Cowboys and Leprechauns

St. Patrick's Day part 2
{March 17, 2011}


We started the day trying to get the kids to pose in their green outfits...

Easier said than done. Still -- these kids are so sweet!

Lydia and Kate

Karen and Dylan

Big hugs!

Then Derek, Lydia and I headed to Cowboy Stadium for the behind-the-scenes tour.

Anyone who knows me well might be thinking: Really? Cowboy Stadium? As in football? I have nothing against the sport, I just don't get into it as a general rule -- something about televised sporting events usually leaves me snoozing. However, the tour of the stadium was really interesting. I loved all the stats about the size and cost of the stadium and the access to the private suites, owner's box and such. I did feel like a bit of a hypocrite as we were granted admission to the Cowboys' locker room (where surely some die-hard fan would love to go) and I was looking at the names above each locker wondering: I wonder who are the stars of the team?

Derek in the cheerleader's locker room

Hmmm... perhaps Lydia shares her mother's view of pro football.
Just kidding!

On the field!

Tackling Daddy

Family huddle

Then it was time to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a delicious green meal, thanks to Karen.





We ended the day with a trip to the park.

What a zoo!

{March 16, 2011}

On Wednesday we all decided to take advantage of half-price day at the Ft. Worth, Texas zoo. And when I saw "we all" I mean myself, Derek, Lydia, Karen, Mike, Kate, Dylan, my mom, Leslie and Colin ... and EVERYONE ELSE in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex.
OK, the latter is a bit of an exaggeration, but it was a pretty crowded day at the zoo.
Despite the challenges of maneuvering a stroller through the throng (what am I saying, Derek was on stroller duty all day) I thought the day was really fun. It was so cute to see Lydia enjoying the animals -- especially her two favorites: monkeys and lions. She can't say the words but she makes great monkey and lion sounds.

Let's just say, Karen was not a fan of the crowds...

...But she cheered up when we saw the Peterman Reality Bus Tour.
(True "Seinfeld" fans will understand that one)

Me and my little monkey by the monkeys.

Daddy's little lion cub

Grandma with all her grandkids

Holding hands -- so cute!

That night, after freshening up, we went to a far, far less chaotic place: The Dallas Temple for a session with Mike and Karen. Thanks to Grandma for taking care of the kids.

Hanging with the Sharp clan

{March 15, 2011}

After a trip to Allen, Texas to see my friend Rachel -- such a fun time but I completely neglected to photograph it -- we headed to my sister's house for a fun few days with the Sharp fam. Just like Kevin and Leslie had been, Karen and Mike were so welcoming to us and we loved spending time with them! Lydia thrived under her cousin Kate's watchful eye and she loved playing with the "beebee" (otherwise known as her cousin Dylan who is only 8 months younger than her and close to her size).

Sidewalk chalk on the balcony

Mealtime! Kate, Lydia and Dylan

Pizza and a Texas special: Blue Bell ice cream

Bonding over the iPad. Karen and I love our nerdy husbands!

Uptown Dallas

{March 14, 2011}

We spent Monday seeing the sights of Uptown Dallas, starting with a visit to Kevin's fancy-pants lawyer office: Gibson Dunn. It was so fun to see him in his professional atmosphere. I'm so proud of what he's accomplished already in his career.

After touring his office, we went to lunch at State and Allen's for a delicious buffalo chicken sandwich. Then it was time for Lydia, Derek and me to tour the site of John F. Kennedy's assassination.
The Sixth Floor Museum in the book depository where it is believed Lee Harvey Oswald was positioned was really interesting and, lucky for us, Lydia slept through the whole thing in her stroller so we had time to really take it all in.

The grassy knoll

That night Kevin, Leslie, Derek and I enjoyed an AMAZING meal at a ritzy steakhouse called Nick & Sam's. This place does it up right -- everything from the calamari to the lobster mac and cheese, garlic mashed potatoes, creamed corn, melt-in-your-mouth steaks and red velvet cake. Thanks to Kevin and Leslie for such a fabulous treat and to Grandma for keeping the kids.

Colin Arthur Grady

{March 13, 2011}

Yet another highlight of our trip to Dallas was the chance to witness the blessing of Colin Arthur Grady, the newest addition to our extended family.
It was neat to see my brother in such an important role, blessing his son. The excitement of the day was further enhanced by a surprise arrival of my mom for the occasion. It's always fun to have grandma around!

Kevin, Leslie and Colin Grady

Lydia, Derek, Grandma Grady, Lisa, Dylan, Mike, Karen, Kate (in front), Kevin, Leslie, Colin, Grandma Jeannette and Grandpa Perry Chapman

The O'Grady's

St. Patrick's Day part one
{March 12, 2011}

Seeing that my maiden name is Grady and my ancestors were actually O'Grady, we like to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in our family.
This year we had two celebrations during our Texas stay -- the first was an amazing corned beef and cabbage dinner courtesy of my brother, Kevin, and his wife Leslie.
It was a full house with about 60 guests (their friends and a lot of extended family). The food was amazing! I loved being able to visit with all our Texas relatives including my aunt and uncle Liz and Jim and cousins Andrea and Mike and their spouses. Such a fun night!

The "O'Grady" girls: Karen and Lisa (Andrea Baird to the left)

Airplane!

{March 11, 2011}

We just returned from a trip to Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas -- an experience that included Lydia's first ride in an airplane!
After weeks of fretting about the upcoming ride Derek and I armed ourselves with every conceivable toddler treat I could find and settled in for a 3+ hour stint as a human jungle gym.
In truth, Lydia did pretty well. We were lucky the plane was not full so she was able to have her own seat on the way to Texas and the people around us were very kind. Still, it was with no small amount of relief that we arrived in Dallas and made our way to my sister's house, ready for our vacation to begin.

The day of travel also included our first implementation of the monkey backpack "leash" for Lydia. I debated using one but I decided I'd be less stressed about keeping track of her in the airport terminal if she was connected to me by more than just her not-so-reliable wiggly hand. She loved her monkey and the "freedom" it provided as she gleefully released some of her energy while we waited at our gate.
The backpack only earned one passive/aggressive comment from a man passing by who loudly proclaimed he would never put his child on a leash. My desire to respond to his comment in a more confrontational manner (as in telling him he clearly knows nothing about children or perhaps is one of those parents who would just let them run wild without concern for the child's safety or the peace of those around him) was countered by my fear that such a comment could lead to a verbal altercation and with all the energy I was expending already that day, it just wasn't worth it to me.

Waiting for the plane to arrive

In her seat. By now the choice to wear the monkey backpack was hers. She loved that thing!