{As part of my newfound attempt to love where I am and where I live, I’m going to be randomly writing posts featuring my wonderful city! This is the first and, hopefully, one of many!}
This weekend, in a random, spur of the moment idea explosion, we decided to take the kids down to visit Kansas City’s new Sea Life Aquarium. Due to my job, I had actually already toured the site, but it was right after the fish were delivered, so we weren’t allowed to make any noise and all the tanks were covered up.
Random sidenote: Did you know fish are super sensitive to noise and light? When the fish and other sea creatures came to the aquarium, they were slowly introduced to light and white noise over a span of a few weeks before the aquarium opened to the public.
Pretty soon the adjoining Legoland Park will open, so we decided that it would be better to take the kids to the aquarium before things got too crazy around the area. We arrived to a huge line, but quickly found out via Trent’s ninja training that if we ordered tickets online we could skip the 1+ hour wait. He bought the tickets using his smartphone and into the aquarium we went!
When you first walk in there is a green screen where they take your picture, and yes, I know this is a total ploy for extra cash. But when you’re the main photographer in the family, you’ll pay just about anything to be included in the shot. Plus, if you take a silly photo they’ll make it look like you are being attacked by a giant octopus. Worth $11, I’d say.
The entire space was beautifully designed, from the detailing in the architecture to the lighting to the sound projection, you really feel as if you are underwater. There are a few spots where children can climb underneath the tanks and stand up in a bubble in the middle, which was a huge hit with Lulu. At the end of the experience you’ll find a play area, but we had to skip it since Lu was wearing sandals with no socks (not allowed, thank goodness because that would be totally gross). We will definitely plan ahead for that next time.
One of Lucy’s favorite parts of the experience were the quizzes each kid received at the start of the tour. The quizzes each have six questions, and the answers can be found at hot spots all over the aquarium. Then at the gift shop, the kids can turn in their quizzes for a prize.
Last, but not least, we stopped by the gift shop, cleverly placed so you can’t escape the facility without buying some pukka shell necklace or stuffed fish. The Legoland gift shop was also here, along with the area where you can get your pictures printed from earlier in the day.
All in all, I’d say it was a pretty fun time! Kid-friendly, comfortable and quick (it only took about an hour and a half to get through the whole thing), which is essential with a toddler in tow. Hi-five, KC!
To order tickets online, click here. Check out the yearly passes if you’re a local. The price for a family of four would totally recoup in only three visits!
http://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.png00Meganhttp://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.pngMegan2012-04-24 21:40:322012-04-24 21:41:16I Love You, Kansas City - Sea Life Aquarium
Lately I’ve been feeling a bit off in terms of what I’ll call my “purpose” in this world. Like I told my husband the other day, I’ve been in a funk where I look around at what I do all day, every day, and feel like I’m not making a difference. When I was younger, I knew that I’d spend my adult years working for change and good things in the world, but instead, like so many, I’ve found myself behind a desk at a corporate job, making money doing something I’m not passionate about. For years I’ve known that the reason I do this is so that my family can have a great life, and lately I’ve been feeling a bit sorry for myself. Sure, they have a beautiful home and lovely life (as do I!), but what have I (we) sacrificed for that to happen? For me, to be honest, the sacrifice has been great, though I haven’t realized how great until recently.
I’m still working on all of this, and my answer is different on a daily basis. Somedays I just want to chuck it all and start fresh. Other days I know that though my job isn’t totally ideal, it supports my family and that is a wonderful thing. Most days I hover between the two, not sure what I’d do if I wasn’t working at my job, but not wanting to stay stagnant forever.
{My “mind map,” a tool I’ve used while participating in the Chookooloonks Path Finder course, which is helping me find my light. More on this later…}
I have wanted to post about all this for a while, but wasn’t sure if I should. I wasn’t sure if it was the smart thing to do, since I’ve found that a few people I work with read this blog once in a while. But not saying anything wasn’t being truthful either. I was having trouble posting anything in this space, since everything seemed like it was covering up what is really going on. And plus, my feelings are not a dig at the people I work with or what they do, they are amazing and wonderful and I’m so lucky to be a part of their professional family. I just need to do things that light me up. Whether it’s on my own time, or in my work life. Maybe it will be in a new career, or maybe I will find what I’m looking for in what I’m doing now. I don’t know. I do know that I have to keep looking or I’ll always wonder.
