This past Thursday we got back from vacation. We ended up going to Columbus for a few days. There is a deal going on now where you can get two nights at a hotel, tickets to the Columbus Zoo, tickets to COSI and tickets to Zoombezi Bay Waterpark all for $400 (ours was cheaper because we didn't need 4 tickets for each place). We knew we wanted to go on vacation this year but we also figured it probably wouldn't be a good idea to take Avery on an airplane. Knowing our luck she would either A)Get sick the day before we left and we would have to cancel the reservations and lose money or B) catch some weird virus from one of the passengers and get sick when we were out of town or right when we came back. So we played it safe and drove 2 hours to Columbus instead.
This was the longest car ride that Avery had been on and she did really well. She had great timing. She would fall asleep about 15 minutes after we started driving and she woke up when we pulled into the parking lot of the hotel on the way there and on the way home she didn't wake up until we were about 4 streets away from our house.
The first day we were there we met my friend, Sharon, for lunch. We have known each other since kindergarten and it was good to see her.After getting situated in our hotel, we went to Target to get some things for the hotel room including a blanket to throw on the ground for Avery to crawl around on. I can only imagine what is on the carpet in the hotel room. We then went to the mall for a little bit and ate at the Cheesecake Factory. We ended the night at Dave and Busters.
I LOVE the Columbus Zoo! It is so nice and I am sad we don't live closer to it. The new Africa exhibit is really cool. All of the animals throughout the zoo seemed like they are much closer to you than at the Cleveland Zoo, plus not having to walk up any hills is a bonus.
It started raining pretty hard when we were there and so we bought ponchos. Of course 10 minutes after we bought them the rain had stopped. We ended up going with our friend Heide and her two kids, Ella and Mason. Her husband had to work while we were out having fun. Sorry Matt! After the zoo we went back to Matt and Heide's and they cooked a nice spaghetti dinner and then the kids got to play together.Heide ended up getting us into the zoo with her pass so we can come back to the zoo someday. I am so excited!
The next day was our last day and it was supposed to rain so we checked out of the hotel and went to COSI. We didn't spend much time there. There is a large kid's section but Avery can't walk yet so it would have been hard for her to get around in there. Plus the only thing I kept thinking is that is probably just a huge germ fest with all of those kids touching everything. I hate to be that way but that is just how a parent thinks after having a baby in the NICU.
Later in the evening, when we got home from Columbus, I realized I left my work phone in the hotel room. I called the hotel and they said I would have to call back in the morning because the room was occupied. I was praying that the person didn't find the phone and take it home with them. I called the next day and the housekeeper found the phone. My friend Sharon, whom I mentioned earlier, was nice enough to pick it up from the hotel and overnight it to me. Thank you again Sharon!
Overall we had a great time in Columbus and I can't wait to go back.
Mommy Daddy and I at the Parma Rib n Rock. This is the first of many festivals I will go to this summer
Mommy won me a fish! Daddy wasn't too happy with the idea so I let Mommy give it away to another lady who had a little daughter like me.
Hanging out with my cousins, Kassidy and Michael.
Wearing pig tails!
I don't know why but I am fascinated watching people brush their teeth. Mommy and Daddy give me a toothbrush but I don't let them brush my teeth. I know one day soon they are going to force me to brush my teeth but until then, I will just stare in amazement.
Eating cherries for the first time
My cousin Eddie and I were reading a book together
Got the most important thing packed for vacation..me!
Who knew a 21 month old would have so much stuff? There were still more bags that weren't on the luggage rack!
Daddy is setting up my pack n play. Yep, this is vacation..watching him do all the work while i sit on the bed and do nothing.
Mommy and Daddy let me play with the real remote control in the hotel room
Guess what I got at the Cheesecake Factory...a piece of Cheese!
I enjoyed Dave and Busters because of all the lights and sounds. Mommy even won me two stuffed animals from the claw machine!
I loved seeing the monkeys at the zoo
Eating some lunch. This bird really liked Daddy.
Mommy and Daddy looked silly in their ponchos. Daddy was nice and held an umbrella over me when it was pouring.
Checking out the goats. Mommy and Daddy both said we can get some goats once we get a new house!
Chooo Chooo! Riding the train. I had a great time at the zoo even though my face doesn't show it in this picture.
Roar!!! Mason and Ella really wanted to see the dinosaurs but we were all getting a little tired and crabby so we are going to save that for next time. We did get to see one on the way out though
I got to go back to Ella and Mason's house and play with them.
Partying it up with Daddy's whiskey on the last day. I loved playing with these bottles
