Zoo and Aquarium

While Ben was off on his 2 week vacation we decided to do some family activities around the city!

First stop, the Zoo!! Ben couldn't remember the last time he went to the Zoo.  I used to take kids I watched to the Zoo, so it hadn't been too long since I had been! I was so glad the weather cooled down a little the second week Ben was home.  The high was still in the upper 80's the day we went, but that was a lot better than 100+.

I didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked, but I know we will be back soon!!

 Ben loved the Tigers.  They were his favorite! Pictures courtesy of Ben!

Riding the Tram to Africa!!

 Miss Brooklyn did so well.  We got to the zoo a little before 11am and didn't leave until after 2pm.  For some reason she would NOT nap in her stroller.  We got about 1/4 of the way through Africa and she got really fussy so we turned back and headed for the car! She was tired of being in her stroller so daddy carried her! So sweet!!

LOVE THEM!!!

The next day we decided to venture to the aquarium down by Crown Center.  We debated buying tickets online to save a few dollars but we decided just go wait in line when we got there.  We arrived and the wait was only about 15 minutes.  Nothing too bad.  We had read online that the average time it takes to get through is about 1.5 hours.  That would be perfect for Brooklyn's schedule and such.  There were so many school groups there, it was pretty crowded.  Ben and I thought it was going to be totally different than it was.  We both thought it was going to be huge and really open.  Instead it was narrow, crammed and tight.  There were some areas where the stroller almost didn't fit through.  We were in and out of the aquarium in 26 minutes.  It wasn't like we rushed through it either.  We would park the stroller in front of some fish and Brooklyn would stare and smile at them-it was cute! I just felt like it could have been better.  The biggest thing we saw was a shark-smaller than Brooklyn!  Needless to say I did not get many pictures! I told Ben that when Brooklyn gets a little bigger, 2-3 I would like to take her back because she will definitely get more out of it then! He told me that I need to find another mom to go with because he will not be going back! Ha!

Brooklyn did enjoy a bottle while strolling through the aquarium!

looking at the fishy!

 Ben and I were pretty bummed.  26 minutes and $45 later, we headed to Crown Center for some lunch!!

big girl!!

All Star Game Festivities

As we all know, The All Star Game was played in Kansas City this year!! What a great thing for our city!! Unfortunately, Ben and I were not able to go to the game....not in the budget! Bummer!! Since we couldn't go to the game, we still wanted to participate in some activities that were going on around town the week before the big game!

Ben took 2 weeks off from work...I never thought it would happen but it did! I thought for sure he would only be home for one week and would be ready to get back to work or he would have so much to do he had to get back, but he didn't!  Brooklyn and I got him for 2 whole weeks! (He did go in to work one afternoon for maybe 2 hours, but that was it! And, he did do work from home but only while Brooklyn was napping).  Sorry, I got off track...back to All Star things...

All Star Fan Fest was held at Bartle Hall, and I thought we should go! I had no idea what it would be all about but I still wanted to go.  Tickets were $30 a person, which I thought was a little much, but I found a coupon for buy 1 get 1 free Friday.  So, that is the reason we went on Friday.  We packed the diaper bag, stroller and all things baby and headed to Bartle Hall.

There were TONS of things to see and do! It would have been great if Brooklyn was about a year older and could have ran around to do all the fun things.  O well! I am still glad that we went!

We got to see all of the trophies that are related to MLB.  Home Run Derby trophy, All Star Game trophy, MVP and of course World Series Champs trophy! It was pretty cool!

Brooklyn and me with the World Series Trophy!!

  They had people taking pictures for you and then would give you a card with your photo number for you to look it up at home...well, it still says that my photos are unavailable.  I am bummed because she took 3-4 pictures of Ben, Brooklyn and I in front of this trophy. 

Biggest baseball!!

These are the only 2 pictures we took at Fan Fest on my camera because we had others take pictures of the 3 of us, but all of the tickets I have with a code to look pictures up with all say no image can be found...I am a little bummed. O well!

