Family Time

One thing I love about having small children is that anywhere we go is an event.  It baffles me that a trip to the grocery store carries almost as much excitement as a playdate at the park does.  Every place we go is an opportunity to talk, learn and share our experiences with one another. I specialize in making the mundane responsibilities of our life an enticing adventure but Shawn specializes in making room for things that are actually adventures.  He is the master at taking an ordinary weekend and turning it into something memorable and fun.

A few weekends ago Shawn had looked up indoor activities that all of us could participate in (because September in Texas is still sweltering) and stumbled across Sea Life at a mall in the greater DFW area.   After securing some discount tickets, we tucked a few extra snacks in the diaper bag and loaded everyone into our van.  

Sea Life was a little bit off the beaten path for us but that didn't matter because our long trips home have made both of our kids fantastic travelers.  Nicole peppered us with questions about where we were going and what we were going to do there while Jonah slept contentedly in his carseat. 

We arrived in plenty of time to leisurely walk around the mall and acquaint ourselves with our new surroundings before Sea Life opened for the day.   Shawn and I loved the opportunity to stretch our legs in the wide, air conditioned hallways and our kids were enthralled with the new sights and sounds of their surroundings. 

Our time walking the mall was relaxing and memorable but stepping inside of Sea Life with a curious toddler was nothing short of captivating.   Nicole was mesmerized by all of the fish swimming around her and was so determined to make friends with them that she asked if she could get in the tank.  She was pretty disappointed when we informed her that only the fish were allowed to swim there. 

This action-packed morning wouldn't have happened without Shawn's intentionality and creativity. I am sure that our kids will grow up to have a deeper sense of wonder and curiosity because of the family outings Shawn plans.   His calm nature and confident spirit makes navigating new things easy and enjoyable for everyone lucky enough to be along for the ride. 

I'd love to hear about your latest adventures too!

Love,
Erica