silver rainbow

Where are we going? A complete surprise came with this mode of transportation - this elevator made us feel like we were in a 60's science fiction movie. Labor day weekend we met up with Chad and Amy in St. Louis, MO to attend the temple and then go to The Arch!

Wade and Kent in the parking lot on the beautiful temple grounds. (sorry no pics of the beautiful temple grounds : ) Chad attended on Fri night and then Amy, Wade and I went in the morning while Chad hung out with our children at our hotel. We made the session.... barely! That's 2 for 2 for us having adventures together - last time we went to Winter Quarters Temple and then to the Zoo in Omaha. We all benefited and had a wonderful time serving in the temple, learning and feeling of the sweet spirit there. Checked out of the Marriott and we navigated our way to the Arch. Entering into downtown St. Louis I couldn't believe how many tailgaters we saw! Filling the levels of parkades, tents set up and BBQ Mizzou colours everywhere and some Illinois fans weaving into the crowds. Big college football game. Seeing tailgating is a cultural experience for me. No one tail gated outside the Northlands Coliseum when I grew up, would that be part of the NHL experience if it wasn't ice cold winter time? Well there was a dense crowd of fans gearing up for the game and here we are in the thick of traffic attempting to find parking! Well we did no problem. It was neat to be back here. I had been here once before with my mom and Aunt Jo and Uncle Tom. We came at the time of the Nauvoo temple open house. Only difference is this time we went UP to the TOP of the arch.....

Mia running along the walk with the Mississippi river on one side

and the National park on the other

Eli about to haul up the stairs to Uncle Wade

Mia, Chad, Amy and Elithat's Wade at the top of the stairs overlooking the 'Sip and the amazing bridge

can you see the tiny row of windows at the top of the arch? Narrow door to the elevator that seats 5 supposedly in that little time capsule.

While traveling at a surprising speed up, banjo tunes were the elevator music selection

Thin warm air, lot's of people, I got a little queasy AND it was SO cool up there! : ) What a view! 630 feet high in the sky

Awesome day for a Memorial Day

Car is all packed and we're ready to meet up with family at a new found lake - thanks to Joel. Kent's on one side and the cooler on the other. His huge stroller takes up most of the trunk, we realize a larger vehicle is on the horizon

It was an overcast day which was so nice! Perfect temp to be outdoors for BBQ and canoeing (I'm still looking forward to Kayaking sometime...maybey next time we are in Canada...: ) )

My boys! Wade was explaining to Kent the finer points of BBQ-ing. At home Wade prepared some delish foil wrapped corn on the cob for the BBQ - so good!

Kristi and I laughed that the guys were STILL setting up this blue and white shelter, when we were under a nice park shelter already...but we misjudged them - they were setting it up to move it over the BBQ as it was sprinkling with rain at this point - smart guys! Worked well!

All of the guys!

The lake was so cool with huge lush trees surrounding and flooded trees in the lake

They could canoe around all those trees

Ores High! Wade, Chad, Mia& Eli and Joel, Kristi and Bobs

sitting back enjoying the ride!

Kyle and Bethany and Kent and I were up on shore together. It was a great spot, much less populated than past lakes we've gone to for Memorial Day.

We definatly want to come back here again

In Flanders Fields

This Spring we went to the nations only World War I museum. It was a really neat experience. When you enter there is a glass bridge while standing on the bridge you are above a field of poppies coming out of dry light brown earth and stark white walls for the background. The bright red poppies really stand out.This is a replica of the trenches that were dug. There are cool maps and diagrams showing the location and length of the awful trenches. This picture doesn't capture the full exhibit of course.

Wade watching a video of this tank actually running! A true tank used in WWI - Wade would remember more details than I.

A Model T - crank and all- It's neat to look at in on the inside too. The wheels sporting wooden spokes.

Oh, so that's what that tower is we always see in Kansas City! We were very impressed with the museum - it has incredible technology and interactive stations. I liked the theater films we watched they really showed more of the "people" and the effects of the war at the time.

This was Kent on his little field trip to the museum! He did really well - what a cutie! That tuque doesn't even fit him anymore..he is growing up so fast! Well it's not needed since it's 90 degree PLUS weather now!