Fourth of July Weekend

I was so happy this year when the 4th fell on Saturday, giving us a three day weekend off of work.  We took full advantage and left Thursday evening after work to head to Kansas City.  Lyle hitched a ride in the van with Grammy and Papa (DVD player for the win!), and Little Miss slept the entire way with us.  Amazing.

We packed up and headed to the Kansas City Zoo Friday morning.  Lyle has been fascinated with polar bears lately, so we made a bee-line for that exhibit first.  He loved them!

The weather was beautiful in the morning, and was perfect for walking around.  We rode the train and found some shade to eat lunch.

Lyle with his hands in the air like he was riding a roller coaster!  Hilarious!

And we made the carousel a family affair!  It was so much fun to act like kids!

The penguin exhibit was awesome!  

After lunch some of the girls left to get pedicures and the rest of the bunch found more animals, and rode the tram and sky rail.  Aria of course woke up as soon as we got inside the nail salon, so she spent the time on my lap.  In all she did well, but was definitely squirmy!

For dinner we hit up a Hibachi grill-a family favorite.  Lyle was terrified of the flames and sat on the floor throughout dinner.

Saturday morning Aria and I headed downtown to meet a good friend from college for coffee.  It was so great to catch up, if only for a short time!

We met the rest of the family at West Bottoms, a group of antique shops that are open the first weekend of the month.  It was a fun mix of antiques, refurbished finds, and handmade crafts.  It was such a cool place to look around!  We are definitely going to plan another weekend to go and shop!

Lyle made an awesome fort behind the couch. 

Aria has been starting to eat solid foods.  Those beginning faces when they are tasting new foods are the BEST!  This was her applesauce face.

Lunch and naps were next on the list, then we headed out for Lyle's surprise...Shave Ice!

Sweet kiddos in their Fourth of July attire!  I made everyone take pictures BEFORE they got their shaved ice.  (Mommy is learning!)

After supper the girls and the kids headed out to find fireworks.  Lyle and Aria helped steer the carts at Hyvee.  I wish our stores had carts where they could sit beside each other!!!  It is awesome!

We found a great grassy spot in front of the hospital, across the street from the display.  The bugs were out, but not horrible with bug spray, and it was the first Fourth of July in forever it wasn't a million degrees outside.  Both kids loved the fireworks, and it was a perfect amount of time to be out.

A little pre-show nap for Aria and game playing for Lyle.

Sunday morning we headed to church with Kodi and Shawn.  The main reason for our trip was to be able to attend Kodi's baby shower in the afternoon.  It was such a special shower, and so wonderful to be able to share in the excitement with her.  It is hard to believe that next month their sweet baby will be here!!!

Lyle made a house under the table with the bags and wrapping paper.  Everything these days turns into a fort or house.

After the shower we helped unload gifts at the house, and packed up to head home.  Lyle emphatically told us, that he was not going in the car, he was staying there with Uncle Shawn!!!  Luckily for us, he fell asleep before we were out of town.

He woke up three times on the way home, and said the following things:
-"Koko's house"

-"chicken nuggets"

Lyle: "Where's mama?
Me: "Right here, buddy."
Lyle: "No, my mama."
Me, taking off my sunglasses: "Lyle, I AM mama!"
Lyle: "Ohhh"
-I think he was still pretty much asleep, lol!

Aria only screamed for thirty minutes in the middle of the trip, until we could stop at a gas station and I changed and fed her.  Then she was a happy camper.  (Could be so much worse, I know!)

It was such a fun weekend, and it's so exciting to think the next trip we plan to KC will be for a new baby!