Best. Weekend. Ever.

This past weekend we took our first "family vacation". No, it wasn't to the sandy beaches of Florida or to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado--we simply drove 2 hours to Omaha and stayed for a couple of days. We had a blast and it was the perfect little getaway for our family. We left around noon on Friday and spent a couple of hours at the Children's Museum. The kids could have stayed there all day, and thanks to our zoo membership here, we got in free!

 

 Sage wanted nothing to do with the stick bug, but Drew got right up close--so close that we thought he was going to smash the poor thing.

 We climbed to the top of the ant farm. The museum was so neat and hands-on for the kids!

 After the museum, we checked into our hotel and luckily were able to upgrade our single room to a two-room suite. It worked perfectly for nap time and bed time. There was also a water park attached that we spent countless hours in. The water was really warm and Sage and Drew loved the slides. There was a smaller, toddler-friendly area that they spent most of their time in. It was perfect.

 We started Saturday at the zoo. Our double-stroller and plethora of snacks kept the kids happy all day. It had rained over night so the weather was beautiful when we got there. By noon it was 103 degrees, but we kept cool in the shade and indoor exhibits. The kids weren't phased at all by the heat. 

 The gorillas were highly-entertaining!

Sage and Drew loved the walking tunnel through the aquarium. They were amazed by the sharks, giant turtles, sting rays and multitude of colorful fish. Drew kept asking for "more".

 After lunch and a long nap, we came across an unexpected treasure near Old Market. It is called Heartland Park--the perfect afternoon stroll along the lake, enjoying nature (and, again, lots of snacks and our double-stroller). 

 A block up from the park was this double-slide in the Old Market area. The regulars used waxed paper and cardboard to make the most of their slide down. 

 Sage learned quickly about friction, before we bummed a piece of cardboard and then she couldn't get enough. She went down on her own time and time again.

Drew was fearless and loved sliding down with Ross. We had to talk them into mac n' cheese and "cow" yogurt at Panera to get them to want to leave.

Saturday night we grabbed dinner and went back to the hotel to enjoy the water park. Both kids zonked out as soon as they hit their beds that night.  Sunday we drove back home after breakfast. It was the best weekend ever... with kids! :) :)

Getting in a Groove

Since Galena I've felt like we're really getting into a solid routine with summer and we're having so much fun! Every day we have lots of cuddles and laughs and plenty of time playing pretend and being silly. Drew has taken on his identity in our family as the comedian, while Sage can be quite the mother hen. Sage gets to do daily projects with me during Drew's nap time and then she has quiet time herself. She hasn't really napped at home in at least six months, but she actually looks forward to her quiet time each day. Most days she does fall asleep, but just the other day she watched me do yard work from her bedroom window for over an hour. She was happy--I was happy, it was great!!!

All of a sudden laundry has been piling up faster than usual because the kids can go through three or four outfits a day. Now I've learned to just let them run around in as minimal clothing as possible, so when they dig in the sandbox, help plant flowers, or mulch the yard, I can just hose them off.  Drew also thinks he's a big boy now so he has boycotted the baby swings and prefers the big kid swings.

We try to have at least one outting a day--the splash park, zoo, Target, a park, etc. I find that if we don't get out in the morning, then the days tend to drag. Plus, getting them out and running wears them out for nap time!  Today we made a day trip to Matt and Lauren's in Swaledale for some good ol' family farming experience. Upon our arrival I told Lauren that we saw a combine on the way in--to which she informed me that I actually didn't because it's not harvest time and that's the only time that I would see a combine. I'm pretty sure that she gets a kick out of my ignorance about farm life, but I'm slowly learning. Sage did get to sit in a combine while she was there and also up in a tractor. Lauren told her all about corn and bean heads, augers, grain bins and dryers, etc. (Hopefully I got all of those terms right, Lauren). and Drew just followed suit, like a little duckling along the way. He was in his element on the farm and could play with the kitties all day. 

This weekend we are taking a family vacation to Omaha. The fun never stops!

 

 

Unused trash can turned clothes hamper.

 



 We surprised Ross with a Nerf gun battle when he got home from work, just before Father's Day.

 

Girls Getaway Weekend

WHAT?! A post without kid pictures?! It's true--I had a girls getaway to Galena this past weekend and I can't remember the last time I've laughed so hard. It was a weekend full of good food, good drinks, good stories, lots of laughs, and great memories created with friends that I haven't seen in way too long. Ross also had a great time with the kids back home, so it was a win-win for everyone! :)

 

Thanks, Kelsey, for letting us use your parent's cabin!! :) :)