Texas Day 1 - Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens

Our travel day to Dallas was just that - a travel day. We spent the morning getting ready for the trip. Dylan went to school while Mike and I packed up (and entertained Cade of course) then picked Dylan up just a few minutes early and headed straight for the airport. This being the first time we flew as a family of four, Mike and I were a little nervous. But, it went without major drama other than a small delay taking off. The boys did great on the plane. It was challenging to keep a wiggly baby happy and entertained for almost 4 hours but I did. Dylan was easy as pie. After we were cleared to do so on the plane, we got out the iPad and Dylan happily played games for the whole flight. By the time we got to Dallas, the focus was dinner, letting Dylan and Cade enjoy their Mimaw and Pipaw and doing a little settling in. When you're in a place for a week, it is necessary to actually unpack. So, the running around fun didn't start until the next day.

My parents have a membership to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. My Mom goes there so much she considers it her own personal garden and was very excited to share one of her favorite places with her grand kids....and us, of course. Hey, I get it. Now that we have kids, we're not the main source of excitement anymore. I'm okay with that (for the most part).

Any who, even though the weather felt like summer to us, it was indeed fall and the arboretum had decorated accordingly with tons and tons of pumpkins. Since pumpkins are pretty much one of Dylan's favorite things, he was in hog heaven. Also of enjoyment was the special Chihuly exhibit which was installations of the artist's glass sculptures. They were breathtaking!

Chihuly Sculpture

A Small Part of the Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkin Hut

Mimaw, Dylan and Pipaw
Cade was snoozing when this picture was taken.

Swan Gourd Lake

Chihuly Sculpture

Dylan had a great time playing around the frog fountains.

Pipaw held his shoes.

Chihuly Lily Pads
Mimaw and Pipaw's favorite!

Infinity Pond Overlooking White Rock Lake

Mimaw and Dylan

After making a round of some of the arboretum, we had to get back to the pumpkin patch for a few more pictures now that Cade was awake and Dylan was getting mighty tired.

Me, Cade, Pipaw, Dylan and Some Random Kid
Big thanks to the mom who didn't let us have
our full turn after waiting in line for a photo op.

Family Pic

Mimaw, Pipaw and the Boys

There were also a couple of small world moments during the day. While at the arboretum, we ran into a parent of one of my high school friends and a parent of one of my elementary school friends both of which were volunteers there.

Day 1 was fun and more leisurely than the rest of the week. We had to take it just a little easy to recuperate from the travels and to rest up for day 2 which was one of big excitement for me - a day at the great State Fair of Texas!