Meet Me in St Louis

A couple weeks ago we took a flight up to Missouri to visit friends in Kansas City and David's sister and brother-in-law in St. Louis. Jack loved the airport/baggage handlers/plane, and was more than happy to watch Octonauts for the hour and a half plane ride. You never quite know what you're in for with a two-year-old on a plane, but handfuls of fruit snacks and a tablet can go a long way.

Our first stop was Kansas City and for some reason the only picture I took the entire time is the one below... We met up with our friends, Cole and Corinne, and were able to meet their new baby Riley. We had a great time catching up with them and miss them being around in Texas! Jack could not have been more thrilled with the construction going on in their neighborhood, there were diggers and ladders and loud hammers. Everything he could ever have dreamed of.

A couple of Texans trying Kansas City barbeque at Jack Stack Barbeque. Jack started out super thrilled that there was a restaurant named after him, and then as we inched towards bedtime he began to be completely over the idea of being anywhere but a bed. For the first time in his life he didn't eat a single bite of food, but he did take a little cat nap on the bench we were sitting on. David and I both tried the burnt ends sandwiches since that isn't something you see on a Texas bbq menu, and we both really enjoyed it.  

Making the trip from KC to St. Louis! I'm not sure any child has been more thrilled about having headphones. This drive started out great, we stopped to eat lunch (Jack asked for soup....in May?), and then Jack had a little bit of a meltdown as we neared St. Louis/nap time, but we all survived in one piece.

The community college near Rachel and Stephen's house had a walking storybook, where you walked in a big circle and there were different pages of a story around to read. Jack would run until he found the next one and then get Rachel to read each page to him. I'd like to mention that Jack picked his own outfit out this day....

Playing with Uncle Stephen's road rug.

St. Louis zoo! Our first stop was the polar bear exhibit. The zoo is so nice (and free!) and we were lucky enough to have some cloud coverage (and a tiny bit of rain) while we were there which helped cut down on the heat a lot. We didn't have time to ride the train there, but I am positive that is on the list for next time.

Sea lion tunnel!

Jack loved these giraffes so much. He was confused as to why he couldn't feed them (like you can at the Dallas zoo), but we sat here a good while and watched them walk around. At the very end we let Jack pick out any stuffed animal he wanted and he picked a giraffe (which he has slept with every night since).

Apparently we were in BBQ moods this weekend, we stopped by Sugarfire Smoke House after the zoo. The food was great, and if you ever see "loaded tots" on the specials for sides, just do it. They are so amazing and cheesy.

This is the Kiwi that Rachel and Stephen brought back Jack from New Zealand that teaches all about birds there. He loved being read the story and having the bird to go with it.

We really had such a great visit with everyone in Missouri! Because I am a truth-teller, I wish Jack had slept WAY better, i.e. the entire night each night, but he still talks about the things he saw while we were there so I know he had a great time and has great memories from it. Thanks everybody for letting us come visit!