St Louis - Part 3 - The Zoo

Blog friends - happy Sunday!  I haven't updated this week because we have been busy loving life - but Lilli is taking a nap still (in her BIG GIRL BED-more on that later!) so I am going to try to finish my St. Louis Recap before I forget the details!

I left off after our first day of the Zoo.  Last year we did one day of the Zoo and it just wasn't enough.  Since it is FREE and we had a free shuttle, we decided to do two days this year.  I am glad we did!  This time we bought the "Safari Pass" which was 10 dollars a person but we thought well worth it.  We typically give a donation to the Zoo before we left so it was ok to pay for something while there! 

The Safari Pass included-
Rides on the Carousel
Rides on the Train
Sea Lion Show
Children's Zoo Admission
3-D Movie

So we did ALL of that!  By far, Lilli's favorite was the TRAIN!  She is still talking about how it went through a tunnel - she was mesmerized.  We rode it all the way around the zoo at one point and she was in Heaven.  Momma was in Heaven because I didn't have to walk as much this day - we just took the train from one part of the Zoo to another - much quicker!

Here are some photos from this day -

Leaving the hotel-such a big girl!

 

Waving to people while on the train!





Sea Lion Show - I think we enjoyed it more than her, she was ready to ride the train some more



We took late naps and had an even later dinner - but that was ok because it was vacation!  The next morning we got up and had breakfast - followed by a final swim - then headed back home.  

This year

And last year!

We had an uneventful ride home (thank goodness!) and even found a Chili's restaurant since it was my birthday and I was craving it!  She did great in the car, even sleeping about 45 minutes.

Overall it was a wonderful mini-vacation! 

St Louis - 2011 - The Zoo

On Friday morning, Jason and I woke up to find Lilli still sleeping soundly!

Since she has never slept in our bed we weren't sure how she would do - well, we ended up getting ready in the bathroom AND I went downstairs to get breakfast (since they would close at 9) while she slept!  We ate our breakfast in the kitchen of our suite and when she woke around 9:30 we were ready to head to the zoo!

How hilarious is Miss Sassy Britches!?

Here are some of my favorites from the zoo.  It was hot, but we had a nice breeze.  I didn't get "miserable" until around lunch time - so we left without eating lunch (just had leftovers from PF Changs the night before at our room)



This peacock roamed the zoo and we saw it several times!





She HAD to have her snacks and drink!



This is my FAVORITE photo!

After about 3 hours we headed back for naps and dinner at The Cheesecake Factory (across the street).  I wanted proof that I was around this day so I tried to get a picture - she was not interested!

We had a delicious dinner and went for a walk around the Galleria Mall.  We took her to Build a Bear so she could pick out an amimal we saw at the Zoo.  She chose a tiger (who her Daddy named Stripes) and loved on it all night. 

We had so much fun!





St Louis - 2011 - The Magic House

Hello blog friends!

We just returned from another trip to St. Louis.  For those that don't know, it is one of our favorite cities.  Jason and I went there when we were dating in 2004 - then he proposed there in 2005 - then we went for Lilli's first vacation in 2010 and again now in 2011.  We love that it is about 3 hours but we can spend a long weekend with so much to do!

This is going to be picture heavy, so bear with me!  Remember you can click on any picture to make it bigger (that is for you, mom!)

Thursday -
We left home as soon as Lilli woke up and stopped first for a breakfast at Chik-Fil-A.  Be still my heart.  I have been wanting their little chicken yeast rolls for YEARS, no joke.  I just never go near one at breakfast time so it was a definite on our list!

We arrived in St. Louis around 1:00 - after some crappy directions (I hate getting them from the internet - ugh) we took the long "scenic" route to get to Kirkwood, where the Magic House is located.  We stopped at Deweys, a local pizza place recommended on some travel forums.  I had a pizza with green peppers, onions and sausage - something I never eat - but my pregnancy palate is much more advanced than normal!  It was yummy - and Lilli loved to eat the parmesan cheese on the table!

 We had talked up the trip so much - she was SO excited!

Here is a link to the Magic House.

We stayed about 2.5 hours and Lilli was worn out at the end (as were Mommy and Daddy) and we still didn't see it all!

Alice and Wonderland exhibit -

Trying to get a photo of the two of us - this is what she wanted to do!  In fact, there will be FEW photos of Lilli and me (and none of the 3 4 of us) because she wanted nothing to do with that!

She did hug the rabbit, though -

But her favorite things were the sand and water table - 

They were in two seperate rooms - in an area specifically for kids under 6.  I loved that she could get her hands wet and sandy and make a mess and I didn't have to clean it up!

 They also had a village just for kids - she enjoyed grocery shopping (and made me proud when she put ALL her groceries back on the correct shelves when finished!) and playing in the house.  She also loved the baby nursery!



Fishing in the pond!

  

Can you spot the best part of this picture --- It's JASON holding my girly diaper bag!!


 I have to add here - any time Lilli hears a baby cry we ask her why the baby is crying.  She always responds with "Mommy hold her..want some milk and hold her and a hotdog" and I get so tickled every time!

Making shadows on the wall-

Finishing up the Magic House by playing with the balls - she thought it was hilarious.

We left when we were all worn out and headed to our hotel in Richmond Heights.  Last year we stayed here and loved it so much we came back again!  We stayed at the Hilton Homewood Suites by the St. Louis Galleria.  Favorite parts of the hotel - huge rooms (we had a suite last year which was perfect for her pack-n-play) free breakfast (with waffles and REAL food like sausage and bacon - Jason's faves!) and a free shuttle to the zoo, among other places.  The prices were better than hotels near Forest Park - so that was enough to get me to come back! 

That night we planned to grab dinner at P.F. Changs since it was just across the street.  Lilli had to model her dress for me before we left -



She has her Daddy's long, muscular legs.  I'm jealous!



After our yummy dinner we came back to the hotel to swim - which was probably L's favorite part!  She was grinning so big I bet her cheeks hurt!  I didn't take my camera because I didn't want it to get wet - but she giggled and laughed so much!

We finished the night with a call to Nana and PawPaw back home!

Lilli has NEVER slept in the bed with us.  So we were all a bit nervous how she would do sharing a king size bed for the weekend.  It took her a while to wind down but she ended up doing great!

I'm posting now and will do Part 2 soon!