Around the World in 8 Days

In case you haven't noticed (by my total lack of blogging lately),

we've been busy.
Really busy.
Because the last 8 days, we traveled around the world.
(Without ever leaving Iowa.)

First stop: The Rainforest.
(aka. the Botanical Gardens)
We paid $7 to watch a 90 year old woman tromp around the room singing
"Take Me Out to the Ballgame"
with 50 toddlers.
She had to read the words off a note card and was barely audible.
And she was not the most friendly grandma ever.

I should have asked for a refund.

Luckily, we visited the tropics with some friends and it made for a pleasant, humid day.

Next, we walked to China.
China was free.
And it was pretty cool.
No baby killings, no communism, no genocides.
Just the way I like it.
I attempted to get Aubrey to pose like she was Chinese
(you know, the way they do when the press their hands together and stick their elbows out...)
Turns out she's not the Chinese posing type.

After China, we headed to Mexico.
(aka. Taco Bell)

Everything was going great across the border until Tats walked in.
He was covered head to toe in tattoos.
Aubrey took one look at him and announced loudly,
"Look Dad!! He has stamps all over him!
Nice, Aubrey.
Real nice.

We left Mexico in a hurry and headed to Hawaii.
Hawaii is beautiful this time of year.
(Please ignore the immodest bathing attire.
I am helpless against free hand-me-downs.
And against Aubrey's bulging tummy.)

We'll be making Hawaii a weekly family vacation.

And finally, after so much exotic adventure,
we traveled home to America. Where we belong.