st louis

we decided kind of spur of the moment to have one last hoorah before daniel had to start back to school. we planned an impromptu trip to st louis... due west. we were so excited about our adventure! we found an amazing modern bed & breakfast to stay in and were so pleased to see it when we arrived. it is an apartment attached to a large historic home in downtown st louis.

olive was sure to make herself at home once we arrived.

there were some really great details put into the look of the inn.

the owner has her own landscaping business so the grounds were just beautiful.

it was sooo hot but olive loved being outside in the yard!

so did clover.

this was the main reason olive liked being out in the yard. the owner, jenn, had chickens for eggs for the inn. olive thought they were amazing! jenn would let them out of their pin often to just roam the yard. i don't think 5 minutes could go by without olive begging at the door to go out and see the chickens.

the downstairs had a living quarters and kitchen and at the top of a winding staircase was this beautiful open bedroom with bath.

clover liked the down comforter and the art of course.

since we were staying at a b&b we could bring our own food to cut down on cost. we got this cooler and to our delight we found that it doubled as a snack table for olive. cheerios in one hole, water cup in the other!

to clover's delight- this put the snacks really close to her level.

olive was also fascinated by the staircase so we helped her up a couple stairs a few times to show her what they were all about.

not too much excitement on the face of the little one as we drive around looking at the city. probably because she wants to be with the chickens.

we had lunch at a place called sen thai. incredible fresh and tasty food!

the architecture and look of the city was just gorgeous. everywhere we turned we were impressed with what we saw.

we were so very excited to see the art museums we had selected during our online research. however, they were quite a bust. the contemporary was between shows. so we only got to see a very small show of prints.

their outdoor mezzanine was pretty neat. we could only stay there a minute though because it was 105 out.

just down the way was the pulitzer. their was an anne hamilton exhibit going which we were very excited about. but you could only take pictures outside which kind of stunk.

dad, let's go out and see that!

more downtown architecture.

and of course the glorious arch.

a brief reprieve in the cool with lilly.

and the stairs.

and the chickens... on the other side of this annoying wooden thing.

please dad!

this day jenn had the sprinklers going in the yard.

we had fun letting them soak us in the summer heat.

and of course dodging them to get to the chickens.

dad had fun sweeping her right through the sprinklers then running before they came back.

after our sprinkler fun we heard an ice cream man coming through the neighborhood. so we got a perfect summer treat!

looking down the spiral staircase. another fun thing for olive.

the room upstairs had a balcony.

snack time!

olive again wanting to be out in the yard.

in front of jenn's vw bus.

this is the day she learned what it meant to say "give me a kiss".

ugh... just makes your heart melt.

the b&b had a library ladder in it that was daddy and olive's favorite.

go higher dad!

lunch at rooster's. they specialize in a full crepe menu. it was SOOO good. we each had a "savory crepe" then split a "sweet crepe". i could have eaten there for a few more meals.

olive says "yeah this is pretty cool".

this pic cracks me up because i know what led up to it. after leaving rooster's it was pouring down so heavy. we went to the city museum which we thought was more museum than extensive play ground for big kids. but before we figured that out daniel ran in to the museum in the torrential downpour to get change for the meter, ran back, metered, grabbed the stroller, stuffed the blanket under his shirt, and ran in sans-umbrella while i ran olive in under the umbrella. he was soaking wet- to the bones. i looked at him and couldn't help but laugh at how pitiful he looked. i said "and that's what a good husband and father looks like".

this was our "dress up and go out" night. jenn recommended an incredible restaurant to go to.

olive is ready.

mom is ready.

dad is ready.

let's go!

um... wait... i got to check out mom's necklace first.

the restaurant was wonderful and the food was spectacular. they had a monkfish dish that daniel and i ended up sharing because it was so good!

daniel liked their wood on the walls.

afterward we went to the world famous custard place that was nearby.

just hanging out at the inn.

watching some kid's program and being silly.

so happy.

before we came to the arch on this day we went to a wax museum. never having been to one i was so excited! but this one bombed! it was so very bad. so we were looking forward to our next order of business- the arch. it was so beautiful in the cityscape we were excited about getting right up to it.

it was beautiful.

probably the best attraction we went to while we were there was the westward expansion museum that was under the arch.

it was remarkably designed and put together.

there were so many incredible photographs and quotes on display from that time. someone really did their research for this establishment.

olive was super duper impressed.

they had big statues of cattle and horses on display. it looked lifelike. this was olive's favorite. every time she saw one she squealed.

outside the museum was a mercantile or country store. everyone in it dressed in period clothes. it was pretty neat.

on our last night before leaving we got to see carmen- daniel's mentor from GA. he now lives in st louis. we couldn't go without at least saying hello.

we had so much fun as a family. it was so nice to get away somewhere quiet together and explore a new city before daniel got back to the grind of work!