Meet Me in St. Louis!

Our Thanksgiving 2009 road trip took us to St. Louis. Other than driving through Kansas (the longest, flattest, most boring and most Starbucks-deprived state) the trip was very fun!

(Sorry, Jeanie. I'm sure where you live it's not flat or boring or deprived like the rest of I-70.)

We went mainly because my cousin was getting married on Saturday, but it was wonderful to spend the holiday with lots and lots and lots of extended family. All of my siblings and their spouses were there, as were my dad's siblings and their spouses, and all but one of my first cousins on my dad's side. It was also the first time that my kiddos got to meet some of my cousins' children!

I really think it was important that we were all able to spend this first holiday without my dad together. And it was great that we had something joyous to celebrate.

St. Louis is a beautiful city. My kids were begging to go up in the Arch, but my cousin's fiancee talked us into a trip to The City Museum instead. Wow! That place was AMAZING. We spent a few hours there, but I think we could have spent all day had we not had to get back for the rehearsal dinner!

Here are a few pics...

There are all sorts of slides and tunnels and things for kids to climb on and explore. There are also some fun and educational exhibits. Seriously...this place had something exciting around every corner, even a fire pit outside where kids could roast marshmallows. If you're ever in St. Louis, it's a must-see place!

We took the kids to lunch at The Hard Rock cafe at Union Station. Will was in heaven. Sarah was the only one who wanted a t-shirt and she chose a Bon Jovi one. I asked her in the car if she even knew who Bon Jovi was. She didn't. Which totally cracks me up. She picked that shirt because the artwork was pretty. And yes, I let my daughter wear a Bon Jovi t-shirt.

I don't like to post pics with other people in them (without their permission) so the rest of these wedding pictures only have my kids in them.

The wedding was Saturday afternoon and it was beautiful! My kids haven't been to a wedding since they were very young, and the girls were mesmerized by the whole thing--especially the bride!

These city trolleys carried the wedding party to the church and to the reception (and to a couple of other places for photos). On Friday night, we were waiting for one to pick us up for the rehearsal dinner and as it pulled up in front of the church, it was smoking because something caught on FIRE! Everyone had to evacuate the trolley and find rides to the pub. Oh my gosh, it was hilarious and scary at the same time!

My aunt rented this 35 passenger bus to shuttle all of the extended family from the wedding to the rehearsal to ensure that no one would drink and drive. That was brilliant, but I got very sick riding in that bus on the way home from the reception. Very, very sick. Let's just say that I don't want to see the inside of a bus again for a very long time.

My kids, however, LOVED the bus!

But not as much as they loved dancing at the reception. We were all dancing fools! It was so much fun. I honestly cannot remember when I've enjoyed myself so much! The girls are still talking about how fun it was.

All you Razorback fans should know that one family member snuck a small television into the coat room and we watched the end of the fourth quarter. My heart couldn't handle the overtime drama and disappointment though. Ugh.

We made it back home yesterday morning. We were planning to drive straight through on our return trip, but we bought my dad's car and drove it home so John and I both had to drive. We got a super late start on Sunday because we were very tired and I felt sick for most of the morning, so we drove as far as we could before crashing at a hotel and finishing the drive home Monday.

I'm very glad to be home! I absolutely love my dad's side of my family. I have so many cousins and when we're together it's always fun and crazy! John and my kids love them too! Can't wait for the next family wedding or Razorback weekend. Just wish Colorado wasn't so far away. Sigh.