Hot hot hot! Weekend in Omaha

The heat is on... in Omaha! We were just so sick and tired of the perfect 75degree summer days in Chicago. Heat, schmeat, it's worth giving up our urban paradise for a little quality time with G&G Omaha. The heavily hyped zoo, with its new play ground and Alaska themed splash park were not to disappoint.

but who needs a fancy schmancy playground when you have a pride of bronze lions?

ur, hippos I mean!

Better yet, lizard, yeah,they give better hugs.

Brock the bee...

Brock the butterfly...

Awesome little river for us to wade through. Brock could have spent another 30 minutes here, happily pouring water from a bucket down a side stream, but there was so much more to see!

Egg tutorial. As to who was tutoring who here, was questionable.

Murray eggs, you imbeciles!

Pull yourself across the water raft.

Set up for the perfect family schroom photo.

A fine beginning...

oook...

wha wha whaaaa....chaos ensues.

Parakeet aviary, in the fashion as the one we recently visited at the farm. It was so hot the birds just did not want to move. or eat. or live.

Alaska splash park!! This one picture cannot do it any justice. I think we were frolicking too much to take photos or were locked into the stuff-watching zone. Truly a life saver on this suffocating day.

For the price of a twig, you can feed the giraffe! These giraffe are not hurting for snacks, they did not waste their time on small branches.

Then, to lunch! At the perfect spot...Local, specializing in local beer and giant connect 4's! A match made in child/parent shared utopia.

Oh Brock. So wanted to ride this, only to to completely ignore the animals below and obsess over how the cables worked.

If there would have been a pool below I would have jumped. Sharks or no sharks. Hot.

A marathon day! No nap! Full on zoo on! Did I mention that we met Sherri there in dosent mode? Lucky for us! She was in the reptile room. Brock spotted a cricket on ground. Sherri's zoo savvy instructed us to take the unfortunate bug (who thought he was free) into a fish tank that had a particular species that made a fabulous projectile spit prior to eating the thing. It was marvelous. I'm afraid Brock did not have the Sherri touch though, he was lucky enough to find another loose cricket, but not produce a launched luggie.

Brock's fascination with space and pop-up books sealed his awarded ownership of the coveted Haley comet pop-up book. Fun galore.

Speaking of fun galore, Brock had never stepped foot into a toy store. For his impending birthday, G&G Omaha had the brilliant idea of breaking him in and letting him pick out a ceremonial souvenir. It was highly entertaining for us all.

The umbrella, high on Brock's list, also came home with us.

And what toy was the winner? Chosen near the beginning, he did not sway off the path of the giant dive boat. Committed through and through. Small delay near the rainbow balls.

Also insisted on carrying it.

Glory be!! Thanks G&G!!

Jim!! Watch out!! Yes, I wanted to buy the hippo. And the giant rainbow ostrich. No price tag means don't ask. And where were we? the amazing candy store of course!

omg this series must go on a wall.

Murray was here.

While at the toy store, Matt and Grandpa decisively zeroed in on the express-fill water balloons. Varying degrees of total soakage incurred.

A final face off in the pool.

Total moisture domination.

Theeeeennnn, this happened on the way back from Coco Keys. Major rear end. No, this is not self-deprecating humor (but I guess that just was), we're talking slam bam in the poor Flex! Grandma took the blow for all of us, Matt and I and Grandpa got away with just major soreness and mild headaches... Brock thankfully got off without a bonk. The silver lining? We discovered a great Mexican restaurant across the street from the accident. The other silver lining? Uh, everyone was more or less ok and everyone had insurance.

With the crash as a grand finale, we are on our way. A little reminder of how lucky we are to have each other and be happy and healthy. Grandma escorts us to the gate with snuggles and well wishing.

Sigh. Delayed. Oh no! and a shark attack!! Wait a minute...

What a super fun weekend. Thank you G&G for everything, and we are so grateful for all the moments of adventure and joy.