Trip to Dallas

Some of our best memories with our boys so far...seem to be on trips.   Matt had preceptor training in Dallas towards the end of October and Encompass agreed to pay mileage up to the cost that his plane ticket would be.   We were so grateful and blessed as we also wanted to be able to visit John Dodgen who is living justsouth of Dallas with his family at his 'n laws home.  He is still battling cancer and we were thrilled to be able to visit him and his family.   As only God can do, He multiplied our mileage reimbursement as gas was SO low that it covered much of our other expenses as well.

Rest stop on the way down!


Josh JUST decided he was ready to be potty trained (WOO-HOO!) a week before we went to Dallas.
Have you ever tried to get a newly potty trained child to poop on a road trip?  We even tried pulling his seat out!  I think we stopped 7 times on our 6 hour trip trying to get him to go at gas stations.  We finally resorted to the roadside because he told us he HAD to go!




Mommy at the wheel!


They love road trips.


Pool time in Amarillo at our hotel.






Trying to get these two to sleep in their own bed so Daddy & Mommy could sleep together!


They had too much fun.


Playing games in the morning on Sunday.


We drove the rest of the way to Dallas on Sunday and then hung out with the Dodgens that evening.  It was really good to see John.  Sad, yet good.  We're so thankful that we were able to.  Nathan picked out a Beetle car at a gas station to give him.  They made a deal that the next time they saw each other they'd each bring something for the other.

Blankets over the head help for good naps I guess!


We made it to Dallas!


Sunday night we arrived at our hotel in Dallas.  This is Monday morning while Daddy was in meetings.  Wayyyy up!  They were delighted.




Fudruckers for dinner with daddy!


Found a park while daddy was in his meetings on Tuesday.




Josh loved swinging in this swing.  Nathan like pushing him.




Nathan is always ready to help his little bro.












They were so funny in this tunnel slide.


















Looking at the ducks.




We got some Chic-Fil-a right by the hotel (thankfully! I'm not that great with directions in unknown cities!).   Then we ate it in the hotel lobby because they were still working on deoderizing our room.  It had a heavy smoke smell.




A lady from Encompass came by and saw the boys there.  Not even knowing we were Matt's family...I realized who she was later, she got these big paper pads and markers for them to draw on.




Nathan made a sign that said "We love Daddy's work!" And we set it outside their meeting room for them!




Back to the park Tuesday evening with Matt!






Nathan took our picture.






































Saying goodbye to the Double Tree on Wednesday morning.






So we payed a toll for some bypass I guess.  Thinking we didn't want to get stuck in Dallas traffic.  Well...we were the only ones!  I guess everyone knew better!  ha ha!




Nathan treated it like a tunnel and tried to hold is breath!


They slept much better and longer for naps on the way home!




We loved this hotel in Amarillo we stayed at on the way home.  It was a Sleep Inn.  CLEAN!






We like to take pictures so we remember...in case we end up in Amarillo again!






As we were driving into Amarillo we splurged on a GOOD meal at Applebees!  Kids night...the eat free and they got some balloon things made!








Night, night!





We arrived safely home the next day and enjoyed some loud singing in the car! There's a video of that somewhere...