Louisville weekend

We've had a busy couple of days. Thursday Jackson came to Muncie with me in the morning because we were going to see Bobby Knight speak that evening. He spent the day hanging out in Upland with my folk's dogs, had lunch in Marion's "ghetto" (you guys, Jackson texted to tell me he was eating with Guy in the ghetto. I later find out that he ate at what used to be Jackson's and now is Horner's Butcher Block. It is NOT the ghetto as I used to walk there when I was little to get penny candy! Guy laughed his butt off when he found out Jackson called this area the "ghetto" to me. That's my 'hood, Jack, back off!) and then came back and hung out in my office while I finished up for the day.

We then headed to Cammack Station just outside of Muncie for dinner with Kort and her new FIANCE(!!!!) Jason. Skip Cammack Station. It is a cute place, but the food is terrible. It was nice to get to see the love birds, though, so all was not lost. The four of us headed back to BSU to watch Bobby's speech.

The General, Robert Montgomery Knight

We had pretty good seats. I think someone in the group had connections at the University or something. ;) He was entertaining enough, but is getting to be an old man anymore. Bummer. It happens to the best of us, Coach!

The next day we ran errands around Indianapolis before heading down to Louisville for a little teeny, tiny getaway. We stayed at the Galt House which is an old, tired hotel. Don't stay there, friends. Don't do it. The location was nice, though, and we got a 23rd floor room with a view of the river. That wasn't all bad. We headed down to Bardstown (their version of Broad Ripple) for dinner at pretty awesome pizza joint (Impellizzeri's) and then visited an ice cream shop that was ranked really highly on TripAdvisor.com. We were NOT disappointed.

My handsome date

Cow Tracks. Go to Louisville and get it NOW. You won't regret it. Ever. 

It was raining but we headed down to 4th Street Live! to check things out before turning in for the night. We woke up to the most beautiful sunrise. I told you the view was the only good thing about the hotel. :)

Sunrise from the Galt House

We were right on the riverwalk so we put in 5 miles wandering around. It was so fun to just explore a new place. Even if the humidity was 789%. :) They've been redoing this bridge for years to make it pedestrian only so I was really excited to finally cross it.

A cute guy walked with me on the bridge

We were up higher than I like to think about but the view was nice! 

Jackson looking deep... ;)

It started to rain as we headed for the pumpkin patch to meet up with my sister and nephew. Bummer!

Wild Alex. 

We met them at a McDonald's and hoped that the rain would pass.

When did Happy Meals become bite-size?! 

I'm not used to eating with 3 year-old boys. That was an adjustment that made my sister laugh a lot.

"Is there anything on my face?!"

We decided to scrap the pumpkin patch idea and head to the Louisville Slugger factory and museum instead. (I'm so thankful that our friend Ashley who lives in Louisville with her two little ones sent me some indoor ideas! This whole entertaining a kid thing is foreign territory for us.)

"I prefer to be carried in the rain!" 

It was just a short walk from our hotel down to the factory. It was POURING, though, so it felt like a long walk. This should also explain why we're all a little wet in the following photos. We had SO much fun doing the factory tour and playing with Alex at all of the exhibits.

Jackson hates the Yankees

Hide-n-Seek in the big glove

My poses always look like dances! Hmph! 

Alex photo-bombed Jackson

Alex's idea of "smiling pretty"

Let's hit towards the target and not your Aunt...

Jackson with Big Papi's bat

Worker: Please don't swing it
Jenna: JACKSON DON'T SWING IT
Jackson: WHAT?! *SWING*

BABE RUTH'S BAT!!! 

Pee Wee Herman's bat? 

"Walk softly and swing a big bat?" 

Alex "pitching" the ball to me

Jackson: "The cool kids sit on the top of the bench"
Alex: "ME TOO!"
HA! :)

I told you smiling nicely wasn't his thing...

Jackson trying his hand at batting practice 

Pulling a Babe Ruth and pointing to where my hit will go

"THAT IS A BIIIIIG BAT!"

BABE RUTH'S marker. I love Babe Ruth. Leave it alone. 

I took a few videos while we played at the Slugger museum. I cannot recommend this place enough. It was really neat. Kid or not!

We left there and went to a park to burn off some more energy since the rain had stopped.

Running around together

Alex is like the Energizer Bunny. He doesn't get tired. He just keeps going. After we played outside for a bit we headed to the Louisville Science Center to play. It is kind of like the Children's Museum in Indy just less overwhelming. :) Jackson and I even watched a 35 minute IMAX movie on weather while Alex and Kylie played. Those of us without kids don't have the same stamina built up and we were exhausted already. HA! :)

Kylie loved the big bubble

Jackson did, too! 

I COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT! YOU GUYS- those punks wouldn't help me either! 

Alex's speed shown in a photo

HE. NEVER. STOPS. MOVING.

Please notice who the two are in line to roll a ball...

"Helping Alex" build

Jackson giving up the illusion and building himself

Both "boys" in the space explorer

I think the funniest part of the Science Center was how much we ALL LOVED it. It was seriously just fun! It wasn't too crowded since it was after 5 on a Saturday so we spent hours in there without really noticing it. We had a quick dinner at Qdoba before Alex and Kylie headed for home.

Kylie getting waaaay too close to me to say goodbye

Agony. What I really felt.

Kylie likes to make me feel uncomfortable by hugging me. Jackson enjoyed my discomfort so much that he documented it. Thanks, babe. We were so exhausted from the day of playing that I slept from 10 p.m. until 8 a.m. without waking up once. (I do not know how parents function every single day. I really don't. I'm still recovering.) It continued to rain all night so we headed home early the next morning instead of sticking around to explore the city as we had planned to. Bummer.

World's best homecoming present

We did get to come home to the world's cutest puppy, though. That was nice! :) We also got to have a quick dinner with our friend from Denver, Meg, before running her to the airport to head home. We wished we were going to Denver, too. Siiigh. Maybe next weekend. ;)