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.

I-55 Raceway

Casey has been a good sport with all of my Saint Louis ideas. Shakespeare in the Park...not really his thing (though we are going every year from now on). So when he suggested that I-55 Raceway make the bucket list, I agreed. We've planned to go a couple times and it hasn't happened. Saturday of Labor Day weekend it finally worked out and since it was customer appreciation and kid's night, the price was right and the kids had even more fun.

It is pretty cool. The cars go really fast around a dirt track. Warning: You do need ear plugs! And I would recommend goggles or eye protection. 

Ethan was a huge fan!

And spent most of the evening looking like this (he gets really excited about things).

This wasn't necessarily my kinda thing. If someone came to visit that wanted to go, I would be willing to take them. However, if Casey wants to take the kids again, I'll probably enjoy an evening to myself.

My kids would be disappointed though if they went again and it wasn't kids appreciation night. The raceway held a nickel race for all the kids. They got to race for nickels out on the track. Some of nickels were worth prizes, but all the kids got take take home the nickels they collected. My kids each brought home around a dollars worth. It made them very happy!

Soulard Farmers Market

We packed a lot into our Labor Day weekend... Friends, a movie, the park, the boys went hunting, Hailey danced at a football game, and I even have a couple Saint Louis adventures to blog about!

Saturday morning, Nanny and Papa met us at Soulard Farmers Market! I had taken the kids by myself on a Friday before school started, but I wanted the full experience of a Saturday when everything was open. During the week you can do three kids and one adult, but Saturdays require reinforcements. Casey was busy with some things for church, so I was glad Casey's parents wanted to join us.

Soulard Market has a long history in Saint Louis. Starting in 1779, farmers had gathered in what was first a flat meadow to sell produce.

In the 1800's a building was added. Nearly destroyed by a tornado, the original building was replaced in the early 1900's.

We had lots of fun when went over the summer. However, there was one real reason I wanted to return. The best of the fried and delicious food was closed.

I didn't get pictures of the pastries, but they were heavenly. Yes, fresh fruits and vegetables make up a large part of the market,

but I believe in a balanced life.

The Market is open Wednesday through Saturday. On Wednesday through Friday, only some of the spots are open, but Saturday every spot is opened. On Friday there was lots of produce to choose from, meat, spices, the pet store was open, a little bit of jewelry, and some different things here and there. Saturday there was all that plus clothes, live animals (not pet store animals, but chickens and ducks) and lots of people. It's kind of like entering a whole new world.

Here are some of my favorite purchases from our visits, besides the donuts and pastries.  When I was growing up we lived near a cheese factory that we often visited to watch them make the cheese and buy "squeaky" cheese. I don't think the cheese squeaks any more, but I still almost bought another bag this weekend.

This our yellow watermelon purchase. I should have taken a picture when I was cutting it open. It looks like a regular watermelon, but it's yellow inside. It tastes like watermelon too, but a little sweeter.

I also bought sensible items like sweet potatoes and peppers, but they aren't as fun to talk about.

And though my kids don't usually approve of shopping adventures (that don't involve buying toys or stuff only for them), they do approve of any place with a park. And there is a park right next door.

Sweetie Pie's

I went to The Help last weekend. It was excellent! The cast was great, and it also featured some tasty looking food... Minny's fried chicken, and Celia's table of southern-style cooking. If you haven't seen it, go see it. And if you want some soul food, head to Sweetie Pie's at the Mangrove.

The weekend before school started, we headed to the Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives featured, and soon to have it's own reality show on the Oprah Winfrey Network, Sweetie Pie's with Casey's parents.

Sweetie Pie's is set up cafeteria style. You pick out what you want, pay and then they take your tray to a table for you. If you go with small children, I would suggest just getting adult meals and then sharing with the kids. As you can see from the picture below, Brenton got plenty to eat using that method.

One of Sweetie Pie's specialties is their Macaroni and Cheese. I thought it was great! You can see how they make it here on a Diner, Drive-Ins, and Dives segment.

My kids loved the fried chicken!

The girls decided we needed dessert as well. We had peach cobbler. I don't mind peach cobbler, but it's not usually one of my favorite things. This peach cobbler was so good though, it kinda of made me a fan!

I was glad we went. It was fun, the service was friendly, and the food was good. Casey, however, was disappointed. He had really high expectations for the food (from people at work and all the TV hype) and he did not feel like they were met. Other than that, Sue said the cabbage was really good, Hailey liked the green beans, and I'm serious when I say they are taping for a reality show...here's one of the camera men.

Gus' Pretzels

Gus' Pretzels are a "St. Louis Tradition." They are everywhere. My mother-in-law remembers when they sold them on the corner of the road with newspapers. Hailey's been eating them at Brenton's baseball game where they sell them as a fundraiser.

I kinda feel bad saying this, but I don't really care fom them. They are a little harder and chewier than I prefer. However, I respect tradition while exploring St. Louis, so we visited the St. Louis famous pretzel shop last week.

You can watch them make pretzels at the shop. And they make tons because even if I'm not eating them, a whole lot of St. Louis is.

We decided to sweeten it up with cinnamon and sugar pretzels. Sugar helps most things, right? Ethan and Brenton even ate theirs (Ethan won't eat a regular Gus' pretzel and Brenton doesn't really care for any pretzel). Hailey really liked it! And she is featured prominently in this post because she is my Gus' Pretzel eater and she was the only person not crying on this adventure. Thank you Hailey!

Some other things...there is no place to sit at Gus's Pretzels. You just order your pretzel items.

Also, Gus' is located near some other cool St. Louis places. It's right across the highway from the Anheuser Busch Brewery. They do free tours. Casey and I have been and found it very interesting and educational, even though we don't drink. The horse stables are beautiful! Gus' is also by the Cherokee Antique Row. I only drove by it, but if I hadn't had three kids with me I would have loved to have peeked my head into a few of the stores.

Missouri Botanical Gardens

The kids started school today. It makes me sad. We were having so much fun this summer. It really has been fun to see, do, and experience so many things in St. Louis that I've overlooked for years. And we still have more to do!
Anyway, here's our last day of summer adventure! I have some adventures from the weekend I need to post about too, but I'll get around to that later this week. I should have lots of time now that I only have one at home.
Monday we headed to the Missouri Botanical Gardens with some friends. I've always liked the Botanical Gardens, but we haven't been there for a few years.

I think the Gardens are beautiful and very peaceful (if you ignore the children). They remind me of  my Grandma who had a yard full of beautiful flowers and The Secret Garden. I would have fresh flowers in my house all the time if I had excess money. Brenton, however, asked why there was so many plants. When I explained it was a garden likes it's name, he said he wished it was called "The Botanical Cowboy."

I think this is one of my favorite spots.

I was amazed at all the beautiful color after such a hot summer. Then I remembered  I would color in my yard too if I would have remembered to water anything.

The Japanese Garden has Coy fish to feed. We were there for a very long time.

We also visited the Children's Garden. It's a child's heaven...slides, tree houses, a cave, and so much more.

My kids favorite part of the Children's Garden was the splash pad.

The Children's Garden does have a separate fee, kind of. The Botanical Garden is free for 12 and under. Here's a link to a buy one get one free admission for adults coupon. The Children's Garden is free for adults, but $5 for kids. If you live in St. Louis County or have a membership there are certain times of the week everything is free.

The Botanical Gardens has a special tree house (they had to be made of trees, not in trees) exhibit going on right now. The kids loved it. Hailey wanted her picture taken in this one. She posed. It reminds me of how fast they grow up.