I have been planning last weekend’s surprise trip to Texas for Mike’s birthday for about 8 months now! Last year, our good friends moved back to Oklahoma, so the original plan was to surprise Mike with a trip to visit them there in September for Mike’s actual birthday, see the Pitt vs Oklahoma State football game, and visit a ballpark, but I got pregnant (and would be too far into my 3rd trimester to fly) plus our friends relocated once again, this time to Houston. It wasn’t long before we (myself and our friends) realized that the Astros and Rangers were both playing at home this past weekend, so we began working on our new plan!

I told Mike in June that I needed him to take off work in August for a surprise road trip for his birthday. So for the past two months or so, Mike continued thinking it was a road trip…until I picked him up from work last Thursday and we pulled into the Airport parking lot. The best part is – due to construction, I accidentally missed the airport exit. And Em happened to be fussing in the car so I got off the next exit telling Mike we needed to set her up with some toys since it was going to be a long trip. I’m so thankful my husband just goes with the flow and happens to be quite gullible. I proceeded to turn around to get back on the highway and said “shoot, I’m gong the wrong way” (meanwhile – I needed to be going back that way since I missed the exit)! He perfectly replied “just get off at the airport exit and make the loop around the parking lot!” So we pulled into extended parking and I got a ticket. He asked what I was doing, and I said, “we need to park…our flight leaves in an hour and a half!” He sat in the car confused for an awkwardly long time and just kept saying, “I don’t understand what is going on!”

We made our way into the airport and I asked him if he wanted to guess or wait until we checked our bags and they told him where we were headed. He wanted to guess and he got it on the first try! He said he figured it had to be visiting friends since we had Em with us!

Now that you know how we got to Texas, let’s take a look at our trip! (I wish we would’ve taken more pictures – especially of all of us, but I have to admit Em kept us on our toes all weekend so it wasn’t always easy to pull out the camera)!

We started the day Friday with breakfast in Gavelston and a nice walk along the beach. On our way back, we stopped at Top Golf – such a fun idea! And there I am – 28 weeks pregnant and all!

Friday night we knocked baseball stadium #21 off our list seeing the Astros play at Minute Maid Park.

Em did better than we ever expected in the ergobaby!

Saturday morning we had brunch at truly the most perfect little brunch spot – Tiny Boxwood!

Loves pulling her bows out #reallife

Saturday afternoon we drove to Waco (on our way to Dallas) and stopped to see Magnolia Market and the Silos from one of our favorite shows – Fixer Upper!

Sunday morning we went to church at The Village Church in Dallas and heard Matt Chandler preach live! Such a fun experience (and another surprise Mike didn’t know about) since Mike loves listening to Matt Chandler’s sermon podcasts. Then Saturday afternoon we visited ballpark #22 – Globe Life Park in Arlington!

How cute are they?!

Here are a couple more snapshots from my iphone…

I am so thankful for these sweet friends – not only for helping me plan this entire trip, but for opening their home to us and welcoming us and our crazy toddler into their lives for the weekend. We miss you guys already and can’t wait to see you back in the burgh next year!!