Visiting Family in St. Louis

Grant's Farm 

Echard's Orchard (these two could have played out there all day!)

Last month we took one last family trip before Naveya started 2nd grade! Rachael, Danny and I threw the trip together last minute, packed the van full of suitcases and kids, and drove up to St. Louis! Since it was a quick trip a "top 10" favorite moments seemed fitting!

1. All 5 kids were AMAZING travelers! Especially since we drove the straight 11 hour drive to and from "the Lou" without stopping at a hotel. (When I hear people call St. Louis "the Lou" I always think of the bathroom! Ha! Probably since I'm not from there. It's grown on me though!)

2. Anytime I see Danny with his grandma. It especially gets to me when she hugs him and says it reminds her of hugging "o'ld pa Hoefelmann" when they were younger. I never got to know him as the big and tall guy, but I'm grateful I did at least get to know him before he passed away. I imagine when Danny and I grow up we'll be a little something like o'ld ma and pa Hoefelmann (or as they called each other) Kid and Bean.

3. Ted Drews Frozen Custard! We go at least twice every time we are in St. Louis. Danny and I also usually get the same flavors both times. He gets a pistachio concrete, and I get raspberry. The lines are always long and its always delicious!!

4. Walking downtown and seeing the Arch! I love exploring cities with my family. Probably because I'm obsessed with New York City and living there one day! Seeing my kids enjoy walking down city sidewalks was so fun!

5. Going to Grant's Farm may be my absolute favorite thing we did on this trip! The kids got to feed goats, ride a train, and dance in a little village square type thing while eating snow cones!

6. Picking apples at Echard's Orchard! The salt water taffy's from their country store were also so yummy!

7. Visiting Grandpa Don and Grammy Pammy. They put together a birthday party for all the kids since we don't get to be together for their actual birthdays and it was so cute! They got goody bags, cake, ice cream...the whole shuhbang!

8. Hanging out at Aunt Laurie's house while the kids all jump on the trampoline.

9. Naveya's baby buns on top of her hair. She was obsessed with wearing her hair like that all week!

10. The kids playing at grandmas house with the same toys Danny and Rachael played with as kids.