Sunday, May 29, 2016

Veterans Celebration & Air Show

When I was a kid, the significance of Memorial Day was mostly lost on me. The weekend was consumed by BBQs, pool openings and the joy of having the day off from school. Though my grandfather served as a medic in WWII and two of my uncles in the Vietnam War --remembering their service wasn't anything our family ever discussed or celebrated. Maybe because their memories were too painful.

However, since marrying Steve, a veteran himself, I've grown more sensitive and appreciative of his service and that of the thousands of men and women who have served or given their lives to protect our country's freedom. I want to celebrate beyond BBQs.

This morning at 7 a.m. we loaded up the kids and drove 120+ miles to take part in the 28th Annual Salute to Veterans Celebration and Air Show in Columbia, Missouri. In between moments of listening to our country's anthem, we heard tributes to honor and remember distinguished veterans. We toured the inside of the Navy's USN P-3 Orion. We watched the US Army Golden Knights demonstration team perform various maneuvers as their bodies hurled towards the ground at speeds up to 120 mph. We participated in the Rapid Strike full-simulator ride to experience a real Air Force mission including an F-22 flight, C-17 cargo drop, special operation ground surveillance, satellite communications and a Reaper missile strike. But, mostly - we just felt very grateful.

WWII P-51 Mustang
A-10 Thunderbolt
US Army Golden Knights

WWII BT-Vultee
WWI JN-4 Curtiss Jenny
Noah's favorite because it reminded him of the Indiana Jones movies.
We met up with our friends  - the Piccos who live in the area.

Noah - inside the P-3
Noah and Nat viewing inside the Show Me
1944 WWII B-25 Mitchell Bomber, known as Show Me

Saturday, May 28, 2016

St. Louis Renaissance Festival

Today's blue skies and warm temps made it a perfect day for a drive. We headed west to Wentzville to attend the St. Louis Renaissance Festival. This weekend and next weekend the group is hosting free previews. If you have attended the festival before, you may be slightly disappointed. The preview - while free, offers much less in the way of entertainers and artisans.  We arrived just as they opened and enjoyed watching a troupe of belly dancers, a Celtic band and a fire-baton-twirler. There were two stages for live entertainment and about 30 artisans selling everything from hand-crafted, wood swords to dragon tears and fairy wings. While Noah was upset not to bump into his buddy, Jack Sparrow, he and Natalie still had a great time. We stayed for two hours enjoying the shows and munching on deep fried Oreos.

This Fall (September 17- October 16) the festival will offer 12 stages of entertainment, live jousting, 100+ artisans and 25 free family activities. New additions include: Mermaid Cove, Wine Cafe, Children's Realm and Knights Challenge Obstacle Course.








Friday, May 27, 2016

School Is Out!

June 20th may be the official first day of summer, but for our family and many others, school is out - summer vacation has arrived! If the thought of finding ways to keep your kids  busy over the next 12 weeks has you panicked -- don't worry! St. Louis summers may be humid, but the town is also dripping with fun, free activities both kids and adults will enjoy. I've compiled a list of places that are free/cheap to visit (a couple charge parking), along with many free concerts and festivals to  keep your family engaged all summer long.
Audubon Center at Riverlands, free Engaging hands-on displays and bird-watching. Walk the grounds or sit in one of their comfy rockers and enjoy lunch outdoors.
Babler State Park
, free. The park offers great hiking, friendly naturalists and an inviting, visitor center filled with lots of hands-on exhibits and a theatre which plays short, 20 minute videos on various conservation topics.. 
Grant’s Farm
– free, just pay parking
Kids Bowl Free
-  (every day - all summer long)
Laumier Sculpture Park - free every day. Laumeier offers FREE Walking Tours on the first Sunday of each month, MayOctober, at 2:00 p.m. and FREE Stroller Tours on the third Thursday of each month, MayOctober, at 10:00 a.m.
Lewis & Clark Historic Site
, free. Travel back in time and enjoy many engaging, hands-on displays. very fun.

Magic House  - offers free family nights (for 2 adults and up to 4 of their children) on the 3rd Friday of each month 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. Enjoy more than 100 hands-on exhibits.
Mastadon State Historic Site
,
Museum is free for kids 12 and under. Adults/teens-$4
While in the area stop at the Blue Owl for their Oprah-made famous “mile-high apple pie” in Kimmswick.

Melvin Locks & Dam
, free private tours. Our family really enjoyed it.
Missouri Botanical Gardens/Children’s Garden Club – free admission every Saturday to St. Louis residents between 9 am – noon
Missouri History Museum’s Twilight Tuesdays – free, outdoor concerts
Youth and Family Programs, North Lawn
• Face painting: 5:30–7:30
• Strolling magician: 5:30–7:30
• Make-and-take craft activities: 5:30–7:30

National Great Rivers Museum
, free. Lots of engaging, hands-on exhibits.
Saint Louis Art Museumfree admission every day. The museum also offers Family Sundays every Sunday afternoon for hands-on art activities and a lively 30-minute family tour through the Galleries. Each month's family activities focus on a different, family-friendly theme. Family Tour leaves at 2:30 pm. Sign up for the Family tour is required, and starts in Grigg Gallery at 1:00 pm.
During the month of July enjoy weekly, free“Movies on the Hill”

Saint Louis County Libraries - STArt Science, Technology and Art Programs for Kids
Saint Louis Science Centerfree, just pay parking or park for free in the Planetarium lot and walk across. If you haven’t been to the Science Center in a while – it’s definitely worth another look.They’ve recently added a new area called Makerspace. According to their website, Makerspaces are interactive, community-oriented spaces where you can create and learn skills using a variety of different tools and materials.
Sofia M. Sachs ButterflyHousefree admission St. Louis City/County residents on the first Tuesday of every month from 10 -12 p.m.  Proof of residency is required. Due to high attendance, strollers are not permitted on free Tuesdays. 
Wehrenberg Family Summer Series $1/per person
every Wednesday and Thursday, 6/1-8/4), 10 am.

