Trip to Dallas

I decided it was time to get out of the house and out of Ft. Hood.  Over Spring Break we went to visit friends from Japan who now live outside Dallas.  Even though we only spent a couple of days, we had a good time.  Hope we weren't too much trouble, Wendy.  :)

We first went to the Stockyards at Ft. Worth.  

www.fortworthstockyards.org

Very cool if you are ever in the area.

(Can we leave her here?)

It's a feed yard that has been converted into shops, museums, etc.  

It was actually pretty cool; although the cattle drive was very anticlimactic.  Less than twelve should hardly constitute as a herd, especially when there is a one to one ratio of cowboys to cows.  I think I was expecting a little more 'running of the bulls' than a dozen docile long horns.

(Speaking of sleepy steers, here are the kiddos on "Big Jake".)

The next day we headed to the Dallas Zoo.  It was so crowded.  We almost didn't get in.  Right after Wendy pulled into the parking lot they closed the park due to capacity.  Parks do that?

Sadly, I think the carrousel was the highlight of the day for the boys.  Too many people and really boring exhibits.  

(Of course, they might have been just angry that I made them get off the ride.)

Yeah, they look a little nervous, but by the first go-round they were totally loving it.  

Maren got to see the one thing she was looking for... that weird half giraffe/half zebra thing (the Okapi).  It only took a little over 4 hours to find it.  

Dang, if I'd known earlier that is what she was looking for.....  

By the end of the day - well, I think the look on Adam's face speaks for all of us... I think he's looking for the exit.

(R to L, Zach, Adam, Maren, two boys I don't know, Christian, and a couple other kids I don't know that also joined us.)

All in all, it was a good trip.  The drive wasn't nearly as bad as I expected and the weather could not have been nicer - not too hot (odd for TX).  

Thanks again, Bruce and Wendy!