Finishing up KC

First off, my apologies to those who, when bored out of their skull, come to read my journal only to find that I have been unable to update it (Ken!). Not sure where all of my time goes, but there hasn't been a ton of time for blogging and I know 25 years from now, I and Marissa will regret it. So here's the wrap up from our KC trip.

After the grand night at the Royals game, Sunday brought more adventure: a behind the scenes trip to the zoo (before it was open to the public) and a suite at Sporting KC, the local soccer team.

First though, the Hawks play today and I'll be babysitting Marissa. We'll definitely have the game on, though she's usually due for her afternoon nap around the time of puck drop which is 2.  She now will point at the Blackhawks' logo and say "Hawks!" We're very proud!!! 

Marissa LOVES the penguins and here we are at the outside portion of the exhibit. The exhibit was funded by a $15M tax that LL's brother helped push through. The exhibit is one of the largest in North America if not the largest. It's pretty awesome.

A rare picture of a penguin on their egg. Sort of crazy, some times, due to limited populations, brothers and sisters and cousins will mate. A very detailed family tree is kept for all penguins in zoos at least in the US but possibly the world. The penguins are then switched and swapped to help keep them healthy.  The ones who mate and lay eggs, but shouldn't (like siblings), have their eggs taken away and substituted with fake eggs. Very interesting. These next few pictures are from INSIDE the penguin pen!! Yep, we got to go inside with the penguins. Unfortunately for Marissa, she was wayyyyy too excited and wanted to get down and run after them. Couldn't have that unfortunately so she had to go outside and look from the other side of the glass. :-(

They have a pretty good polar bear exhibit as well. This little fella came swimming up to us by the glass, after the zoo had opened up to the general population.

Just when you think that's enough, which it clearly was, we headed out to the soccer game. The stadium seats like 17,000 and is as loud as hell!! Awesome fun!

Love the men's bathroom sign. Ha!