That Saturday, Ben's dad called and asked if we wanted tickets to All Star Sunday.  We quickly said YES!! All Star Sunday events included the Futures Game (USA vs World) and the Celebrity Softball Game.  I quickly called my mom and asked if she could watch Brooklyn! Thanks mom for watching her on such short notice!

Ben and I had a great time Sunday night! We might have spent too much money and drank too much, but it was a great night out! Thanks for the tickets Don!

In the parking lot there were several activities.  Budweiser had a tent and the Clydesdale's were there!! We had a beer in the parking lot from the Budweiser trailer-they were only $4/beer! Amazing! Inside the stadium beers were $9.50/beer.. Crazy!!  

 We met up with some friends in the outfield!!

Goetze people!!

Jenny Finch!

Bill Self

The crowd starting chanting "We Want Bo!!"...

....he finally came to the plate to hit!!

tired? too much to drink??...

fireworks show!

It was a great night and glad that we were able to do a few All Star Game related things!!

Siesta Key, FL

Since Ben and I have been dating we have gone to Siesta Key every April! Siesta Key is such a special place for us as it was our first vacation together and it was where we got married! Last April I was newly pregnant when we went and this April we had a 5 month old! Vacations have definitely changed, but I wouldn't change it for the world! Don and Janet (Ben's parents), Gary and Cheryl (my parents) and Ben, Brooklyn and I all made the trip to Siesta Key this time.  My dad won the trip through work (Don is my dad's boss-just a small part of my crazy family dynamics), so it was fun to be with family and for Brooklyn to have her 2 grandpas and 2 of her grandmas around for an entire week!

Brooklyn was amazing on the plane ride, both to Florida and home from Florida.  I was nervous about the 3 hour flight but she never fussed.  On the way home she did poop and we had to change her diaper on the plane, but thankfully we were in the back of the plane with about 15 other kids so no one seemed to mind.  Don and Janet purchased Brooklyn her own ticket so it was nice to have an entire row for just the 3 of us.  We actually changed Brooklyn's diaper on the middle seat! Thanks for the space Don and Janet!

When we arrived in Florida on Saturday 4/21 it was cool and rainy.  We weren't able to make our normal first stop to Captain Curts for lunch, but don't worry, we made it there a couple times throughout the week! We hung out in the condo and relaxed, ate too much food and some of the group (not naming names-and it wasn't me) drank too much! :)

Welcome to Florida, Brooklyn!!!

taking a nap on the Veranda!

Sunday it was still chilly and very windy!! We took Brooklyn down to the pool to just dip her toes in the water-it was pretty chilly!



Monday we ended up taking Brooklyn down to the pool.  If you walked out on the beach it was just a sand blast in your face so we decided not to take the baby to the beach.  Brooklyn hung out in her bouncy seat with a towel for shade for a little bit-not too long before getting fussy.  The pool water was too chilly, so we went back up to the condo.  Ben took care of Brooklyn and let me go back down to the pool to lay out for a little bit-it was nice to relax in the warm sun!

We also went to Capital Curt's for the first time of the trip on Sunday! I had to dress Brooklyn just for the occasion in her crab outfit my mom gave her!

Tuesday, the weather was better but still too windy to go to the beach! We took Brooklyn down to the pool! The water was still a little too chilly to get in! We didn't last very long down at the pool!

playing in her bouncy seat by the pool!

The rest of the week was spent enjoying time on the beach, relaxing in the condo and going to dinner! It was a good trip but a lot of work! Ha! I am glad we experienced it though! I know next time we go back Brooklyn will be at the perfect age and will have lots of fun!

Random pictures from the trip:

 First time Brooklyn touched sand!!

my little lady bug!!

kisses from daddy!

she LOVED the bathtub we rented!!

 Don't let all of these sleeping pictures be too misleading-she did not sleep well at night at all, she was in bed with us by midnight every night and would wake every 1-2 hours.  When she fell asleep for naps in stroller she would only nap for maybe 20-30 minutes!!

 We took her to dinner at Gabiano's Restaurant.  This is where we had our rehearsal dinner for the wedding!! She was very good!!

 Dipping her toes in the water!!

Naked baby!!!

snoozing with daddy in the condo!

 Pool time!!!

Sniki Tiki!

headed home!