A Grand Ol' Time

These last 3 1/2 days, I have had the privilege of spending almost every waking hour with my best friend, Kathy.  Eric and I brought the boys to Dallas, where Eric has had a medical conference from 6:30am to 6pm every day, including Saturday and Sunday (till noon).  That meant I've been on my own in a moderately unfamiliar city.  Thankfully, Kathy hasn't stated her new job yet, so we've been hanging out!  We spent most of the first day wandering the Galleria, looking at maternity clothes for her, getting our makeovers done at M-A-C, eating at Chick-fil-a, La Madeleine's, and then finally at Grand Lux Cafe.  Our second day was spent at the pool at her apartment complex, then a long nap, shopping at Marshall's and Walmart, and finally a fun Big Night Out dinner for 2 at the Melting Pot.  Our third day we hung out and ate some more Chick-fil-a while the boys napped in the morning, but after lunch we went to the Dallas World Aquarium where Michael fell in love with this gorgeous Jaguar.  Needless to say, his souvenir for the trip is a 12-inch stuffed Jaguar from the gift shop.  We visited Panera Bread for dinner and La Madeleine's for dessert before calling it an early night.  This morning, we had breakfast at Cracker Barrel, for which Nate was finally able to join us (he's had to do put in quite a few extra hours at work this weekend, leaving Kathy to play with me!).  Through it all, Michael and Nathan have been wonderful and cooperative.  Sure, they got tired and fussy a few times, but understandably so, since they're schedules were a little messed up while I dragged them all over Dallas and they've had to sleep in unfamiliar surroundings.

Here are some pictures from the Dallas World Aquarium:

The Jaguar that Michael didn't want to leave.

This is the Tunnel that you walk through with so many different types of Sharks, Sting Rays, and large Turtles swimming all around you and above you.

There was also a cute little Giant River Otter.

This rainforest had a 40 ft waterfall, all sorts of birds flying around, monkeys jumping, black-neck swans swimming, giant turtles, a huge manatee, ducks, monstrous catfish, other fish and animals!

Good friends are a blessing.  My prayer for Michael and Nathan is that God will provide them with a best friend, too.  And when I say best friend, I don't just mean a really good friend.  Instead, I mean a friend that the Bible describes in Proverbs 18:34 - "but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Of course, my prayer is that they will be each other's best friend, but either way, as long as they have a true, Godly friend like that, that is the most important thing.