Ben & Rebecca and Jimmy & Tahnee were super awesome and followed us home in their van pulling a trailer full of our stuff we "need" that we'd left behind when we moved.  We got home Friday night, set up beds and passed out.  It had been a long day.  Saturday was a beautiful day. The adults went to the temple in the morning, then after lunch we all took off for the zoo.  It was pretty busy, being a Saturday, and the nicest day we've had in a long time, but we still had a great time around all the people.

Sunday was Heath's 3rd Birthday.  What a lucky boy to have so many cousins to have fun with on one's birthday! Ben & Rebecca had purchased some deliciously sugary cereal for the kids so Heath had a wonderful Birthday Breakfast.  Our church meeting was moved to 12:30 for the new year, so we had a nice leisurely morning, good meetings, and then came home to some yummy bread and beans.  After lunch we thought it would be fun to go to the park down the road for a bit. 

The kiddo's didn't seem to mind the cold seeing as how they were running around and Heath was actually pretty sweaty, but when Rebecca said, "ok kids in 5 minutes we need to go" and Ana sent her a look of panic (do we really have to stay 5 more minutes in this ice box) we decided it was time to just go.  

I say it was freezing... probably more like 25-30 degrees, but we're whannies.

 Ana Gwenny & Renata helped me make Heath a "Chocolate Cake with Blue frosting with a H" per Heath's request.   It was a lot of fun & I was pretty impressed with those girls cooking/math skills. Very smart little cookies.

While we waited for the cake to cool Heath opened his Lincoln Log set. (we it got for him at the DAV for a $!)

It was the perfect gift for him. He absolutly loves it and plays with it every day.  He's really impressed me with his construction skills.  Uncle Jimmy must have taught him a thing or two while they were playing.


Houston really likes it two. His favorite part about it is getting to smash and destroy everything Heath builds.  Heath is a really good sport about it usually.  He'll just make a new building for Houston to destroy 3 seconds later.

This picture is a testament to one of the reasons we got our camera. It freezes little guys in their tracks.

Heath was just soaking in all the happiness!

Monday morning we chilled while decisions were made on what we should/where we should go.

The vote landed on taking the Metro Link to the Arch.  I was really excited about this because before we knew B&R were going to come up with us we had talked about doing this for Heath's birthday since we hadn't ridden the Metro yet, and I was the only one that had been in the arch. Now we got to do it with everybody!

So much excitement!

The boys weren't so sure once the train started moving.  After a bit they got the hang of it though and loved every minute of it.

After about 35 minutes on the train we got off at the Arch stop.  We walked along the Mississippi then up to the arch. It was So cold, especially that wind coming right off the water, but it was so beautiful.

This was Heath's favorite part of the Expansion West museum below the arch.

and this was Matt's.

 B&R treated us to a tram ride to the top. Heath was just as excited as I was! Both he and Houston were so happy to be holding the tickets!

The view was amazing! I had been up once before, when I was probably about 10, and I didn't remember it being so breathtaking!  







The boys just wanted to sit and look down the whole time.  I wish I knew what they had been thinking.

Gwen & Renata

Julia & Benji

Heath & Houston & the Mississippi

Ana

Ben Rebecca & sweet Isla

not so happy boys being pulled from the windows.

The tram cars were super tiny and had a little window on the door so you could see the guts of the arch during your ride. It was a pretty neat experience. Such an amazing piece of engineering.

After the arch we walked around for a while down town before heading back to the metro.  I had really regretted leaving all the strollers behind at this point, but it was still a really fun time.

Rebecca drooling over the organ in the old church house.

Lots of sleepy kids.

















Matt almost didn't make it back to the link stop in time for the next train trying to get our tickets validated.  Here he is across the tracks trying to get over to us FAST!  I'm pretty sure if I'd run into Matt on my own somewhere in St Louis and didn't know him, I'd be a little scared. He just has that look with his beard & all.

By the time we were headed home we were all starving and tired.  Jimmy & Tahnee were super awesome and made a big old pot of spaghetti for everyone!













We sure had a super fun weekend and are missing everyone now.  Hopefully we will see them again soon!