Cadillac Ranch

We made it to Amarillo, TX at 9pm on our first day of travel on December 2, 2011. After getting a some what good night of sleep, we woke up to a cold and windy morning. We wanted to get some sights in and first on the list was the Cadillac Ranch. It was in the middle of the field, it was really cold and the twins had just fallen asleep in the car, so Chris said that he would stay behind in the car with them if Cassie and me wanted to go up close. We did, it was freezing, so we hurried to take a few pictures. It's nice to have seen and visited a sight that is so well known. We didn't have spray paint with us to write our names on the cars, but they were covered in layer after layer of paint, and there was some other people there that were spraying. The funny thing is that if we were ever to go back, the cars wouldn't look the same as people are spraying them all the time, so they are changing in color and motive all the time.

Dallas

 Dallas Skyline 

Picture Google

picture Google

Monday, November 7th, we had the appointment for our Passport renewals at the Swedish Consulate, or rather at home at the Swedish Consul. Her home was located in Highland Park, an upscale neighborhood of Dallas. There were many fancy big houses. We were in a rush and the babies were not happy in the car so there I didn't have time to take any pictures, but here are some that I found online, just for you to get an idea of what kind of neighborhood it was.

Unfortunatley, the passport renewal experience was not a happy one. We had an appointment at 11am, which I thought was great because that meant that we would be out of there by noon (according to the consul the appointments would only take about 30 minutes) and that would mean that we would be able to eat lunch and then get on the road and the twins then hopefully sleep!

Well, they were running behind - a lot! We didn't get in until after 1pm, and then the twins were not happy campers. We had already taken them outside to walk around, but then it started to rain, so we had to wait inside, then when we finally get to go inside, we started with the twins name registry in Sweden, which Chris needed to sign and then he could take them out while me and Cassie got our passports renewed, pictures taken and got fingerprinted. Well, it should have been a fast process, but it took almost an hour before we were done, and knowing that the twins are crying and hysterical out in the car, was just horrible. Chris was upset as the twins didn't have any lunch yet (well none of us, but of course we could all wait in another way), and they were so tired and cranky.

When we finally were done, it was over 2pm and the twins were hysterical. We had Pediasure in the car, and I got them bottles ready while we were driving, and I guess it was just too much with crying etc, because just 10 minutes after that, Isabella threw up all over herself and her car seat!!! Stopped at the nearest gas station, cleaned out everything as good as we could, and then continued the trip home. We now almost had 3pm and we hadn't even left Dallas yet. We had another 7 1/2 hours of a drive ahead of us...

Not a happy drive, the twins were hardly sleeping, then cranky and the last 2hours it was raining heavy and bad thunder and lightning making it hard to drive and we had to go slow...which isn't the optimal when you have crying overtired babies in the car that wants nothing but for you to take them out of the car seat and there is nothing you can do to make them happy at that point.

We were home after 10 pm, and so tired and totally exhausted all of us! Luckily the twins went to bed pretty fast and Cassandra too as she had school the next day. But oh, do I fear the move and the long hours in the car now! We knew that this was a "warm up" of what is to come as we have to drive for about  7-8 hours a day for about 3 days before we are in Yuma, Arizona. Not fun!! I only hope that the twins will be more cooperative at that point.

Dallas Cowboy Football Stadium

We drove by the Dallas Cowboy Football Stadium. It was Sunday and Game day, so there was no chance even to drive up close, as everything was closed off. Funny enough there is a Walmart just next to it, so we still got to get pretty close.  It's supposed to be one of the bigger (the biggest?) Stadiums in the US and it sure looked big. Would have been fun to see it inside, or to go there for a game. Not so much that I'm interested in Football (I'm still trying to figure out the rules..), but for the experience.

pictures Google

It would also have been fun to watch the DCC- Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, perform. Cassie and myself are watching it on TV, how they make the team etc, and it's a lot of hard work to make it.

Aquarium

The same afternoon, we went to the Sea Life Grapevine Aquarium in the mall. It was the first time for the twins to go to an Aquarium, and we were all excited to see how they would do and what they would think of it. When we lived in North Carolina, we visited many different Aquariums, but here in Kansas we haven't been to any, and now we wanted to take the opportunity while we were in Ft. Worth.

An Aquarium must be one of the greatest things to go and see with kids. Our kids loved it, the little ones kept looking and pointing to the fishes, and they did great, even with little nap time during the day. Cassandra did a Questionnaire throughout the Aquarium, and she ended up having answered almost all questions correct. The answers about the fishes, or other sea animals were posted throughout the path we walked along. A great experience for all of us!

This was so funny, both Benjamin and Isabella stopped right away when they got to the glass floor. They didn't want to walk onto it, and it took a while for them to dare to do it. So funny that they both did it! When we were all in the tunnel with sharks and lots of other big and small fish swimming all around us, they thought that it was great.

Love how this picture turned out!

Looking for Nemo. Isabella found him!

Daddy and son!

Look we are in a fish tank!!

Can anyone guess what Cassandra is holding in her hand???