Last week we had a little family vacation to Kansas City and St. Louis. We left Friday afternoon around 2 and got to KC by 7:30. We spent 2 nights at Hollie and Michael's then headed to St. Louis Sunday morning to meet Ray and spend the day with him.

 Swimming at the Rice-Tarwater's.

 Legoland.

 Sunday afternoon we went to Grant's Farm in St. Louis with Ray. Grant's Farm is owned by Anheuser Busch. We had a tram ride around the grounds that gave a history of the property and the family. It is kind of a mini-zoo with alot of different animals and of course a German style courtyard where you can get beer samples.

 Monday morning we went to the arch. To get our tickets, we had to go to the old courthouse to pick them up.

 We were in elevator pod #8 to go up.

 We said the elevator was like the Wonka-vator because it goes sideways, and frontways, and backways, etc.

 The whole time we were inside the arch Amelia was asking to draw it. So, as soon as we got outside, they sat down on the steps and got out their notebooks. They spent a good 20 minutes drawing.

After the arch, we went to the City Museum. It is a crazy and awesome place. It is an old shoe factory building that has been build into this place of exploration. They have all kinds of tunnels, caves, slides, cages, etc. to crawl, climb and explore on. It was a little scary because you could lose your kids quick. Truman got lost pretty soon after we got there so he hung close after that. Amelia loved it though. She loved climbing and exploring. I'd love to take the kids back when they are older, there is so much of it that we didn't see because they got tired.

 At the City Museum, they gave us wristbands. As we were walking back to the car, Amelia tried to tear her's off with her teeth. She loosened one of her bottom teeth doing it and lost it shortly after we go back to the hotel. She was worried that the tooth fairy wouldn't find her in St. Louis. However, she did and brought her 4 quarters.

 We did alot of swimming at the hotel pool.

 Tuesday I had to work for the morning to promote bus tours to Greensburg at the Tour Kansas Travel Showcase. It was held in meeting room at our hotel, so while I did that Travis and the kids went to IHOP, swam and hung out in our room. That afternoon, the kids and I fell asleep in our room and we just relaxed. In the evenings, we enjoyed snuggling in bed and watching American Ninja Warrior. Truman enjoyed ninja-ing from bed to bed.

Wednesday morning we headed  back to Kansas City to spend more time with Hollie and Michael. We did more swimming at their house, visited, grilled steaks and had a great evening. Thursday we visited Moon Marble before heading towards home.

 On the way home, we stopped to see Marie and Cretia. It was a nice visit with them.

It was a great time together, but we were all ready to be home and in our own beds. Vacation is good, but home is best.

Making pickles tonight. Learning how to pack the jars.

And a first, Amelia completely  loaded the dishwasher all by herself supper. She was so proud.

Today was the summer reading program party at the library. The theme was heroes and they had the sheriff, 2 firemen and 3 EMS there with their respective vehicles for the kids to check out. The kids each read over 60 books each. All the credit goes to grandma Pat for taking the kids to the library and making sure the books were read and counted. Thanks!

This week was the county fair. We were there every evening for the meals and to check out all the animals and exhibits. The kids did the turtle races and pedal pull. Both placed 2nd in their age divisions. Wednesday morning was kids morning at the fair. Amanda asked me to do face painting for the kids. It was a lot of fun.

Kayla nicknamed her pig Mayor Bob because he had a bob tail. Dad told her he was honored that she thought of him.

Stumpy aka "Mayor Bob"

Petting Kylie's sheep.

Adele let the kids get in the pen with her goats. They loved it.

The Hulk and Rarity (a my little pony)

Tonight as I was putting Amelia to bed, she told me, "sometimes I have good dreams and sometimes I have bad dreams. When they are really bad, they are nightmares." She touched her right temple, "there is a grey bug on this side that gives me bad dreams," touches her left temple, "and a yellow bug on this side that gives me good dreams. We can take the grey bug out and the yellow bug will move in the middle and I'll just have good dreams."

A child's imagination is a great and curious thing.