American Idol Trip

We (as in all 4 of us) are BIG American Idol Fans.  Rob and I have watched every year since Season 1! (heart Kelly Clarkson!) La and Hud have really gotten into it in the last serveral years too.  We watch as a family, pic a fav and vote away each year! It's fun!  So, this year Rob and I decided to get us all tickets to one of their Top 10 Summer Concert Shows!  We surprised the kids with the tickets in May! The concert wasn't until July 28...we had quite the countdown! But, finally time to roadtrip to Dallas!

Lawson had to get a new "concert" outfit courtesy of her Nonie and Aunt Steph gave her some pink highlights to set off the look! (Seriously, her how pretty is her hair!  Just brushed it and pulled it back! Jealous!)

A few pre-show pics! Lawson's girl, Jena, was the second runner up! Like any good fan she made an "I Love Jena!" sign.

Check out La's glow stick earrings!

We stayed overnight in Dallas with Steph & Crew. Thanks again, Nalleys!   We played with them in the morningtime.  Then went on a tour of Dallas Cowboys Stadium.  It was the kids first time to ever be in the new stadium.  It was a guided tour and it was pretty interesting! Hudson's first view of the field!

Our first stop was the Cheerleaders locker room!

Followed by the "Boys" locker room!

 Awww...Romo and Witten BFF!

 Okay...here is smothing I learned.  Jerry Jones brought in this special wood to make these lockers from like Africa (I think) and each locker cost approx $9k!  Hope those boys don't set their Gatorade bottles down and leave water marks on the wood! Also, the top left cabinet is a safe for the players to keep their valuables in while they play..ie diamond earrings!

Note the wallpaper around the ceiling had players pics on it!

Next up was the press room.  This is the room the players come to and face the press after games...for better or worse!

 This is the way the players enter the field...through this walkway...through a club and onto the 50 yard line.

 This is the view of the jumbo screen while I was on the field. 

 We got to run from one end of the field to the other!

 Hudson's victory poses!

Allowed as long as your a Cowboy! All others beware!

 And Lawson's!

 This is an underground parking lot where Jerry, the Boys, and other VIPs park.  Note the giant rolls of turf being stored there too.

 Love these two! Sweet boys!

Then we got to sit in a suite so we could wish it was ours!

 This is Jerry's man cave.  His suite is directly below it.  They said he usually has about 100 people in it every week.  His wife entertains the guests...while him and his sons and a couple of handpicked others come ehre so they can really focus on the game.  He has 4 TV screens on the wall.  He can watch replays or other NFL games on them.  He has a direct line down to the field from this box.  And he has an elevator in the back of the room that opens directly out onto the field! "Don't make me come down there Romo!"

Directly across the field from Jerry's man cave is the broadcasters box.

 This was the ceiling in one of the clubs.  Notice the lighting looks like a giant football.  In rel life, it is so big you really would never notice.  This tour guide showed us SO many crazy details in the way the stadium is outfitted.  Everything represents "football!"

Being in the stadium, made us ready for some football! Just a few more weeks!

Next up, we crossed the street and went to a Texas Rangers baseball game.  Derrick Jeter is retiring this year...so this was his last game to play in Dallas.  It was a fun summer night!

Never tire of driving through Dallas at night! L-O-V-E it!

The rangers won! And surprise! Reunion Tower was celebratin!

2014 GIBBS family vacay

Here we are again!  All 19 of us in Hot Springs for the Gibbs Annual Vacay weekend in 1 condo...having a blast! We started off the first night there with a little surprise birthday party for Doo Dad!

 Mimi hooked the kids up with a little dirt and worm dessert served with a shovel! How fun is she?!

 Hudson entertained us with a little Michael Jackson impersonation.  Yes, HE planned this and packed 2 different Michael Jackson costumes in his suitcase.  So funny!

All 19 of us being in one place at one time doesn't happen very often.  It usually happens for a few hours at Christmas and sometimes at Thanksgiving lunch.  But, this is about 3 days of all together catching up and just enjoying being together! 

 

 Steph and 6 kids playing Monopoly Jr!  Way to jump in their Steph!

 Hudson's second Michael Jackson costume made its debut during the talent show the kids came up with and presented one rainy afternoon.  This one is his "Smooth Criminal" costume!

 The girls performing what else? Let It Go!

 Everyone chips in and provides different meals. And everyone does an amazing job! However, Landry out did himself this year!  H loaded his 300 pound smoker onto a trailer using his 4 wheeler and lugged them both to Hot Springs to smoke us some delicious brisket and ribs!  He tended to the fire every few hours for 24 hours...even setting his alarm to get up several times during the night!  Thank you, Lange! It was some of the best meat I have ever had...for real!  He took a shower after dinner and said, "This is the first time I haven't smelled like BBQ in 2 days!"

Lawson and I brought crafts for the kids to work on!  We did a Christmas in July theme! And I think everyone enjoyed them.  It's hard to know what they will be "in" too.  But, working at a daycare for 3 years...gave me a little insight! (Looking for a silver lining there!)

 The kids disappeared several times to the downstairs living room.  When I went to check on them, one of them would be leading exercises! Way to go!

After we tuck the kids into bed each night, it is adult game time!  This is the best part!  Playing any game with my brothers will make you laugh until you can't breath!  Steph taught us this fun game her friends made up...it's the best!

 So, it was rainy on Day 1 and cloudy and oh so crazy cool for July on Day 2.  Like Hoodies and wrapped in towels cool!  I think the high was like 67 and with wind on the boat that gets quite cool! July people! 

 The kids managed to get in the water but paid for it when they got out!

This is mom and Landry riding the tube together!  Landry looked so funny in the standard orange over the head life jacket that is in every boat...but no one really wears! (was all he could find to fit him in the boat) And he is HUGE in that tube!  Picture doesn't do it justice!

 The pool table has been a hit with the kids every year!  Doo Dad was so sweet to actually try to play a legit round of pool involving 5 kids somehow! Exert grandpa! No rookie here!

 The kids with their fully outfitted Christmas in July tree!

 Bonus this year....after we left the condo Lange coordinated a little Kayak trip before we all headed home.  This was a first my kids! And a fun little adventure!

Love, love these people! Thanks to everyone for all the work you did to make this happen! Until next year!