We want to show the boys as much of our great country as possible so this summer we opted to make a trip to St. Louis. We have friends, family, and family friends there so that was an added bonus to our decision.
We loaded up the minivan, checked out our books on CD, grabbed a few car snacks and headed out. It was an easy 7+ hour drive and all three boys have learned to travel very well in the car!
First stop: Gateway Arch
It's the icon of St. Louis. I was able to go up the arch about 20 years ago but was happy to share this time with the boys. It's one of those "been there, done that" locations but now we have all checked it off our list!
We arrived to town nearly two hours before we thought so we hung out on the river and let the boys run around. Chase, there for a summer job, met up with us to go up the arch. This shot was taken below the arch.
Inside the "elevator" going up.
The boys thought it was pretty cool, especially Reid. We had a hard time getting him to line back up to come down!
After the arch, we headed to our friends', the Eliots, home who live nearby. We were lucky enough to stay with them for two nights and play with them! They live in the city so you are able to walk and bike a lot of places. We walked to get ice cream and played in Tower Grove Park the first night. They have a cool home, newly renovated, that is more than 100 years old!
Friday morning we went to the Botanical Gardens. SUPER FUN and pretty. This was the only leg of the trip where Reid was obviously fussy and tired so our visit here was eventually cut short by a tired kid. Katie said we only made it around about 1/3 of the place and we were there well over two hours.
Walker and Eliot kids!
This is Katie! Her husband, Colin, and I went to high school together. However, we really became friends with them as newlyweds in our Sunday school class, and Colin and Jason were in dental school together.
the dads rode bikes to go get a BBQ sandwich!
These two little cuties were precious! Reid is a little more than two months older so they were able to get along great. Instant friends!
After a quality naptime for the kids, we went to Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village for the Cardinals v. Dodgers baseball game. This stadium is new in the last decade.
Our only picture of the whole gang!
Chase came to the game with us (wearing Dodger blue - what a goober!)
local Stillwater legend Matt Holliday - he had one home run and all three RBIs for the evening! He knew we were in town....
The Eliots headed home a little before us to get their kids in bed, and Kyle's new entertainment of the evening was to play with my hair. This is how we were for a while...
Reid, once again, was a trooper! He was screaming and cheering and waving that rolled up paper all night long!
Cardinals won 3-2!
I took this shot of Reid after midnight - he was wide awake but obviously tired by the completely blank stare. Too much excitement to sleep!
Saturday morning started with a trip to the City Museum.
I took so many pictures but cannot post them all. This is a kid museum on steroids - super fun. It's an old warehouse turned in to both an indoor and outdoor play facility.
Reid's #1 want here was to ride the ferris wheel! So we did!
that little person climbing up is Reid followed by Jason. Reid was fearless.
All three boys loved this indoor "skate ramp" part. They had a little area all the way up to a big area (shown here). Grant finally got it down and had to help Kyle reach the top a few times.
Reid did this (running and trying to reach the top) for at least 30 minutes. We had to stop by this area again before we left, too.
Proud smile - He did it!!!
Just had to add this cute mug in here for smiles....
We left City Museum and headed to go meet Chase at the Zoo. Honestly, by this point, it was 4 p.m. and I was exhausted - can't even imagine how the kids were feeling. The zoo (which is free) was super crowded and we only hit two of the main areas (which it turns out were the two best).
We were able to walk around Forest Park a bit and see the exterior of the Art Museum.
I love happy, sweet brothers!
We wanted some spicy food and found a local mexican joint that was delish. It was Chase's first time there but turns out to be one of the Eliots favorite spots! It was off to the hotel for some sleep....
Sunday morning was Grant's Farm. We let the boys sleep until they woke up so we had a later start than ideal. It turned out to be okay, though!
This is another place to look up. Cool place.
It's part zoo and part Anheiser Busch / Budweiser brewery.
We went to the crazy animal show and saw lots of fun animals.
Here's a hawk.
Here's a hawk.
Grant was chosen as a volunteer for "Rat Race" (he and the other little boy won!). Here he is waving!
I was asked to take a picture of the Bald Eagle since it is their school mascot!
We fed goats some milk. Kyle did NOT like this area but Reid loved every minute of it. He was bossy to the goats if they weren't doing what he wanted. Pretty cute.
This is how he was most of the time - loving it!
The quick synopsis of Grant's Farm.
Free samples
(neither of us finished it - we're not beer drinkers anymore!)
I had to include this. Definitely more of a reality shot to the "ideal family vacation" post - fussy faces included!
St. Louis is celebrating its 250th birthday this year. These cakes were at all of the attractions we went to visit.
Grant's Farm is home to the famous Clydesdales and we were able to walk around their grounds. Their breeding facility is at a different location nearby.
Our next stop was the Kirkwood city pool!
Blows any pool around here away, except White Water, which is our main water park. There are four different pools, two big slides, a lazy river, etc. Super fun.
Family friends, Murray and Pat, were our hosts as Murray is the Parks and Recreation Director.
After leaving Kirkwood, we headed to get custard and texted the Eliots that we were going. They had just gotten out of church and joined up for one last hoorah!
Final trip picture - I love how they're all sitting close together now as opposed to the very first kid picture at the gardens when they spaced themselves apart.
What friends and fun times!
Grant and Kyle thanked us several times on the trip for taking them on a fun vacation. It was relatively new for them to do this w/o prompting and we appreciated it. My favorite quote from the trip was from the last night in the hotel. Grant walked out of the bathroom and said "Mom, thanks for taking us here. I just love my family."
Worth. Every. Penny.
I love my family, too! :)
Now, Katie, I'm waiting on your blog announcement....
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