Dallas...then and now!

Back in December of 1992 I had my first trip to Dallas with the Cheerleaders from Manti High!  We traveled down there to compete at Nationals.  Pictured below is myself and my best friend, Karen Barton.  We were shopping at the Galleria Mall in Dallas.  Who would have ever thought that one of us would be living in Dallas 18 years from the time with photo was taken?  

Karen and Robyn at the Galleria Mall in 1992......

Karen and Robyn at the Galleria Mall in 2010!   

Karen  has made her home in Dallas and we went down for a visit!  I love her to death and it was so fun to spend time together with her and her sweet family.

The Manti High Cheerleaders in 1992...

(Karen and I are in the middle of the front row kneeling down.)

Karen and I with our families just outside of Texas Ranger Stadium 2010.....

Us in our Red Sox gear, and them in their Ranger's gear!

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at a couple of those old photos.  I love that our friendship as lasted throughout the years!

When we first arrived at Karen's house, Maggie instantly won over Andy's heart!  She has such a sweet personality.  

The kids threw on their suits and headed out to the Monroe's "very own pool!!"  Alex couldn't get over the fact that they had a pool and it never closed!
AJ, Maddie, James, and Zack

AJ perfecting his dive....yikes!!

Lane, Thomas, and AJ

The next day we went to Six Flags!  We had so much fun!  Some of the rides we conquered were titled, "Mr. Freeze", "Titan", "Shock Wave", and "Superman!" The kids had to cool off in the misters since it happened to be 100 + degrees outside!  That Dallas heat can be brutal.

James, Lane, and Andy getting soaked on the Roaring Rapid ride...

Texas sized cowboy hats!

All of the Gang after a day at Six Flags!  

The next day took us to the Galleria Mall.  We ice skated, had some lunch, and shopped.

Maddie, myself, and James, Karen and Thomas is the background.  

Maddie was in heaven as we shopped in the American Doll store.  It was so neat!  She bought a few accessories for her American Doll, Julie!  In a few more years, Karen will be ready to invest in a doll for cute Maggie!

After the Galleria Mall, we headed out for the big baseball game!  The Texas Rangers took on the Boston Red Sox!  We had fun getting all decked out in our Red Sox jerseys and hats.

Look, it's Big Poppy!!  We saw him in person!  He even hit a home run during the game!  Our Hero!

We waited and waited for a chance to have an autograph.  It never happened, but we did have fun watching the team warm up.  Maddie was holding a big picture of Papelbon, hoping he would come over and sign.  

Here is my favorite player....Jacoby Ellsbery!  Nice butt, I mean "hit"!  :)  Come on, we all have an athlete crush!

The Red Sox hit three home runs in a row! Red Sox fans were going nuts!

Then Texas caught up!  Ranger fans went nuts!

Rally hats!  The Sox lost by one run in the 11th.  Sad to lose, but it was the funnest game ever!

After sleeping in until 10am the next  morning, we headed down town to Dallas.  Here we are on the "grassy knoll" where JFK was shot.

You can see an X in the road where his car was when it all happened.  We can't decide...conspiracy or not?? 

We then went to a really neat aquarium filled with all sorts of sea life and other animals.  Madison would be very disappointed if I didn't post a few of the photos she took.

There was a tunnel you could walk through to get a good look at the sharks.

Here are the kids making fruit pizza on the last day we were there.  The Monroe's were such gracious hosts.  Karen cooked delicious meals, they chauffeured us all around Dallas, we had comfortable sleeping conditions, and free access to an awesome pool!   Thank you so much Karen and James!  We love you all!

The kids started their baseball card collections on the trip!  They loved trading cards with each other.  They looked and looked at them while we waited for the plane.  Lane will tell you over and over that is favorite players are "Big Poppy" and "Wally the Green Monster".  He carries those two cards around with him most of the day!