Weekend

How was your weekend? Mine was great. I get to spend 3 days with my most favorite boys. We left Friday afternoon headed for St. Louis. We got to St. Louis in time for a late dinner. Eli did really well in the car even when I knew he was probably getting hungry. We had been given a gift card to Chili's so we typed it in on the Garmin and within 4 miles of our hotel, we found one. We paid $9 and we all ate very well. It was one of the best, hot, $9 meals I have had in a long time. When we finished eating we headed to the hotel, got checked in and went down to the indoor swimming pool. Chris and Dylan had a great time. It was a little too cool for Eli and I so I took him back upstairs to our room and let him play in the bath. He had much more fun with that. Of course, when Dylan got there he wanted to play in the bath, too. It was a full house in such a small tub. We're used to the big whirlpoool jetted tub for bathtime. Kids are easily adjusted, though. Friday night sleep was a bit of a challenge. We were all in one room and it was unfamiliar territory for Eli so it took a while of crying before he finally settled. Dylan had a runny nose and couldn't get comfortable so he tossed and turned until 1 or 2 in the morning.

Rise and shine at 7 am. We got ready, went downstairs to eat breakfast, and headed off to the zoo. We found a free parking lot just across the bridge from the zoo entrance. Zoo parking is $10 and people must start showing up at 8 in the morning to get a good street side parking spot. We probably drove 1/2 mile down the road from the zoo looking for a good parking spot against the curb. When we turned around and headed back we spotted the Turtle Park and went over there. We didn't see any charges listed so we parked. It was actually closer than most of the curb-side parking. We had to wait in line to get our Safari Pass. If you are a Dickerson Park Zoo member you get a Safari Pass for half-price. It's totally worth it. We got to ride the train which is normally $4 per person. We rode the Conservation Carousel which is typically $2 per person. We got to go in the Children's Zoo and I don't know what the cost is for that. We also went to the Sea Lion Show and I'm unsure of that cost. We paid only $5 for the Safari Pass so it was definitely a money saver. Zoo entrance is free which is really cool. They have a very nice zoo and lots of walking paths with beautiful scenery. It's done very well. I think my favorite exhibit was probably the penguins. They are in this artic area which is very cold but when the penguins are swimming in the water you are literally so close you could reach out and touch them (if you were allowed). There were so many of them and we got to see them interacting and playing and swimming. Very cool exhibit. We also got to see the polar bear. He was outside which surprised me because I expected him to be in the artic area, also. He was up roaming back and forth but he didn't have anyone to play with and I'm not sure if he had any toys. The chimpanzees were also cool! They were running and playing and their environment looked so natural. They had one that looked funny because they had shaved all his hair. I don't know if it was health reasons or if he was old, but it looked interesting. Eli did really great. I thought he would get tired and cranky but he didn't. He whined once or twice and we gave him his pacifier but he didn't really want it. I could tell he was wearing out and so I laid back the stroller and by 1:45p.m. he just passed out in it. We left about 30 minutes later and he slept all the way back to the hotel. Then, Chris magically got him back to sleep in the hotel room and we all took a nap. We got the boys up around 4:45p.m. and headed down to "The Hill". We had been told this was a version of Little Italy and we both love pasta.

We had been told Zia's was a great restaurant. We got there at 5:20 and it took us about 10 minutes to find a parking spot and walk back 2 blocks to the restaurant. She told us it would be about 30 minutes. That was doable. Eli would be hungry but we thought we could hold him off until that time. At 6:15 we went back in to tind out how much longer and she said they still had a few small tables in front of us. A few minutes later they called a party of 10 and then a party of 5. They weren't small groups by any means. Well, if you know me I started to get a little impatient. I was holding a 20 pound baby and there was nowhere to put him down. Chris was entertaining Dylan because it's really hard for a 3-year old to have to stand in a small spot for an hour. We got called at about 6:45 and headed back to our table. Well, by this time I probably had high blood pressure. I was thinking...if they would have said an hour we may not have stayed but if we did at least I would have been more prepared. Instead they said 30 minutes and it took 1 hour and 15 minutes. Crazy?! So, we get seated and our waiter is so busy he doesn't even bring us water for about 7 minutes. I'm a little hot under the collar. Dylan is by this time actually complaining about being hugnry and I'm sure the waiter is going to bring us some bread to snack on with our water so we can at least get some sort of nourishment. No! He brings us water and takes our appetizer order. Then, with our appetizer he brings out a loaf of bread. Now we can eat our appetizer so the bread isn't as important. But then we taste the toasted ravioli. Our bellies are quenched. It's so good! We start to relax and finally take off our jackets. We start to talk and laugh and then we actually got to enjoy the rest of our dinner there. It kind of ruined the evening though because we wanted to go walk around by the arch and stuff but since it was so dark we didn't see much. Dylan at least go to see what we were talking about. He really wants to go back so we can go up in it. At least, he says he does. I don't know how he would actually do once we stuck him in the little cart and it was close quarters. I guess we'll see when he's a little older.

Sunday was rainy, cold, wet, and extra windy. We took our time getting around in the morning and let the boys play in the room for a while. Around 9:30 we checked out and headed to Union Station. For a tourist attraction there isn't much there. We paid $2 for parking and that was too much if you ask me. There are no good shops in there and very few people. I was not impressed. I had been there before and I guess I had forgotten how lame it was. We left there for The Galleria. It's a big shopping mall. They are doing renovations to it but had covered the construction on the inside very well. We had a good time just cruising around the mall. We ate a quick lunch at a nearby Quizno's (thanks to our Garmin) and then went to the Science Center. I have been there a few times before and enjoyed myself but it's not a real great attraction for 3-year olds. Dylan was not impressed. He got to build a few things in one area and play a computer game in another place but I honestly think his favorite part was going to the Omnimax waiting area where no one was and he had plenty of room to run in circles. That was probably the highlight of his day. It had stopped raining by that time but still remained cold. We thought we would cruise by Grant's Farm on the way out of town and let Dylan see the Clydesdale horses. He couldn't see them very well in his car seat from the road and they had closed early due to the weather so that will be something we have to go back for some other time.

So, how was our hotel? We booked a Comfort Inn & Suites in Hazelwood, MO. It's about 10 miles from Forest Park. It's right off the highway so it's easy to get in and out. The rooms were very clean, service was great, and the continental breakfast was everything you could ask for. For breakfast, they had waffle mix and a waffle maker. You could pour in your own batter and cook them. Deliciouso! They also had boiled eggs, cereal, toast, danishes, muffins, bagels, apples, oranges, bananas, yogurt, and oatmeal. They had a couple different kinds of coffee, apple juice, orange juice, milk, and water. There were plenty of choices and for it to be included in the price...I have zero complaints. They kept the dining area very clean and while you were eating breakfast there was someone re-stocking the food and cleaning up after everyone. I have not had a bad experience with the Comfort Inn & Suites I have stayed in and I believe this is the 2nd or 3rd one.

I guess that pretty much sums it up. For an inexpensive weekend, we had a great one and the best part was we were all together.