Visiting the Peabody Ducks

Russ' brother Joe and his girlfriend Kathleen came to Memphis for a visit this past weekend. They came to meet Caroline and see Tyler. We had planned to go to the Zoo on Saturday, but there were rain chances all day and we didn't want to risk it. So, instead we went downtown to see the Peabody Ducks, which we have been wanting to do with Tyler. For those that don't know, the Peabody Ducks live on the roof of the Peabody Hotel. Every day at 11a, they ride the elevator down to the lobby and walk a red carpet especially laid out of them led by a duckmaster to swim and play in the hotel's lobby fountain until 5p when they are paraded back up to the roof again. It is a pretty big deal and one of Memphis' big attractions.

We all piled in my Honda Pilot and utilized our 3rd row seat for the first time. To say it is TIGHT in the back is an understatement, but they fit...it is a good thing that Joe and Kat are small people! We were running a little behind, so I dropped Russ, Tyler, Joe and Kat off at the door, while Caroline and I parked the car. I didn't want Tyler to miss the ducks' grand entrance and it takes me a few minutes to get Caroline in the carrier. I got to the Peabody right as it was finishing because I was greeted to a mass exodus of all the tour bus visitors!! It was crazy! I found my family at the fountain where Tyler was having the Time. Of. His. LIFE!! The ducks were really putting on a show...dunking their heads under water, chasing each other, flapping their wings, splashing, etc. Tyler loved every minute, jumped up and down, screaming and squealing with joy! I honestly don't know when I have ever seen him more excited! I think he would've gotten IN the fountain to play with the ducks had we not been there. A sweet lady next to us said she found it more entertaining watching Tyler have so much fun than the ducks!

Tyler, Mommy with Caroline and Uncle Joe

Pure joy from being soaked!!

The Duckmaster replenishing the duck food.

Our child was completely soaked when we finally drug him away from the fountain. We went up to the 2nd floor that overlooked the lobby to let him run around a little more and burn off all that energy. We left the hotel and tried to ride the trolley, which Tyler kept calling a "choo-choo train", but there weren't any heading our direction. So, we abandoned that idea and headed to lunch at Blues City. My brother, Brian, and his girlfriend, Lindsay, also met us there. We stuffed ourselves full of sausage and cheese, ribs and shrimp...it was yummy!!  I should mention that Caroline was in the carrier and slept the entire time, even through me eating lunch...which was quite challenging to do with a baby strapped to me! She is seriously the best traveling baby in the Ergo baby carrier!

We headed home after lunch to get Tyler down for a nap and watch the Tigers in the 2nd round of the NCAA tourney. The only thing that would've been better was if the Tigers would've pulled off the win. Other than that, it was a pretty fun day!

A cute video of our excited little guy...