Family Fun in Dallas w/Jen's

When we get to have time with family, I'm back to the old Momma, cleaning, shopping, planning everything around meals.  It's who I am and what I do.  Jen's family is arriving this afternoon and staying until Sunday around noon - all 7 of them.  Bekah is not coming, but their exchange student from the Netherlands is.  I am excited and a bit stressed to get everything done in time, but by 1, the house is clean, dinner is prepped, bread is rising, we are showered and dressed and heading to the zoo to meet up for some fun.

It's a great day out and Jen's first request is the hippos as she has not seen them yet.  A quick look at the schedule shows the keeper talk at 2:30 and it's 2:00 now, however, the okapi talk is at 2:15 and right next to the hippos.  Walking at a brisk pace with few stops gets us there to enjoy and learn.

Oh, the okapi.

Next up is hippos and the keeper talk - while they are training for wellness checks.  I love these two so very much.  This is Mom, Boipelo.

With Adanna

Onto the gorilla trail -- and we spot both of the Rock Hyrax, a rarity.  How fun.

The boys are always taking advantage of a moment to sit down.  Here, the chimpanzees are in front of them.  Then the required "climb on the elephant" moment in which two cameras are too confusing and no one looks the right way either time.  It's okay.  I love that they just do this still.

Some giraffe feeding -- I didn't get pictures of everyone, but tried. Jacob first.

Then Luka

Jared and Jon preparing to feed this beauty.

Jen

Back through the tunnel and off to Zoo North where we check out the Children's Zoo, Reptile Building and all other areas while waiting for the lights to come on.  Some of the animals have already gone to bed, but we manage to see a lot of them still.  And here come the lights -

Family Picture op -

with Luka

And that's it for this evening.  Back to the house for dinner and pavlova, then a massive game of Password before this old lady wants to go to bed.  I'm so glad they are here and making memories to  hold me through a few months. (Don't stop reading . . . . . )

Saturday - Starting off with German pancakes and sausage for breakfast, bellies are full and we are going to make a day of it.  First up is the Bishop Cidercade - an arcade with close to 200 machines from various decades.  What a great place and concept.  Ten dollars gets you in with unlimited play.  Drinks are extra and a food truck is also available.  Think date night.  The first group effort is at Mario Kart, while Jen and I discover basketball.  We played both spots at once and I scored 18 which means I made 6 baskets.  Not bad for someone with no upper body strength at all.  We don't know her score because the machine wasn't keeping track.  So sad.

I start to wander around trying to get pictures of everyone playing around.  We arrived here just as it was opening so have the place pretty much to ourselves at the moment.

There is a LONG row of pinball machines and I find my favorite one, The Munsters.  They used to have it at Nickelrama, but it left and I'm wondering if this place may have bought it.  It's fun and has the advantage of me being able to understand it.  So many of the newer "superhero" and "warrior" ones are so confusing to me.

Table top fun.

Mister, learning a game or two as well.  Standing in one place only works for me for about an hour and I have to enjoy a sit down with a glass of Pineapple Cider.  Yum.  Even though it is raining outside, it's warmer than inside and dry in the covered area.

After a short break, I'm wandering around again looking to see where everyone is and what they are playing.  My heart is happy when I spot the groups playing together.  Grandpa, Jon and Luka in some type of race game.

I think the biggest hit is the Mario Kart.  Every chance they get, they take over all four seats for a quick competition as all games can be linked together.

At one point the whole group is trying to play Killer Queen.

I'm not sure it was a big hit, though, as I never really saw it again.  Another trek to the pinball machines for me and I have a couple of really good games standing next to Luka.  Yes, he has moved, but not often.

Even Jen gives them a whirl.

Friendly hubby/wife race and before you know it, we have killed 3 hours here.  Wow.  Lunch at a Mexican restaurant and a visit to the DMA is up next before Mister and I return to the house to start dinner.  Ham, mac & cheese, and a veggie are ready to go and an early dinner lets us fit in Maleficent 2: Mistress of Evil at the movie theater.  This has been a very full day.  Some yummy dessert of Cranberry Shiver or leftover Pavlova or cookies and everyone is pretty tired after that, so we call it a night without games or anything.  Whew.

Sunday - It's a very sleepy bunch and at 10:00 Mister and I finally give up and go out to the kitchen to start breakfast.  We've stayed in our room because bodies are sleeping all over the house.

Every room has someone in it, except the kitchen and bathrooms.  A full house is a happy house and we've managed to work it all out once again, with the only issue being that somehow my blow up bed appears to have gained a hole in it since I got it back from the Houston use in August.  We're going on a "air leak hunt" Monday.  Yay!!!

At any rate, once they are all fed, showered, and dressed it's off to Six Flags for them and we have time with Mister's family to prepare for.  I have loved having them here and can't wait for them to return.  I wish it happened more often, but realize their busy schedules don't really allow for it.  I'll take what I can get and be content.  Until next time -- love y'all to the moon and back.