For the past 14 Labor Day weekends, we have traveled with Scott and Joy's family to a zoo. I love this tradition that started when Sydney and Jackson were just 2 and 3 years old! This year we decided to stay a little closer to home with our zoo destination being the great one we have in Kansas City. We chose this because we wanted to incorporate a trip to Sedalia, Missouri, into our weekend. You may recall my post earlier this summer about my Grandma Brown, who would have celebrated her 100th birthday on June 18. She went Home in September of 2006, and I think we were all thinking of her and missing her. We wanted to reminisce and tell our children stories about Grandma, so we took off down Highway 50 until we came to Grandma Brown's hometown.
Our first stop was the cemetery, where we were able to show the kids Grandma's grave site. I still can't believe it's been 10 years since we've seen her.
She was buried with my mom's dad, Harry Melvin, who died when my mom was just 12 years old.
This trip was truly a family affair, as Kyle's family was able to join us and of course, Mom and Dad had to be there as well!
Next we drove by the church where we celebrated Grandma's 90th birthday.
This Celebration Center building isn't the actual building Grandma attended each Sunday; rather, it was built as a satellite campus for additional services. Tragically, the historic downtown location (which was built in 1888) burned last May. This is a picture of the beautiful church where my Grandma had the longest membership; the church where my parents were united in marriage 47 years ago; the church where I attended Easter service every year growing up; the church where I would watch my sweet Grandma sing in the choir.
And this is the sobering picture of that same building the morning after the fire 4 months ago.
Now there is simply a grassy field where that beautiful church stood for nearly 130 years. We drove from the downtown a few blocks over to the home where my mother grew up. Wow, does this house bring back memories!
While we were outside remembering all of the good times we'd spent at Grandma's house, the owner (understandably) opened the door to find out what we were doing. After we explained, she very sweetly invited my mom to come inside the house she hadn't seen in over a decade. As you can imagine, it was a very emotional experience for my mom.
Next we went to Centennial Park where Grandma would take us to play. The kids quickly found the swings that I'm sure I used when I was their age.
It really is a pretty park and we explored some more of it with Syd and Lexi.
Next we drove by the site of the Missouri State Fair. . .
. . . and our lunch destination: Kehde's Barbeque.
We had actually planned on riding the train from Kansas City to Sedalia, because when we were kids, this was always a treat to ride the train to see Grandma. Well, as it turned out, the one-hour train ride cost as much as our hotel for the night! Needless to say, we didn't indulge in this. As a consolation prize, we requested to eat our delicious lunch in the train car at Kehde's. I think the kids were perfectly content with this trade.
The kids LOVED the old train car! The girls' table was a bit more crowded than the boys'.
We had the entire back half of the train to ourselves. What a fun lunch!
We had a great morning in Sedalia remembering Grandma. But it looks like I have four little travelers ready to find their next stop at the Kansas City Zoo!
We've been to this zoo a few times in the last several years (with KJ and for Oliver's school field trip), but the last time our Labor Day zoo trip was here, I was pregnant with Miss Violet! Look how cute the kids were then (Baby Brynn!).
The polar bears greeted us once inside.
Yes, they had actual real bears there, too!
Look how big the paw is!
Next we checked out the Lorikeets. Oliver told everyone how CRAZY it was on his 1st grade field trip when we got to feed them.
Unfortunately, we weren't there early enough to get the nectar for feeding them, so we just got to be spectators as others were swarmed by the birds this time.
Next we watched the outside penguins eat their lunch . . .
. . . while the indoor penguins seemed a bit tired. They all looked like statues on this day.
We did find a few active penguins, though: the swimming ones and the smiling ones.
Kyla, Lexi, Evelyn, and Sydney led the way as we walked to Africa next.
Here we got to witness the elephants painting some really cool abstract art!
And then it was time to check out the gorillas!
We were so excited to see Masika, the baby gorilla!
I could've watched mother and baby gorilla all day long. It was so sweet.
There were 5 gorillas total. We watched Masika and Makari, her mother, most of the time.
We couldn't help but wonder if this was Masika's father, Radi, exhausted from the antics of his baby girl.
We crossed the suspension bridge. . .
. . . to check out the giraffes and rhinos.
The girls' favorite exhibit was definitely the baby gorilla, but the boys loved these monkeys the best. They could've watched them all afternoon!
Near the crazy monkeys in the rainforest, there were also spiky porcupines and slick otters.
We had a great day exploring all of God's amazing creations at the zoo!
Part of our Labor Day tradition is to stay at an Embassy Suites. In Kansas City, that typically means we either stay on the Plaza or near the airport. But this year, there was a new Embassy built a little closer to home, so we decided we should try it out!
The Manager's reception didn't disappoint! Fresh fruit, veggies, cheese/crackers, chips/salsa and guacamole as well as unlimited drinks made for a great evening!
Uncle John was even able to join us at the hotel after he got off work, so the WHOLE family was there!
Just a couple days away from our night's stay was a very special birthday: Aunt Sara's 40th! We surprised her with a little impromptu party in our room. I think she was surprised!
There's no way she's a day over 28, right??
As part of our zoo trip this year, we decided to watch our World Champion Royals! The Boys in Blue had a really hot August and there is actually a chance they could make the play-offs for a third straight year (not a great chance, but a chance, nonetheless). We went to church where Kyle and Sara used to go when they lived in Overland Park, and then drove directly to Kauffman Stadium for the 1:15 game.
We got quite a work out finding our seats in row HH in the upper deck, but these kids didn't care!
The girls got a little restless (and hungry), so we left to find some food.
Then we took a couple of rides on the Carousel. Both girls LOVED this part of the Royals experience!
We staged a rally late in the game, and my boys were ready with their rally caps.
And Calvin played some serious air guitar in hopes of making it on the jumbotron.
Meanwhile, the excitement of the weekend finally caught up with the littlest Dwyer and she just couldn't stay awake for the end of the game.
Some of the rest of us may have wished we could've missed the end with her. What looked to be a Jarrod Dyson walk-off home run ended up being just barely foul, and the Royals came up a run short. Boo. At any rate, we can still claim to be World Champions for another month or so, AND we have the trophy to prove it! Let's Go Royals!!
Another wonderful Labor Day Zoo Trip is in the books!
