Bucket List Items

Since I started this blog in 2011, we have done tons of fun things. Some of them from a bucket list I made (see side bar) and many other things we just discovered along the way. We've long ago accomplished most of the bucket list, but we've still had a few items left to experience. Last fall we crossed two more items off the list...Art Fair and Tour a Cathedral.

St. Louis Art Fair

Hailey and I visited the St. Louis Art Fair in Clayton with the cousins. The kids had a lot of fun. There is a kids area set up with tons of different crafts the kids can do for free. It was definitely worth the trip. Check it out in September!

The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis

Technically, we didn't take a tour, but we finally made it inside The Cathedral Basilica so I'm counting it! We've even been twice!

The Cathedral includes 83,000 square feet of mosaic art created by twenty artists. Construction started on the Cathedral in 1907 and the mosaic art was installed over a 75 year period.

It blows my mind that this is all made of tiny squares. The Mossaics were created with over 41,500,000 pieces of tesserae.

I think all we have left unchecked on the bucket list is a visit to the top of the Compton Water Tower!

Alton, IL and Melvin Price Locks and Dam

Oh, my! How is it October? We did this adventures while my mom was here - two months ago! 

But this is a great time to post this anyway because the leaves are changing and if I lived closer I would definitely be driving the Great River Road through Alton to look at all the fall foliage.

An adventure to the Melvin Price Locks and Dam was actually planned for last year when both my parents came out, but they ended stuck in an airport instead and this activity got bumped. This adventure has my dad written all over it, but we went ahead and did it with just Grandma this year. We'll have to take him another time.

The National Rivers Museum is next to the Locks and Dam. It has river exhibits, a movie and a couple of activities.

The kids enjoyed trying to navigate a barge into the locks.

We got to see a two small fishing boat and a large barge go through the locks.

If you visit the locks, I highly recommend planning your trip around a tour (they have them 3 times a day). On the tour, you get to walk out over the locks. Brenton is petrified of heights and was scared half to death. Luckily, candy has very powerful effect on my children and we were all able to go.

On the tour, they also take you down next to a lock so you can actually see the water move up or down in order for the boats to move up or down the river. (This image would not rotate for some reason).

After visiting the Locks and Dam we explored a little bit of Alton. My kids are obsessed with giants, so we found the statue of  Robert Wadlow, also called the Alton Giant and the World's Tallest Man. My kids were very impressed.

Then we also headed up the Great River Road to find the Piasa, a representation of an old image seen along this part of the river years ago by Father Jacques Marquette in 1673.

This picture was actually taken earlier in the day outside the museum.

This was a fun trip. All of these activities were free and there are still a couple other things in the area that I would love to try out. So, I recommend crossing the river over into Alton if you get a chance.

The Jewel Box and The Saint Louis Art Musuem

We had a snow day in St. Louis yesterday and the kids are still out of school for it today (don't get too excited, you can still see the top of the grass through the snow). I remember my little sister praying every night for it to snow and for school to be cancelled (it's a lot harder to have school cancelled just because of snow where I grew up). Actually, she's now in college and I'm sure she still prays for snow days. Anyways, it was not my best mommy/snow day yesterday. I've been sick this week, my house needed cleaned, and I decided I don't like snow. I use to like snow. Now it just means no school, wet clothes and boots everywhere, icy roads and then dirty roads. However, I have an adventure to blog about from our wonderful Christmas break. Unlike yesterday, the weather was beautiful, everyone was in a good mood, and my kids were as close to angels as you could get. It really was one of those days that I thought, "This is just such a nice, fun day."

Our family really likes the Saint Louis Art Museum, but haven't been for a few years. The Museum does family activities on Sundays, but that day doesn't work for us, so I was excited to see they were doing some extended family activities during the week between Christmas and New Years. Casey was off work, but hunting, so Nanny joined us for our visit.

Since we were at Forest Park, we decided to stop by The Jewel Box first to see the poinsettias.

To be honest, I was expecting more poinsettias, but it was still nice. It cost a dollar a person for those over the age of five (it's free a couple mornings a week). Though I don't know if I'll ever go again, I don't feel bad for paying $3 for the one time I did go.

Maybe because there isn't a lot to do inside the Jewel Box, the kids agreed to pose for an absurd amount of pictures.

We then headed to the Art Museum to do a scavenger hunt. The museum was hosting one for kids, but I think you could come up with something on your own anytime and it would go over well. Though I was a little worried about my kids in an art museum, they were really good. They loved the scavenger hunt, the mummies, the guns, the swords and the armor. They might even have looked at a few pictures.
I didn't take any pictures inside, oops! I didn't know you were allowed to until we were done. This first picture reminds me that the museum has had a special exhibit of Monet's Water Lilies that I regret not taking advantage of. Admission into the art museum is always fee. Special exhibits do cost, but they are free on Fridays.

It was a fun trip!

I know I need to not complain about the weather or the snow we are having now. It is January! Tomorrow we are hopefully headed to the  Ice Carnival on The Loop. It probably needs to be cold so the ice sculptures don't melt, though I'm hoping we don't freeze. That will be another post.

Way of Lights

We did this great Christmas Activity three weeks ago, but things have been so busy since then, I haven't had time to blog about it. I have to at least blog about it before Christmas though. So even though I should be cleaning my house and getting ready for one awesome Christmas Eve dinner (and it better be awesome because I just spent A LOT of money on tenderloin), I'm going to throw some pictures in this blog post and wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows' Way of Lights is very popular in the St. Louis area. Why we had never gone, I don't know. They provide a free drive though Christmas light display centered on Christ's birth with over a million lights and a beautiful manger scene. My camera did not take beautiful  pictures of the manger scene though, so you'll have to settle for a Wise Men.

They also host several free Christmas activities. The kids enjoyed a puppet show, making a craft and checking out Christmas trees with storybook themes.

They also do camel rides and a laser show for a fee.

If you've never been, it's worth the drive over. Activities will be going on though January 1st. 

Balloon Glow - The Great Forest Park Ballon Race

Friday night we went to the Balloon Glow portion of Saint Louis' Great Forest Park Balloon Race. It is amazing!

I think everyone should go at least once (but if you never choose to go again after that, I wouldn't blame you). The kids loved it and I'm glad we finally went.

I'll give a play-by-play because I had only heard bits and pieces before going. The Balloon Glow starts at 7:00 pm. We arrived at Forest Park at 5:30 pm. Forest Park was already packed (we actually needed to go somewhere by Forest Park one year during the actual race day - you can't even get into Forest Park by the afternoon on race day). We parked a good 30 minute walk away from the field with the balloons.

I read to bring a blanket. We did. People spread blankets out waiting for it to start. You could have a picnic, buy food and souvenirs, or visit booths. People are pretty packed together.

We ate in the car when we got there so we wouldn't have to haul so much stuff. We did get a funnel cake though as a treat. These treats are exactly why I have to go on diet starting tomorrow. I was suppose to start this morning, but I ate some left over cake at 10:30 am. Oh well, I've heard you're not suppose to start diets on Monday anyway.

At 7 pm, all the balloons begin to fill. It's kind of an awe-inspiring moment seeing all these huge balloons fill before you. This is also when everyone who is not in front stands up, so I'm not sure why we all bring blankets to sit on in the first place (probably because we get there so early).

After the balloons fill you can walk among the balloons (pick up and take your blanket with you). Every few minutes a horn will blow and the balloons will light up at the same time. It's beautiful!

The kids will love it!

The night ends with fireworks! My kids were very excited. This was a great experience! However, there are TONS of people, not enough port-a-potties, and for some reason it felt like it was a lot of work.