Sunday and Monday were fun-filled days with a quick trip to St. Louis to watch a Cardinals game and go to the zoo. We left early Sunday morning and traveled with Ryan's parents and Shannon and Scotty. We got there in time to check into our hotel and walk to the game. I got a great deal on Priceline for the Hyatt Regency at the Arch. It was literally right across the street from the arch and only blocks from Busch stadium. It was an extremely hot day, but thankfully our seats were in the shade. The sun kept creeping up closer and closer and when the game ended (bottom of the 9th, walk-off home run) the sun was only two rows in front of us. I didn't enjoy watching those people sweat, but it was great that it wasn't us! The kids did a wonderful job. I don't think they watched any of the game, but they enjoyed all the snacks we took along. I think they ate for the entire game. The awesome thing was that we could take coolers with water bottles and juice boxes and all the food we wanted to. I couldn't believe that they would let you do this, but we took advantage of it. The whole reason we went to a Cardinals game (we are Cubs fans in fact) was that our family friends, the Brokaws, have a son whose team got to play after the Cardinals game was finished. It was fun to move down to the really expensive seats and watch the highschoolers play. It was a great opportunity for them and they ended up winning!
Monday morning we went up the arch. Aubrey was nervous and didn't want to, but Ryan talked her into it and she was very happy that she did. It was fun for the kids to spot our hotel and the stadium and watch barges on the river. After the arch we went to the zoo. It's a wonderful zoo; we've been there before but it's always fun to go again. Lauren wanted to see the rhino all through the zoo. Each time we would move on to the next animal she would ask if it was going to be the rhino. I don't know where she came to love the rhino so much. Aubrey and Cameron impressed us all with their animal knowledge. They knew facts about so many of the animals, thanks mostly to Wild Kratz (their favorite show right now). They were very excited to see the cotton-topped tamarin. It was a scorching day, but the kids didn't really seem to notice; they are very resilient to the heat. Thankfully it was windy too, so you could cool off a little in the shade.
Cameron, Aubrey, Aleigha, Lauren and Lilly by the arch
On the way up
Going up
Lauren, Aubrey and Lilly looking out
Our hotel as seen from the arch
Busch stadium
I thought the shadow looked neat
Our family at the top
