I have been home today sick with a wretched cold. I couldn't sleep because I kept waking up to blow my nose or to cough and even now the force of my sneezing practically lifts me off the couch----which is where I've been all day watching trashy tv. So my sole semi-productive act for the day will be posting a ton of pictures and telling you about our Saturday.....
It was a gorgeous day and of course St. Louis is ahead of us in terms of spring flowers which was delightful......
We started out the day wandering around the Arch (Leo adamantly refused to go up inside it...that's my boy) and walking along the river. It always makes me happy to be next to water. So why do I live in the middle of Illinois you ask? Mmmmm.....I don't know although I will say that the first time I was in central Illinois---when I was 17---and saw the endless flat fields I told the person I was with that it was like standing at the edge of the ocean..... ANYway...we walked along the river and Leo got that bounce in his walk he gets when he's really happy. Judi LOVED that Leo bounce.
Here's Leo skipping rocks on the Mississippi....
We admired the Eads Bridge which Leo loved because the St. Louis metrolink trains run along it and I love because it's just a damn gorgeous bridge.
Leo tries to say he doesn't like trains anymore but don't believe him for a minute. He asked if we could go up the stairs in the bridge to the station so we stood there and waited for a train.....he was VERY happy when it came.... Here's Leo anxiously looking down the track for a train.....
We walked a bit around LaClede's Landing which seems to be full of places I wouldn't want to go but I love looking at the buildings and it was deserted as it was early. Look at the gorgeous cast iron facade on this building! Mm-mmmmm.....
Then we headed to the City Museum although we stopped at the White Knight Diner for breakfast first....
The City Museum.....well I can't begin to describe it if you haven't been there. Sort of a Disneyland for people that love old buildings and materials in a sense. It's an amazing place but I gotta say between the crowds and the noise there's a bit of sensory overload. I know Leo felt it too at first because he about had a fit at having to wear a wristband. Once they got outside and started running though they had a wonderful time. Ernie took a picture of me just to prove that I was there but we agreed it sort of looks as though I was photoshopped in so who knows? I told the boys we will definitely go back but we're going on a weekday---the same rule I have instituted for trips to Ikea.
Leo making his way through the sky at the City Museum.....
Afterward I had planned to do more Route 66 stuff but we didn't do as much as planned because the guys were worn out. We did of course hit the famous Ted Drewe's however. Amazingly packed---complete with wedding party in line..... and then we made the sign of the cross as we passed the site of the Coral Court (not really but it deserves it.....somewhere I have pictures from the couple of times I stayed there but God knows where they are.....)
my husband doesn't seem to get it....but I still think he's hot....
I also had wanted to go to some of the Italian markets but again....certain people were beginning to melt down and for the sake of familial happiness I said "o.k. FINE, we'll go back to the hotel." It was just as well though....we all collapsed, they watched a cartoon, we watched the news, Owen took a shower just because he was impressed with the bathroom and then we went for a walk to see one of my favorite buildings in the world: the Wainwright Building. The crowds were pouring out of Busch Stadium after a Cardinals win (I love Leo because he is SO Leo and so non-sports---when we drove by and they saw the packed stadium they were awestruck.....Ernie told them about the St. Louis Cardinals and then Leo said, "who are they fighting?" I LOVED that) and so it was a festive atmosphere. We (well, Ernie and I anyway) finished admiring the Wainwright and then meandered back over to the arch and the river. We hung out just enjoying the day until the sun started to go down.
Leo doing the Leo bounce as he trotted towards the Arch....
my guys at the Arch....
waiting for the sun to go down on the river.....
After that we wandered back to the hotel with the boys drooping more with each step. We let the boys feast on some junk (trying to feed Leo on a trip is even more frustrating than normal) and ordered a surprising good meal from a place across the street called Bamboo Bistro. Absolutely wonderful green papaya salad with wonderful crunch and spice and cilantro....along with good Vietnamese egg rolls....nice! We all turned in early and slept through the Easter Bunny's visit......
