Nine

How can I explain how wonderful this trip was?  It was great on so many levels.  I got to spend it with my husband, kids, brother and his girlfriend who happens to be my best friend.  My kids are old enough to remember it.  They had a blast.  After my brother graduated high school, he went into the Army National Guard and was deployed most of the time from the end of 2003 through the beginning of 2009.  One deployment was domestic, but it was still 6 months. This was his first real vacation and it was awesome to see him having such a great time. The kids loved having those two with us as did I.

Here's a breakdown of the fun we had in St. Louis:

• Arrived in St. Louis and had St. Louis style pizza and then went down to experience Fair St. Louis, hear the B-52's and watch fireworks under the Arch.
• Went to the St. Louis Zoo, the second largest zoo in the country and the largest free zoo.  It was amazing!  I loved the butterfly house!  Got to see a lioness sleeping in a tree!
• Went to "the Hill" an authentic Italian community with gingerbread style houses and authentic Italian cuisine.  So so so yummy! Had to take Tim back to his roots!
• Went to the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Gateway Arch
• Visited the City Garden where they had swimming area, waterfall and splash park
• Visited and shopped at Union Station
• Visited the Anheuser-Busch Brewery
• Went to the Old Cathedral (Basilica of St. Louis, King) which was the first Catholic Cathedral west of the Mississippi
• Visited the St. Louis Science Center
• Went to the City Museum.  Coolest.Place.EVER.
• Visited the National Headquarters of Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, MO
• Stopped on historic Route 66

Enjoy......