These Kinda Sunglasses
/1 Comment/in Happiness, Lucy /by MeganNo joke, she seriously asked to put on my sunglasses and just started throwing rhymes like some sucker MC. This is why you have kids.
I Love You, Kansas City – Sea Life Aquarium
/2 Comments/in Kansas City /by Megan{As part of my newfound attempt to love where I am and where I live, I’m going to be randomly writing posts featuring my wonderful city! This is the first and, hopefully, one of many!}
This weekend, in a random, spur of the moment idea explosion, we decided to take the kids down to visit Kansas City’s new Sea Life Aquarium. Due to my job, I had actually already toured the site, but it was right after the fish were delivered, so we weren’t allowed to make any noise and all the tanks were covered up.
Pretty soon the adjoining Legoland Park will open, so we decided that it would be better to take the kids to the aquarium before things got too crazy around the area. We arrived to a huge line, but quickly found out via Trent’s ninja training that if we ordered tickets online we could skip the 1+ hour wait. He bought the tickets using his smartphone and into the aquarium we went!
When you first walk in there is a green screen where they take your picture, and yes, I know this is a total ploy for extra cash. But when you’re the main photographer in the family, you’ll pay just about anything to be included in the shot. Plus, if you take a silly photo they’ll make it look like you are being attacked by a giant octopus. Worth $11, I’d say.
The entire space was beautifully designed, from the detailing in the architecture to the lighting to the sound projection, you really feel as if you are underwater. There are a few spots where children can climb underneath the tanks and stand up in a bubble in the middle, which was a huge hit with Lulu. At the end of the experience you’ll find a play area, but we had to skip it since Lu was wearing sandals with no socks (not allowed, thank goodness because that would be totally gross). We will definitely plan ahead for that next time.
One of Lucy’s favorite parts of the experience were the quizzes each kid received at the start of the tour. The quizzes each have six questions, and the answers can be found at hot spots all over the aquarium. Then at the gift shop, the kids can turn in their quizzes for a prize.
Last, but not least, we stopped by the gift shop, cleverly placed so you can’t escape the facility without buying some pukka shell necklace or stuffed fish. The Legoland gift shop was also here, along with the area where you can get your pictures printed from earlier in the day.
All in all, I’d say it was a pretty fun time! Kid-friendly, comfortable and quick (it only took about an hour and a half to get through the whole thing), which is essential with a toddler in tow. Hi-five, KC!
To order tickets online, click here. Check out the yearly passes if you’re a local. The price for a family of four would totally recoup in only three visits!
On Purpose
/1 Comment/in Work /by MeganLately I’ve been feeling a bit off in terms of what I’ll call my “purpose” in this world. Like I told my husband the other day, I’ve been in a funk where I look around at what I do all day, every day, and feel like I’m not making a difference. When I was younger, I knew that I’d spend my adult years working for change and good things in the world, but instead, like so many, I’ve found myself behind a desk at a corporate job, making money doing something I’m not passionate about. For years I’ve known that the reason I do this is so that my family can have a great life, and lately I’ve been feeling a bit sorry for myself. Sure, they have a beautiful home and lovely life (as do I!), but what have I (we) sacrificed for that to happen? For me, to be honest, the sacrifice has been great, though I haven’t realized how great until recently.
I’m still working on all of this, and my answer is different on a daily basis. Somedays I just want to chuck it all and start fresh. Other days I know that though my job isn’t totally ideal, it supports my family and that is a wonderful thing. Most days I hover between the two, not sure what I’d do if I wasn’t working at my job, but not wanting to stay stagnant forever.
I have wanted to post about all this for a while, but wasn’t sure if I should. I wasn’t sure if it was the smart thing to do, since I’ve found that a few people I work with read this blog once in a while. But not saying anything wasn’t being truthful either. I was having trouble posting anything in this space, since everything seemed like it was covering up what is really going on. And plus, my feelings are not a dig at the people I work with or what they do, they are amazing and wonderful and I’m so lucky to be a part of their professional family. I just need to do things that light me up. Whether it’s on my own time, or in my work life. Maybe it will be in a new career, or maybe I will find what I’m looking for in what I’m doing now. I don’t know. I do know that I have to keep looking or I’ll always wonder.