Our 4th of July: Part 2 ( Week 27)

At the end of last week we headed down to Columbus to visit their zoo, aquarium and water park. All three things Audrey loved (as did I) and last minute we decided to take my little brother along... it was a really fun weekend. I have a ton of pictures but here are a few from our trip!
 A 3 day weekend in Columbus :)

First night: Dave and Busters!

We had another couple and their kids with us as well as their nephews so a lot of kids but they were very good.

Day 1: Zoombezi Bay

Audrey is in heaven in any water park and with 100 degree plus temps we had a lot of fun!

I brought my little brother Dylan because as a 15 year old in the summer he does not have a whole lot going on. I warned him on the ages of kids but I think he had fun and he helped me a lot with Audrey! He is such a great kid and I hope when my kids are his age they are half as good of kids as he is! He thanked me numerous times and was very grateful and polite for me taking him. What a good kid he is!! And Audrey just loves him :)

Evenings were spent playing basketball at the hotel

"Monitoring the children"

Or the kids were in the pool... she is a fish!

Marco Polo with Uncle D

Summer and Audrey

Hanging with the big kids!

Day 2: Columbus Zoo

I was really impressed with their zoo. I am so glad we decided to do this weekend because it was perfect for Audrey! I hope to make this a yearly trip once Chris is home because everything is connected and Audrey had a blast!

Ice cream on a hot day!

And it was military day at the zoo on Saturday... sooo you know that meant I was welling up with tears most of the day. Men in uniform and men who I know were military (you know the look) with their families were everywhere. At one point 3 military personnel in their uniforms walked by and Audrey said, "Look at the army guys Mom, it looks like my Dad!" As the men turned around and waved at her and then smiled at me. Ahhh breaks my heart! But she is so proud and unaware that behind my sunglasses I had tears streaming down my face. 

Looks just like Daddy!

Petting Zoo

And then she insisted on a face paint

This was so cool... you could view the polar bears from above but you could also go underneath and they played in the water and you could walk below them! Audrey loved it but there was a ton of people down there.

Baby foxes trying to stay cool.

Moose!

Asian Adventure!

This was the best exhibit... huge bats hanging! We could have watched them for hours!

Audrey loved the monkeys... they kept coming up to the glass and playing with her!

I am 26 and I think this is the first time I have ever seen flamingos in real life! I was just as amazed as Audrey!

Aquarium!

Watching the keeper feel the penguins

Touching turtles

The life...

Like I said, I was really impressed with their zoo. We have been to some other zoos and aquariums elsewhere but I really like Columbus! We will definitely be back! Hopefully we can make this an annual summer trip to visit the water park and zoo in Columbus!

27 weeks down and although Chris' homecoming date has been pushed back a little :( we are still chuggin' along until he comes home. We are almost half way through July already. We have such a busy fall coming up once Chris gets home and before we know it we will be getting ready for Christmas. I can't wait!!