Last week we took a trip to St. Louis. We were blessed to have received two free nights in a hotel there, with two free buffet dinners as well. If you know me, you know that I despise buffets. I think that it started during our GI section in medical school, learning about all the awful bacteria that lurk around those places, and has expanded to my dislike of fried, fatty foods and all-you-can eat portions. However, now that Ava is gluten AND dairy free (that's another post entirely), finding food that she can eat is actually very difficult. So, needless to say, the buffet was wonderful and actually had some great, healthy options.
I rented a few new Elmo videos from the local library to keep Ava busy while she was awake through the ride. I think that her love for Elmo has reached an all-time high - she now has a "travel Elmo" that stays with her in the car, and one that she sleeps with each night. She often asks to watch Elmo (we try to limit TV to an as-needed basis only, like when we need a shower) or to wear her Elmo clothes. That girl loves her some Elmo.
We took off and headed to St. Louis, stopping at a nice rest-stop on the way for a picnic lunch and some good running time for the A-train.
Dad and Ava checking out the stop. |
Found herself a stick...
She slept the rest of the way there so she was well rested for our next adventure! As soon as we hit St. Louis, we were off to the Magic House, a children's museum similar to (but larger and newer than) Wonderscope in Shawnee. We had a great time!
We started with the bubbles....Ava wanted to stand inside like the big kids, and have the large bubble made around her...
Tea party time!
Ava and daddy made some magnetic art, placing items on the large magnetic wall...
Next was the large Lite-Brite....remember those??!
And crawling around the crawl tunnel. When she came around the corner she had a HUGE smile on her face!
...and a water table...
....a ball pit...
...and a market to shop in...
...a mouse maze...
...and a tree house. I am pretty sure dad was more excited than Ava about this one!
We had to tear her away from the phone - little chatterbox!
....found a baby to feed at the Children's hospital.
The Magic House was perfect fun for this little one!
At dinner that night, Ava treated us to her very own monkey and lion impressions. Too cute...
So the next day we took our first trip to the zoo. Loved it! The best part was having Dena spend the day with us!
"That way Aunt Dena!" |
Watching the animals with daddy. |
Giraffes |
Obviously, camels are pretty funny.
Ava waving to the camels...
And jumping with the kangaroos!
Off we went to lunch at the zoo. It's tough finding foods that she can eat when we are out, so I've been relying on freeze dried fruit, pouches of applesauce and other veggies, and Larabars. She loves french fries, so as a treat she at some of those, too (and fed the remainder to the ducks by our table). Well fed and full, we were off to see more animals....lions, tigers, more monkeys, birds, and all sorts of small critters.
"Where did that animal go??!" |
More monkeys - these guys were a lot smaller! |
And it's pacifier time - we were quickly approaching naptime. Ava snuggled up to daddy while watching the penguins waddle, dive, and swim in their cold habitat.
And she's out! She slept the for the remainder of the zoo, while Josh, Dena, and I walked around and talked. Surprisingly, she continued to sleep through the car ride too for a 3 hour nap. Wait, maybe that shouldn't have been a surprise since she woke up at 3 am (both mornings!!) and refused to go back to sleep. Didn't we know that 3 am is playtime, not sleep time??! Silly mom and dad....
The hippos were really amazing to see and HUGE! This was the view from the top, but we also got to watch them swim from the glass tank as well.
Seriously? Who needs a sign to remind you not to swim with those huge, scary, angry looking hippos?! One of them got a good look at me and preceded to give me the stink-eye until I left.
After naptime, we headed back to Dena and Breanne's place. Dena and John were awesome hosts, making us a great dinner and letting Ava run and explore the apartment. After Ava went down to sleep, we finished off the night by watching UNC and KU victories - score for all of us!
Saturday we packed up and headed home. Of note, if you are stopping in Boonville for lunch, we do NOT recommend the Mexican restaurant - even though it was very busy, it was almost unedible! Yuck!
Thanks for the great new luggage Grandma Patty and Grandpa Chuck! Ava got a new monkey at the zoo, too! |
While in Boonville we stopped at McDonald's so that Ava could play outside in their play area. Yes, I am that mom that lets her run in those public play areas. She's got a good immune system, she can handle it. :)
Anyone notice that Josh is carrying my new purse for me? What a great guy... |
What a great mini-vacation! I would love to start planning another one, but after Ava's sleep debacle, I don't that a trip will be in our future anytime soon. Maybe just a mommy-daddy vacation instead!!