Mary Poppins.... Practically Perfect

Practically perfect, in every way... (lyrics from a song in Mary Poppins: the musical). We took a trip to Dallas last week to see the show and enjoy Dallas. We had been planning on going to see the show for a long time and even bought the tickets months ago. I was so glad we had already purchased the tickets because it is one of those things that I just know had we waited until the last week or so we would have decided that it wasn't the best way to spend our money with things being a little uncertain for our financial future. But they were purchased! We had to go! :)

Not only did we go, but 4 other families from our small group went as well! What fun!!! Dallas was a mad house! We picked (unknowingly) the weekend of the Texas OU game (which is evidently a BIG deal) and it was also the state fair. It was very hard to find hotel rooms but we all managed to get rooms in this snazzy little Hilton in Southlake. It was quite the amazing little community we were in. There were all sorts of shops and things to do within walking distance.


We walked around our fist night there and hung out in Barnes and Noble and went to eat. The next day we did a little shopping. (Angela - I got to go into Anthropologie for the first time and Jason surprised me with a gift card!!!)

Then it was off to American Girl Place for the girls and the Galleria for the boys (turned out the Galleria was not much fun for little boys but AG was awesome for the girls)


We ate lunch at the Bistro.

Piper loved this brightly striped booth - had to snap a few pictures...

We raced home from AG and got ready for the play. Jason hung out at the hotel with the twins and Piper and another dad with a little one. Here we are sipping our tea and being very British before the play...

There was crazy traffic to compete with but my friend, Andrea, has this amazing GPS that routes you away from the traffic. It was pretty exciting to get there.

I LOVE this ladies...

Here are all the kids...

It really was practically perfect. The play was great. Burt walked up the side of the stage and upside down across it! It was so cool. Mary Poppins even flew out over the audience - right in front of us in the balcony and disappeared through the ceiling.

I only wish it could have been longer. We enjoyed a laid back day on Saturday, window shopping and hanging out with Joby. We still managed to beat traffic and got home in record time.
I am so thankful for my husband for such a great family trip and for my friends who provided the great company.

Best Brothers

I am often sad that I don't have any sisters. Now, while growing up I didn't mind one bit - I liked being the only girl. But now, as a grown up, I wish I had a sister! Especially when I read my blogs by Donna, Denise and Dolly (3 of 5 sisters!!). They have such awesome relationships. I love to read about it.

However... I do have the best brothers in the world!!! This past week was a great reminder of that. On Thursday, I got a box in the mail. Isn't fun to get a package when you weren't expecting it! I opened up this big box and it is from Jack. It is FILLED with makeup and hair products. FILLED!! I could hardly believe it.

I once told a friend in high school that I could swim in a pool of new makeup and be so happy. Pip actually did roll around in this a bit.

I didn't count everything but there were 86 different tubes of lipstick!!!!

How amazing is that?! It took me two days before I finally moved the "display" to my bathroom and start using it. Jack is so awesome (and a HUGE thanks to Johnny for the loot!!). Jack travels a ton and ALWAYS send my kids a postcard from where he goes. He is such a great brother and uncle.

And speaking of great brothers and uncles brings me to Joby. Once a year Joby does "Spontaneous Day" with the kids. Instead of sending them something on their birthday he does this big event with a big treat on a random day in the year. The kids love it. It is always so fun and they always score big time (lat year they got a Wii).

This past weekend Joby surprised the kids by showing up to be their babysitter on Friday night while Jason and I went out. Then he prepared an awesome photo scavenger hunt for them to do on Saturday. The boys raced against the girls. They loved it. They final destination brought both teams together at the Christian Bookstore where they each got to pick out a new Webkinz!

And if that wasn't enough, when they got home they were surprised to find 2 laptops - just for them - rigged to only access Webkinz and Microsoft Word (to type all their many stories they write). It is was so, so fun.

SO, all in all I know I am super blessed with my super brothers. Jack and Joby I love you dearly and am so thankful to be your sister!!!