March 25, 2018

When it's a Daddy-and-kids Sunday, and your kids have a plan of what to do....you do it!

You both wanted to go to Fair Park: Aquarium, lunch, scooters.

So I said 'YES!' How could I say 'no' to these faces?

We all brought our journals and sketched some animals.

We saw a feeding of piranhas and cichlids.

You wheeled around the grounds.

We walked the tentacle sculpture.

We hung out with the mammoth.

We were together. We went home and picked up Mommy to go to dinner. It was a great day...with great people. Just a small blip in the radar of our lives together.

But it was just a great day. I love you both so, so much, and wish such great days for you us well into the future, and for you and your children one day too!

The Year of the Monkey

Last year's Chinese New Year festivities left such an impression on both of you, that you were excited to go again. I was too!

 

Remember last year how we didn't know that the Lion/Dragons would demand to be fed money, so you Aidan fed them trash and they bit your butt? Not this year! That's right: your daddy remembered cash this year!

 

So with cash in hand, we sweatered up, loaded up, and headed to downtown Dallas.

 

Aidan, last year you were decidedly unafraid of the lion dancers. This year was definitely no different. You are bold, brave, strong, and curious, and you eagerly went up to many different Chinese New Year lion dancers to feed them money and pet them.

 

 

 

Julia, last year, you did not like the Lions. You didn't want anything to do with them. You were glued to my lap. You cried. But...then again, you were excited to go back this year.

 

2016 Chinese New Year didn't look like it was going to be any different for you. I mean...just look at the look on your face.

But...then you got a little brave and left my lap to go near one of the lions...

Then, perhaps inspired by your brother's "enthusiasm" you happily and willingly ventured even closer and closer:

And then, in a moment of pure courage...you reached out and TOUCHED one of them!

You were so proud of yourself, and I was (and am) too! Way to go, Jules!

 

 

The lions had to stop dancing eventually, so the three of us enjoyed some live music...

 

 

...some costumes...

...some selfies...

 

 

...and then made our way over to Klyde Warren Park for running and playing...

 

...cool snacks on the ever-warming day...

 

... a quick and ill-advised, but still fun- dip:

 

 

...and then some soaking wet swing-dancing lessons!

 



 

You know...just a father, daughter, and son monkeying around downtown to ring in the year of the monkey!

 

Peter Pan

On a cold November day, we went downtown to a beautiful, white tent that had been erected amongst the skyscrapers, and we went inside...to London...and to Neverland.

We saw an amazingly cool production of Peter Pan where wires and a 360 digital screen made the actors really able to fly.

We got popcorn and cotton candy and we were taken away to an awesome adventure.

You guys were awestruck from the moment we walked in the tent and saw the pirates playing some ditties as part of a pre-show.

And when the lights went down, you were emerged in the show.

Aidan, you were really pissed when Tootles shot the Wendy Bird...and even more upset when Captain Hook killed Tiger Lilly...you yelled some choice words at him. But, when he got his due from the Tic-tock croc, you laughed giddily. Hook gave up and let the croc take him, shouting "Take Me Home!" You loved that, and still quote it today!

Julia, prior to this event, when asked what you wanted to be when you grow up, you said "a flying mermaid." Before this event, that was not really practical. But after we say aerial ribbon acrobats acting as mermaids and flying high above our heads, that seems a definite possibility. 

You both loved how Tinkerbell threw HUGE tantrums. And we all had an amazing adventure.

“To live will be an awfully big adventure.”  

Here's to many, many more adventures!