Omaha

We've been wanting to get back to the Omaha zoo for 4 years now and it just seems like all the summer weekends keep getting busy and school is only 2 weeks away! So about 2 weeks ago we decided we'd just do it (keeping our eyes on the weather for that day to make our final decision). I left work about 3, got home and packed and then we went to pick up the girls from daycare and got on the road about 4:30. Steve had NOT been feeling good most of the day, even left work early to nap in hopes that would help but it didn't. So I drove and he had the pleasure of dealing with the girls on the way, they were pretty good minus the 15 minute meltdown by P, right before we got to the hotel!

We checked in to the hotel room (thank you Taleena for getting us the room!), and walked a block to The Mattress Factory for dinner! Despite the girls hardly eating anything for dinner and having to 'go potty' (aka check out the bathroom) twice, they kept occupied and were pretty good.

We got back to the room and changed to go swimming, since Steve still wasn't feeling good, I was the lucky one to get in the pool with them. Presley loved it! Now we just need to get her swimming by herself! Piper was scared, but once I brought her into the water with me (against her will) then she liked it and was good!

Getting two kids to sleep in the same hotel room is a challenge! Especially when Steve doesn't feel good and wants to be asleep and it's 9:30 and I'm not really THAT ready for bed on a Friday! But by 10:30 we were all out!

 

We woke up and slowly got ready, we were in no hurry and had no timeline which was nice. We got in the zoo about 10:30 (after fighting the crowds waiting for tickets! I had to find my patience!)

The penguins were my favorite!!!!

Presley like the giraffes....their tongues are so long and gross!

This gorilla sat on this viewing bubble, you could stand in it with him right above you! It was pretty cool to watch him look down at people, their hands pressed up against his. Then he threw up in one hand and started scooping it into this mouth with the other, it was really gross!

The orangutans had a new baby! So new and so cute!

Then we tried the merry-go-round. This was Piper's first time. Again, we just had to make her do it....she resisted at first but then LOVED it!

I was so proud of her liking this (hopefully this will continue for Adventureland in a couple weeks!)

Daddy's girl Piper watching the polar bear with daddy!

I thought this thing was fake. It wasn't.

Turkey vulture looking straight at me.

 

We left about 3 and headed home. Piper fell asleep within minutes and Presley kept herself occupied with the ipad. About a 1/2 hour outside of DSM, Presley asked literally every minute when we were going to be home. Piper finally woke up and we decided we were going to risk one more outing with them, Texas Roadhouse for dinner. There was a 30 minute wait, but since it was nice outside they could run around a little so it wasn't too bad. They did pretty good at dinner, it's a good thing it is loud in there so people can't hear them fighting or being whiny, but overall we have definitely had worse experiences with them (maybe our expectations are very low for them at this point?!).

 

It was still nice to get home, unpacked, showered and have some time to chill before we all crashed! The best part of doing Friday/Saturday? We still have ALL Sunday at home to get stuff done! Target, groceries, laundry, some sprinker time outside, then we went to Mary's birthday party (Steve worked on the shed from about noon to 5 and it's almost ready for siding!). Busy weekend, but worth it!