The last weekend of our trip to MO, we spent at my bro. Kevin's with his family.. including the ever popular Cousin Cameron.  Austin had such a big boy crush on his older cousin, he followed him like a little shadow, wanting to be just like him.  Whenever Cameron (who is 9, almost 10) would sneak off to play his video games, Austin would wander around the house calling out, "Cousin Cammon, where ahhhh you?"  I once asked Cameron if he were annoyed by or tired of this and he replied, "No, it feels pretty good to be worshipped." LOL  Clever comeback.   The day before we left to fly home, Aunt "Shill" (Cheryl) took us all to Crown Center in KC.. what a neat place.  It's a shopping center in the downtown area, named for the Hallmark Headquarters which are located in KC.  Austin really liked this place.. so much that the next day when I told him to get in Granny&Grandpa's car, it was time to go to the airport, he said, "No, get in Aunt Shill's car."  (b/c it had taken us to the fun places the day before. )

Here are some of the highlights.

Lego Exhibit

Mom and Dad going in..

giant sunflower

Aunt Cheryl couldn't resist touching the big Monopoly game (until Cameron pointed out the "do not touch" signs)  LOL

This is life size, and all legos, even the floor..

This was one of my favorites..

GIANT hand, with pretty pink fingernails..

This was my other fave.. he's ripping open his lego chest and legos are falling out.. weird but cool.

And the real reason we trekked over to Crown Center was to take Austin to the best ever restaurant for little boys who like trains.. Fritz's Diner~here are some pics of the entry.. yes, that is a big "ding-ding crossing" as Austin calls it..

The train and the two "cars" behind it that you can sit in for pictures..

Okay, that was just the outside entrance~here are some pics of the inside..

Model train running between the booths.. Austin likey alot!

Paper hats that they give everyone to wear if it is your first time there.. we didn't really play along, although a table of four young business men across the way were wearing theirs the whole time..   Austin just wore his for the picture, barely.. he is taking it off as I'm clicking, he's not into hats these days.

To be Continued... (I was uploading more photos but for some reason it is not working right now.. so I'll have to continue this later) Oh wait!  I found them.. don't know why this glitch is happening.. but I found them and they are there.. just had to look for them in a different place.. weird.. but anyhow..

The big deal about this diner is that there is a track that goes around near the ceiling that a little train (with a plastic bin underneath it) goes around on.  When it gets to your table, which they've somehow programmed it for, a little arm goes down, or something like that, and causes the bin with your food in it to drop onto a little dolly -- which lowers it to your table.  You also pick up a phone at your table and give your order straight to the kitchen which is kind of fun.  The food is mediocre but the atmoshpere.. can't be beat if you have a little train lover.. kind of fun for adults too!

Mom won't like me posting this next picture, but you can see the little train on the track on the far back wall and the white bin of food below it about to be dropped onto the platform for that table and lowered down to them.  Austin got such a kick out of watching it go all around the diner delivering everyone's food.

Dad retrieving their food..

Austin watching for our food to come down..

Here it comes..

Enjoying the food with Aunt "Shill"..

And the fun isn't over.. also in Crown Center, they have a really big CRAYOLA store!  Also a really neat place.. with things for kids to do and learn and enough bright colors to blow your mind.

The GIANT color wheel of crayons, with every color under the sun.  No wonder they've run out of names and started calling them weird things like razzletazzle watermelon, etc.

Demonstration area of how the crayons are boxed and packaged etc.

Big magnetic tic tac toe board..

(I really loved this store!  So cheery!)

Big fun facts tower thingy.. don't know what to call it really..

Fun fact boxes where you turn the knob for the answers to crayola trivia questions..

Little drawing station in the middle of the store..

Cousin Cameron clowning around..

Posing with his little shadow..

Oh what fun we had!!

Here are some other pics from the shopping center..

Walking in the parking garage with Cam..

Grandpa and his boys..

Riding the escalator UP & DOWN about six times!  Grandpa was very patient!

Waving at mommy from the top..

Crayola Cafe.. outside of the Crayola Store..

And a really neat toy store on the right with all kinds of cool toys..

Wow this might be the longest post ever but that was our day at the Crown Center.. great place, if you're ever in KC!  Thanks Cheryl for taking us there!!  I want to go back next time when Chris is with us!

On the way to MO.... excited to see Granny & Grandpa!

(reading one of his library books)

and...

On the way home...

watching planes with G&G before we went through security..

..it always makes me sad to see my parents have to say goodbye..

after we went through security.. watching more planes, that is NEW big Mickey.. since I accidentally left the other Mickies in Joplin we had to go to the Disney Store to get new ones in Kansas City.. it was a near tragedy.  He had to sleep one night without them, but I had to repeat the same story to him three times before he would accept that they were at G&G's in Joplin.  When he finally accepted it, he said very matter of factly, "get in car..go get them." Then I had to tell him that it was too far and would take too long. (2 and a half hours, and at 10:30 at night no less!)  We went to get new ones the next day.  He's very attached.

Enjoying an in-flight complementary beverage..  .. LOVE the lid and straw! I think I need to ask for the lid and straw for myself from now on!  No more spillage~

Chillin'..

Ahh.. nappin'..

Poor Daddy, I think he was really lonely while we were gone..

Towing his own "luggage", had to be just like Daddy..

The End for now.

Okay, we are back home again.  Got home on Tuesday.  Had a great trip.  Will work on getting pics loaded onto computer and posted soon!  Thanks again Mom&Dad, love you!  Miss you!  And miss you, too W&D!  Please come visit soon!