Travel Plans Gone Awry

So we're on Spring Break. We had grand plans...to introduce Xavier to his cousin Conner in NJ. Then there was a sprinkling of snow on Friday...and the airports shut down on Saturday. Because it was spring break all flights were full and we were once again unable to take a trip to the east coast. This is getting old - not that we're bitter, ok we are - but we didn't have anything planned this week at home. If you recall from a previous post, I mentioned that it is a MUST to have interesting plans to keep a toddler busy. Frankly, I thought we were doomed.

So Saturday we rode around town with luggage in the trunk of the car hoping against hope to get out. Sunday we hung out with my sister and brother (my parents did get out and are in Mexico!). Monday we went shopping for some b-day presents. It was a very warm day and we let Xavier run around the Oakbrook Mall. He caught sight of a few toddlers with balloons and stopped to stare and yell bomba (balloon)! He was so excited...not sure if it was to see the balloons or that he knew what they were called. So we asked the family where they got them and found out it was in the kids shoe section of Nordstrom. Decided to check it out and hopefully get a balloon out of the long walk. As soon as Xavier got the balloon he began to beat on it and cry! He was so upset that is was flying away from him (helium, child). We had to run out of the store immediately. Xavier beat on the balloon and yelled mine and mio the whole way out. I was sure everyone was staring and thinking we were raising a very violent baby. He popped the balloon (very loudly) in the car. Didn't seem to faze him. Tuesday we decided to take it easy and ran some errands and went to Chinatown for lunch. We thought it would be a perfect day for dim sum since it was a weekday and probably very quiet at our favorite restaurant...it was, until we got there. Xavier insisted on saying hi and bye to everyone in a very loud voice and laughing and singing, also very loundly, with some screeches thrown in for good measure. He was happy, through a minor cold and new teeth coming in, but too loud to stay there so we ended lunch early.

Wednesday brought a new adventure as we decided we absolutely needed something to do for all our sakes. So we drove to Cincinnati. Hey, they have a great zoo...yes, so do we but we also had lots of rain and it was cold. It was 80 degrees in Cincy! The grass was green and daffodils had bloomed and we walked around without jackets or sweaters...it felt like summer (not spring) had arrived. Daniel even walked around in shorts and a t-shirt.

The drive was about 5 hours with pit stops...here's a shot in the car...it was good practice for a road trip we're planning this summer.

We walked around a cute neighborhood and had a sleep over at the Gaslight B&B. In the morning we ate a yummy breakfast while Xavier slept in.
This was our room and you can see where we set up Xavi's pack n play. The living room...It actually was relaxing to get away.

Here we are at the manatee exhibit. No flash allowed so this is the best I could do.

Though the weather was perfect the day before, the day at the zoo was not as nice, it rained a bit on us. We waited the rain out with the sea cows and some tutles, Xavi learned to say tortuga.

Here's the Rhino and an eagle that is taller than Xavier.

When we got into back in the city we went straight to the med to eat. Because eating in restaurants isn't going too well these days, we played in the lot while D ordered and waited for dinner to arrive.

Here's Xavi sliding on his own. He's becoming quite a daredevil and now goes down the slide head first! I didn't go up with him, because he can do it on his own, so this was all his idea.

And a few other ways. Knees first and feet first.

At least he has some fear...he closes his eyes when he gets close to the bottom...

Today, Friday, was back to business as usual. Xavier went to daycare and I worked for a bit and ran errands. No special plans for the weekend, a cancelled playdate...we'll think of something.