Memory-ial Day Weekend

We had a fun-filled, busy, exhausting Memorial Day weekend. It began on Friday, with our drive down to Phoenix. Cael was sporting his fishing hat as we got drinks at Bride's on the way out of town. He enjoys taking the hat on and off and on and off his head and using it to hide items, playing peek-a-boo tricks. What a handsome brown-eyed little guy!

After we checked into our hotel and rested for a minute, we got back into the car to travel to Wickenburg for Cael's cousin Kelsey's graduation from high school. Prior to the graduation, Uncle Gunnar and Aunt Kristi hosted a fabulous barbecue for friends and family. We got to spend a nice time there with the family. I forgot to take in the camera, so there are no pictures of that part of the weekend. Suffice it to say that Cael had a great time and still needs to work on playing nice with other kids.

On Saturday, we went with Grandma, Aunt Sarah, and Aunt Julie to the new aquarium at Arizona Mills Mall.

Note to self: Do not take Cael anywhere anymore that he thinks he can dive into tanks to swim with fish and other aquatic creatures. He gets extremely cranky and does not understand why he cannot jump in there with them.

Cael got to go up on a plank-type area to overlook this particular tank. He is desperately trying to break through the rope to cannonball in with the fish and rays.

When we FINALLY arrived at the part of the aquarium where Cael could not jump in, nor could he shed his alligator tears because we wouldn't let him try to drown, he immediately flopped down on the ground in frog position to see the ocean life beneath him. We were surrounded by fish, sharks, etc. - above us, beneath, and to the sides. It was amazingly cool. However, we were more thoroughly entertained by the little boy on the ground. When frog position was no longer allowing for a good enough view, Cael completely sprawled out. Luckily, the people waiting behind us thought it was funny and nicely stepped over and around him.

In another part of the aquarium, there was a tube to crawl under and go inside. Dad went in with Cael to see more sea-life.

At the end of the encounter, there was an interactive learning area. Cael got down again to check it out.

Explain this to me, please. Cael, who moments ago wanted to dive into a huge tank of water, got nervous to get on the carousel horse. Mama had to ride with him (Admission: Mama secretly wanted to ride, anyway, so it worked out for both of us).

We did a little shopping at the mall after all the excitement. Cael donned his cool-dude sunglasses in one store and strutted his stuff.

We got back to the hotel and went swimming (sorry, no pictures of the too-white Hancocks), which Cael loved. After seeing all that water today, he finally got to get into some. He splashed and threw his Dora ball and had a wonderful time.

On Sunday, because the ignorant first-time parents had already forgotten about the previous day, we stopped by Bass Pro on our way out of town. "Cael will love to see the fish and water and animals," said his Mama excitedly. Um. Really? More water that these mean parents would not allow Cael in. We left there with one of us screaming and crying as if he were beaten, but not before we got one calm picture of the rascal gazing at the fish.

What a fabulous time of making memories we had!

It sure is nice to be home, though.