St. Louis

Editorial note: the "gag" order has expired. At the beginning of this blog thingy, I asked you to refrain passing on the address to others...I was being shy and decidedly childish...but let's get real...anyone is welcome...just continue to extend grace to moi.

We traveled today and have landed in St. Louis...right on schedule. It helps that we lost...or gained...an hour...how does it work? Whatever...St. Louis time is one hour less than it says on my van's clock.

Bean was sleeping when we crossed into the city and saw the Arch on the horizon. Bug and I decided to not pass up the tourist opportunity, so we found a parking spot and woke her up. Not knowing much about it, I asked Bug if he wanted to go up inside the Arch if we could. He asked if there were stairs or elevators...."Don't know. Let's find out," I said.  To which he replied, "If it's an elevator, we might have to go upside down." Pretty logical.

It was an excursion just right to get the wiggles out.  One hour and $20 later, we had walked around a lovely park, pottied, traveled up the tram into the Arch, and gazed out at the Mississippi River and city from the observation deck. There are 2 trams with tiny, 5 seated "pods" that go up each side and unload passengers at the observation deck...in case you're wondering. (Mimi, you would have had the willies in that pod.) 

So glad we stopped. Bug was really excited and thanked me frequently from the top of the Arch until we arrived back at the van...pleasantly uncharacteristic and well worth it. 

Tonight we're staying at a Hampton Inn just west of St. Louis...very nice. After a swim and a little hot tubbin' (and a few tantrums from Miss Bean,) we are tucked in. We'll see Sweet Daddy after a 6 hour drive tomorrow. I hope I remember that I do not need to nosh continually each one of those 360 minutes.

Our plan is to stay in Wichita for 2 or 3 weeks and then the kids and I head home, even if Sweet Daddy moves on to another assignment. I don't want to get too far away from home.