It's Raining, It's Pouring, Visitors Are Snoring!

 It’s no secret that Texas is in a bit of a drought. . .

And earlier this summer, Mark, Lake and I were having a drought of our own – a visitor drought!  Now, don’t get me wrong, I understand that summertime presents the best opportunity for family reunions and vacations, but after 3 months without a single visitor, well,  were getting pretty lonely down here!

And as they say, when it rains, it pours.

It all began in late July with a lovely visit from my mother-in-law, Diane.  The quick 3-day trip seemed to fly by, but we all got to spend some quality time together.  And BONUS:  Mark and I were granted a much-needed date night!  Thanks, Diane!

Shortly after Diane’s departure back to Columbus, my sister, Shana and my nephew, Will made their first trip to Dallas.  It was wonderful spending time with them and Lake just adores his Aunt and Cousin.  We spent a significant amount of time just playing, but also did some sightseeing, which included my first-time to the Dallas World Aquarium.

Now, before Shana and Will could even unpack their bags back in Florida, I was leaving on a jet plane of my own. . .to Vegas, baby!  It only took me 17 months (post Lake, of course) to take a girl’s-trip, and it was just what the doctor ordered!   Poolside drinks, nights out on the town, and the best part?  The company of 4 college friends that had simply let too many years go by since our last get-together :)

*Note- while I was gossiping, shopping and gambling, my amazing husband was back at home taking care of Lake.  And even cuter?  My father-in-law, Dick, flew to Dallas to have a “boy’s weekend” with his son and grandbaby. 

Unfortunately, Dick left Dallas just hours before I landed, but there was no time to dwell on missing him, because my old friend Rachel was in New Mexico, en-route to D-town!

 While I would have loved to show her everything that Dallas has to offer, the 105 degree weather put a slight damper on that. . .but the heat did not slow us down in the 2 most important departments:  shopping and eating!  Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do on vacation anyhow?  We did, however, visit the 1 cannot-miss (indoor) Dallas attraction – The 6^th Floor Museum.  And, all right, we ventured outside to see the grassy knoll. . .but it was hot!

Rachel was still in-town when we began a much-overdue visit with my parents, Russ and Marlene.  The Monday thru Thursday trip always seems like it will be plenty of time, but in the end, I felt like I blinked and the week was over.  Every time my parents come to town, I try to introduce them to a new part of Dallas.  With this trip came a jaunt over to Fort Worth to see the Stock Yards and cattle drive.  There’s something about seeing giant cattle just cruising down the brick road that really makes you feel like you’re in Texas!

Whew!  I told ya, the universe didn’t just rain visitors on us, it poured and ended our summertime visitor drought!

And as this crazy month of visitors comes full circle with a Labor Day weekend visit from Diane (and her new husband, Dan) I can only hope that, along with it, comes some real, bona fide rain. 

Steak or Chicken? I choose Chicken.

I keenly recall people warning me that life would never be the same after kids.  Skeptics, I thought. 

I don’t mean to brag, but Mark and I had a pretty fantastic life before little Lake graced us with his presence.  Impromptu weekend trips to Chicago, dinners at great steakhouses followed by evenings at wine bars, frequent concerts and movies – we basically did whatever we wanted to do, including a Mediterranean Cruise through Italy, the Greek Isles and Croatia.

Even during the pregnancy, we vowed not to let our soon-to-be-infant slow us down.  No little guy was gonna change our lives, we would change his.  We would drag him along to wherever we wanted, whenever we wanted and it would be great.  

And in truth, we pretty much do.  Roundhouse Bar at PIB with Lake in a sling-carrier?  Yes, I had a baby. . .in a bar! Dinner at a French bistro with 2 other (childless) couples?  Lake was there!  Drinks at a work-related happy hour with a 12-month-old running about?  Yep, we were those people (with a baby, in a bar, again!!).

The nice steakhouse dinners, though, seemed to have dwindled in frequency.

That’s not to say we don’t go out to dinner, we just go to more, do you say “family-friendly” establishments.

Friday night, we went out in search of some size 2-T Old Navy t-shirts  (they were on sale for $4!) and some grub.  We were successful in the clothing department, and after much deliberation, found ourselves at Chic-Fil-A.

Mmm, hmm.

We sat eating our chicken sandwiches, watching the big kids tear through the play area and parents scramble to keep their children from running around the restaurant in bare-feet. 

Then a couple, with 3 little boys ranging in age from, I’d say 6 months to 5 years, walked by.  She wrestled with her purse to find keys while managing the older kids, and he awkwardly clutched the baby on his left hip while a Coach diaper bag hung across his body.

“That’s totally gonna be us in a few years,” I realized. “Friday nights at Chic-Fil-A from here-on-out, huh?”

“Yep! You know what’s crazy, though?” Mark replied. “I’m really enjoying this.”

I smiled.  “Me too.”

Those skeptics were right, indeed.