Dallas Trip

Taylor and I were invited to Dallas by her good friend Kendall to celebrate her birthday.

So Sunday we got picked up and headed to The Big D.

Kendall and Taylor and their dolls

First stop was the American Girl store for some serious shopping (I should buy some stock) and a birthday lunch.

Silly girls

Happy Birthday Kendall!

Next up Julia and Rebeca (their dolls) had a hair appointment.

Taylor taking some serious notes!

The finished product

Pretty girls and dolls

Next we checked into the hotel and changed clothes for our next activity.

Taylor chilling out

Everyone matches and ready to go.

Laced up and ready to skate!

Susan and Kendall skating.  

Taylor taking off.

Having been rollerblading in the street really helped with ice skating, the girl is fast.

We grabbed some dinner in the Galleria and then went back to our room for some girl talk and bed.  The next morning we had breakfast at a bakery right above the ice rink and watched some "experienced" girls have lessons before heading back home.  The girls loved watching them twirl and jump.  

Taylor and I both had a great time.  We are truly lucky that she has found a great friend and the mom and I are just as great friends.

Taylor turns 7!

Taylor's actual birthday fell on a school day so we started the morning extra early so we could have a special breakfast and open presents before running to school.

Taylor asked for a Vera Bradley messenger bag for school and a guitar for her American Girl doll.

Opening presents

On New Year's Eve Taylor rode on a Flash Rider by herself for almost an hour in the street so Ryan and I got her one and she was so excited.

I made marshmallow brownies for her to take to school to share with her friends.

For dinner she requested salad, I know strange request but this kid loves salad and I made a sprinkle cake for desert.   I forgot to take a picture, again.

This was right before bed, Mimi and Poppy gave her a Baylor outfit for her doll.

Her doll ready for bed in her new outfit with her guitar!

Happy Birthday sweet Taylor!

Sea World Birthday

Saturday morning Taylor's friends got dropped off at the house and we loaded them all up and headed to Sea World to celebrate Taylor's 7th birthday!

It was a LOUD ride down.

We made a pit stop at Chick fil A to have lunch and cake.

Oops, I forgot to snap a picture of the cake before we cut it.

Next stop Sea World!

 We rode a few rides

We watched the sea lion show and then feed them

A few of the girlies

Taylor 

The sea lions were so loud barking for fish

They rode more rides,

The park was not crowded at all which was super nice, we hardly had to wait in line for anytime and the weather was beautiful.

Jennifer, Avery and Alison came to join in on the day of fun and Alison couldn't keep up with all big girls.

All the girls following Ryan

We saw the penguins and they all wanted stuffed animal penguins!  NOT!

Some of us rode the Steel Eel!

A few of the girls weren't tall enough.  Taylor didn't like it!

Our friend Sarah (also currently Kendall's second grade teacher) met us there with her two kids and Allie and Drew (our long time friends) for some fun.

Next up was the dolphins.  I was amazed at how friendly they were.  We showed up about 15 minutes before feeding time and they were jumping all around and coming up and letting you touch them.

All the kids got to touch the dolphins at least once if not a few times.

Look how cute!

I got to feel also!  I am not sure who liked it more them or me.

It was getting close to the Shamu Show so most of the group headed across the park to get seats while Drew and Taylor stayed back to feed the dolphins.

The we high tailed it to the show.

Love this show!  One of the little girls had never been to Sea World and she was so fun to watch, pure joy and excitement!

The whole group, 11 kids!

After all that fun they were pretty hungry so Taylor choose Red Robin for dinner.  We got some interesting looks walking in with all those kids for dinner!  They behaving amazingly.

I thought we would have a quite ride home but it was far from that, oh well.  The whole day was so much fun.  The kids had a blast and totally enjoyed themselves and so did we.

Happy Birthday my sweet Taylor!

Happy 2013

New Years Eve was really laid back this year.  We went to eat with a few other families at Verde's.  A super yummy mexican restaurant but it has a huge fenced in field behind it that kids can run and play in.  It was perfect with 10+ kids.  

After we headed back to the hood.  We made a pit stop at the firework stand.

All the kids had a blast riding bikes, scooters, flash riders, and each other on the street while the adults just hung out.

Taylor with a sparkler. 

Ryan had to get in on the fun also with some big fireworks.

It was a great way to kick off the new year.