though, took Bryan and Cerah to lunch - BRAVE!!  They came back to our house when they were done and played for a little while.  When it was time for Bryan's nap, Aunt Katie offered to take him home with her for a slumber party.  Bryan wanted nothing to do with me after that and just kept saying "Bye Bye, Mommy!"

After he left, it was nap time for the rest of the family....

Proof that they love each other!!

I know I'll need this one day!

Somehow she ended up alone and loving it!

On Sunday, after Bryan got home, Trey decided to take him out in the yard to play in the sprinkler.  He wasn't so sure about it, so we had to keep it pretty low.  After awhile, he warmed up to it and we couldn't get him inside!

Getting Wet

Being Sprayed by Daddy

Getting Revenge!