Despite some last minute flight changes and virtually no layover going or coming home, Charlie was a pro on all four flights. He played with his new games, enjoyed his snacks, flirted with flight attendants, earned his first set of wings and even napped a little. Jason and I were so proud of him...and by the time he goes to college we might actually stop fearing airplane trips!
Now, if the travel to and fro was great, our 44 hours in Kansas City were outstanding...short, but outstanding! After warmly greeting BaBa in the airport and riding the suitcase to the car, Charlie quickly crashed, giving Jason, Debbie and me a chance to catch up all the way back to Lee's Summit. Then he slept until 6:39 Central Time on Saturday morning...I tell you, Charlie is awesome!
Our adventures truly began Saturday morning when we met Great Uncle Jim, Great Aunt Jan and Great Uncle Sam for breakfast (after a Zinger appetizer at home with PaPa). Charlie showed off his massive appetite and giggled and chattered away with all of us, when he wasn't charming ladies at nearby tables.
From breakfast we went straight to the Kansas City Zoo to meet Nikita, the polar bear...whose hair is clear, by the way, not white! Who knew?
With BaBa, PaPa, Uncle Travis, Aunt Natalie, Cousin Ellie, Uncle Stephen, Aunt Ashley and Cousin Landon, we braved the frigid temperatures (low 40s...but remarkably comfortable in the sun) to visit the red faced kangaroo (it was National Red Faced Kangaroo, after all), the monkeys, the sheep, the tiger and various other animals.
As Jason can attest, I'm not much of a nature lover, but I had an absolute ball at the zoo. Why? Because Charlie is awesome!
Charlie crashed hard in the car on the way from the zoo to Crown Center -- we were actually afraid he might sleep through lunch at Fritz's, but being Charlie he woke up just in time to see the train lower his hamburger to the table and to swipe a few of Uncle Travis' fries.
After exploring the Crayola store and greeting all of the Crown Center shoppers who happened walk to through the main entrance (from the 2nd floor balcony), Charlie got to tour the new 2900 building (aka Midwest Shredding South) and drive his first tractor with a little help from PaPa. If he hadn't had so much fun from the moment he woke up, I would swear this was the best moment of Charlie's life so far...but I think I might just have to chalk it up to the best all-around day...topped off by Jack's Stack, poker, cookies and cousins back at BaBa and PaPa's house.
All of that, and Sunday was actually the focus of our trip back! Following a relaxed morning of waffles and games around the house, we all headed to Loose Mansion to celebrate Nanie's seventy-fifth birthday. In addition to roaming the halls and posing for pictures, Charlie had his first rootbeer, care of Uncle Chris, and his first cream puff -- well, cream at least. He was more than willing to "share" the puff part with Great Aunt Lina.
As the party drew to an end, PaPa whisked us all back up to KCI just in time to catch our flight, and Charlie played his heart out until we broke the cloud cover over Atlanta. Then leaning against the window see all the lights, his "whoas" abruptly switched to "zzzzz's", and Charlie slept all the way back to Charleston -- waking up just in time to announce that we were climbing into Daddy's truck.
Jason and I are both a bit shell-shocked by the excitement, adventure and fun of the past two days, but Charlie is entirely unphased...yep, you got it...Charlie is awesome!
Welcome to Kansas City!
A Zinger a day...
Breakfast of Champions
Hello!
Cousins!
Chugga, chugga...
Choo-Choo!
Riding off into the sunset, PaPa style
Elizabeth, could you please pass the crumpets?
I'll hold
Waffle Lessons
First Rootbeer
Happy Birthday, Nanie!
...zzzzz
Sounds like a fantastic time! And I love the pictures. Can't wait to see you guys in Dec, when the trip is a bit longer than 44 hours!
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