Dallas Summer 2021

We had a week in Dallas on both ends of our Seattle trip this year. The front end was full of time with friends, mostly swimming because what else do you do when it's humid and 100 degrees?? Texas is hot, hot, hot in July and we are glad there are so many water activities to keep these kids entertained. 

Hello baby big eyes

Making friends with crickets at our lunch stop

We sure love naps

The Jack Carter pool is always a must when we visit in the summer. The kids had a blast splashing and swimming for hours. Davey started out nervous, but then out of nowhere gained an extra dose of bravery to do all the things - waterslides, flo rider, high dive, and even swam to the bottom of the 12 ft pool to retrieve a friend's googles. Way to go little dude!

Grandpa always makes for a comfy spot to sit

Fun day at little elm beach with friends! The kids were slow to warm up to each other after a year of covid isolating but soon bonded over digging out a "hot tub" and turning Dave into a mud monster.

Poor Charlie got a good sunburn on his face even though we applied sunscreen multiple times

We love using our ASTC pass to visit the Perot downtown! 

Mischievous little monkey

Legendary dinner at Pappadeaux's with friends: They gave our reservation away to other groups multiple times. After sitting out in the Dallas summer heat for two hours we got to scheming.  Despite assurances we would not be bumped again, we were, to an online reservation made by someone from our own group. We stole our own spot just to prove to management what was happening 😂 After that our entire meal + dessert was comped. Worth it? Debatable. But it was delicious. And free. 

Video: Dallas Summer Fun 2021

Pool Days on Repeat

Our pool season got off to a late start this year because Amarillo was unseasonably cool for several days at the end of May/beginning of June. In fact, we had days that didn't reach 70° (so weird for Texas) so the pool didn't even open on Memorial Day when it was supposed to. Once it did warm up though, we made sure to visit often. You can't beat swimming as an activity for kids - it both makes them happy and tired at the same time. Win! 

The water was a little chilly on our first visit, but the kids were too excited to care

Davey never got up the courage to try the slow, safe waterslide last year and this year he almost balked again, but decided to go and then loved it

My happy Charlie all snug in his new yellow beach towel

Griffin is always a bit of challenge wherever we go. The pool was no exception because he is now very mobile, but also completely unware of danger and too small still to fit in a puddle jumper. I had to watch him like a hawk at all times. Once he climbed up on a lawn chair and his legs fell through. He was stuck and just kept shuffling from side to side. It was actually nice to have him contained and safe while I packed up all our swim stuff. This chair is hired as my new pool babysitter!

Swim rings would also keep him contained for a short while. For how good he is at climbing, these were tricky for him to escape because he couldn't step over, but they would flip up and make him feel nervous if he tried to crawl out.

Sometimes the fun and the sun wear you out

These girls are the best of friends and are always up to something silly

Enjoying the fountains

It did not take Griffin long to figure out that the drinks with straws were desirable and that he wanted one of his own

This snorkel was too big for Charlie, but he had fun playing with it anyway

We always go through so many snacks during swim season. It makes this kids crazy hungry!

These truly are the best days. Long live summer!!

Good Times at Lake Mackenzie

I pulled Sophie out of summer camp early one day so we could meet friends at Lake Makenzie. It takes an hour to get there on narrow farm roads where you often never pass another car, but the isolation makes it such a nice getaway. And now that I no longer worry about the van getting stuck on the crazy steep hill to get down, it's a much more enjoyable outing!

We arrived around lunch and stayed almost five hours. The water is warm and the kids always play so well here. Bringing the kayak was a game changer, so much that we bought one of our own afterward. The kids loved being able to explore further out from shore and made a trip over to a dead tree that's in the middle of the lake. Someone had tied a rope to a branch and they had fun using it to swing into the water. Next time I want to bring a bag for my phone so I can take pictures of them jumping from the tree. Griffin naturally made things a little challenging, but I was still able to spend time relaxing in the river tubes or chatting with friends.  

These two lake lovers jumped right in when we arrived

Charlie, on the other hand, stayed on shore while I got us all set up for a day of fun on an empty beach

Griffin was a new walker and the sand took him a bit to get used to

Me, with my friends Candice and Erika

Emery brought her kayak and the kids had fun paddling all over. They rode double, and sometimes even triple because everyone wanted a turn to go out for a cruise.

These two are the cutest friends. I would not be at all sad if they got married one day.

Not the normal way to sit in a chair, but he was pretty proud of himself for figuring out how to get in without any help

These boys never get tired of digging

Griffin loved lounging in the shade and watching everyone else play

Sophie made herself into a mud monster right before it was time to go home. So awesome awesome...

Lake days are fun, but exhausting. I hope the kids have some smidgeon of appreciation for the effort that goes into making them happen.