We just got back from a quick vacation to Omaha. It is our first family vacation with kids, and the first time John has stayed in a hotel with me since our first anniversary in 2012. Because we were travelling with a three-year-old and a four-year old as well as a husband who hates to travel, I decided to keep the vacation plans simple. We went to Omaha (a short two hour drive down I 80) to visit the zoo and swim in the hotel pool.

My low bar vacation plans ended up being just right for us. We stayed at the Embassy Suites in the Old Market district.

They have a pool, which was used with great enthusiasm.

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They have a nightly cocktail reception with light snacks. The light snacks included vegetables and hummus, so we called it dinner both nights. Audrey was pleased to have a kiddie cocktail. Elliot didn’t like the bubbles.

After a horrible night of sleep, we headed to the zoo. While buying our tickets I decided to be a big spender and buy passes for each of us to go on all of the rides all day. That was a decision that paid off.

The kids fed the birds. We almost skipped this part, as John and I don’t enjoy tiny dinosaurs flying at our heads. Audrey really wanted to see the birds so I took her in. I am so glad we did. For $1 you get a stick with bird food on it. She was thrilled. Eventually John and Elliot joined us and Elliot had a chance to feed the birds too.

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We stayed at the zoo for about five hours. If Elliot was a little older I think we would have stayed all day. The last thing we did before heading back to the hotel for a dip in the pool was visit the stingrays in their pool. This was amazing. I had never touched a stingray before and was surprised to find them so soft.

It was a great day with my favorite primates.

After a quick swim and cocktail reception we surprised the kids with an adventure. Audrey loves horses, so we took the kids on a carriage ride. Audrey didn’t stop smiling once. Elliot was too tired to really enjoy it.

This morning we played at a park and then headed home. It was a nice time away, and I’m glad to be home. Wrigley is glad we’re home too.