Whittaker Music Festival – free, outdoor concerts at the MO. Botanical Gardens (Wednesday evenings)
World Bird Sanctuary
Animal Encounters
(every Saturday and Sunday), free
Festivals
5/28-5/29/16 St. Louis Renaissance Festival – free, preview weekend, 11 am – 4pm..
Enjoy a sampling of the delectable eats, show stopping entertainment, and unique handcrafted wares that will be at the 2016 Festival this fall

6/3-6/5/16 – Webster Groves Art & Air Festival, free. Offers a juried collection of art from both local artists and those from around the country. Food and live entertainment are also available.
6/4-6/5/16 – St. Louis Renaissance Festival, free, preview weekend, 11 am – 4pm
Enjoy myriad of live entertainment that both kids and adults will enjoy.

6/4/16
, National Trails Day at World Bird Sanctuary, free, Enjoy the outdoors with this family-friendly event and 3 different length trails to suit your pace! Naturalists with live animals will be at stations along each trail.


Webster Groves Gazebo Series, enjoy a picnic outdoors and live entertainment under the gazebo.
6/10/16 - Mariner 5/Plan 9 From Outer Space
6/17/16  - Gene Dobbs Bradford Blues Band/Pride of St. Louis
6/24/16  - Javier Mendoza/Night of the Living Dead (1968)
 
6/18-6/19/16 Purina Farms Country time Festival, free, 9:30-3:30 pm, featuring a Kids Carnival! Call 314-982-3232 to make reservations

6/18/16 Great Rivers Festival, free, 12 noon – 7pm
Live Bird Show with Tree House Wildlife Center 12pm-1pm
Live Reptile Show with Serengeti Steve 1:00pm-2pm
Live Bird Show with Tree House Wildlife Center 2pm-3pm
Live Music Line Up TBA

Webster Groves Gazebo Series
7/1/16  - Kids From School of Rock/Cavalcade of Cartoons
7/8/16  - Miss Jubilee/Little Shop of Horrors (1960)
7/15/16  - Billy Peek/Rock, Rock, Rock


8/7/16 Purina Farms Back to School Fun Fair, free, 9:30-3:30 pm

8/27-8/28/16 International Festival of Nations
, free, in Tower Grove Park

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Deep Thoughts From Noah #73

Noah: Mom, have you ever had any adventures?
Me: Sure!
Nat (interjects): Noah, she used to work in the Caribbean.
Noah: Like with pirates?!
Me: Um, no.

Monday, April 11, 2016

Meet Me Outdoors in St. Louis

The National Park Service turns 100 in 2016.  To honor this milestone, Meet Me Outdoors in St. Louis serves to celebrate the many everyday ways to discover, experience and conserve nature and the great outdoors. On April 2nd, the Missouri Botanical Gardens kicked off the Meet Me Outdoors  initiative with the re-opening of the Doris I. Schnuck Children's Garden and Tower Grove House along with the debut of the new PlantLab and renovated Brookings Exploration Center. During the event more than a dozen community partners including Audubon Center at Riverlands, Earthdance Organic Farm School and St. Louis Master Gardeners were on hand to share their enthusiasm and knowledge about the outdoors.

The kids and I took part in a "build a bee home" workshop --one of the many hands-on activities available throughout the grounds. 

If you would like to be a part of this movement - simply take the pledge:
Together, I/we pledge to:
* Look under more rocks for squirmy things
* Picnic in a local park
* Camp out under the stars
* Nap, read, or sketch under the shade of a tree
* Bike a new stretch of nature trail or greenway
* Build a for
* Conduct a neighborhood nature census
* Participate in or organize a community planting or clean-up day
* and/or pursue other outdoor adventures throughout the year, including as many as we can from this list

.

Looking for worms and learning about composting

Nat made a pea necklace...and later planted it.

Bug Hotels

Hard at work



Friday, April 1, 2016

Musings From Natalie #125

Natalie: "Mom, when I grow up I'm going to be a hippie!"
Me: "You are?...What does it mean to be a hippie?"
Natalie: "Well...you give the peace sign a lot.  Wear tie dye clothes and save the world by not letting others cut down trees and stuff."
(Right, on!)

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Wagon Days at Long Meadow

Last Saturday's sunny blue skies made it a perfect day for an afternoon ride to the country. We ventured to Long Meadow Rescue Ranch near Union, Missouri to enjoy a picnic lunch and tour the facility as part of their Wagon Days event. Located on about 165 acres, the ranch is a division of Humane Society of Missouri and boasts to be one of the most comprehensive horse and farm animal care and rehabilitation centers in the country.

Long Meadow Fast Facts:
* The ranch currently has about 167 animals in it's care. Of that number 89 are horses.
* It is not state funded and relies completely on private donations.
* Barn Buddies is a sponsorship program that helps provide medical care for the animal of your choice...from horses to pigs, turkey to sheep.
* The next Wagon Days event is happening May 14th - includes a wagon ride around the grounds and open house.
* Regular visiting/adoption times are Fridays 12-3 p.m. and Saturdays 11-3 p.m.
* Spring Fling is their biggest fundraiser of the year. $10/person or $20/carload, children 12 and under are free. Event includes riding demonstrations, food, kid activities and more.



Nat caught a grasshopper and couldn't wait to show Steve.

Kelso tried to steal a tasty snack off the back of the pick-up while we rode by.
Kelso's nose was the size of Natalie's head!
Once sick and neglected...now running with gusto

Resting a spell after lunch
Newbies to the ranch.