Monday in Missouri

First of all, we were NOT fighting....just a little bit frustrated. All is o.k., it was a momentary "tiff" while we were packing the car. I guess this means that, yes.....we too are human.
Anyway, I went shopping at Kroger early this morning in Nashville to buy ham and turkey for our picnic lunch. I also picked up some "healthy" snacks.....some kind of raisin, dried apple, cranberry, mystery berry combination. Boy, was that a hit! Let's see if I can recall...."What, no chocolate? What kind of snack is this? Let me do the shopping next time! Who eats this kind of stuff?" You get the picture.
Therefore, somewhere in Kentucky, we stopped at a Wendy's/BP Gas station (Will had to go to the bathroom). Three people said, "Yes!!!! I want a frostee!!" Being the ever-loving dad, who let's his arm get twisted WAY too often, I said o.k . I went into Wendy's, stood in line, finally got to the counter and order the Frostees, and the lady said "our machine isn't working...we don't have any frostee mix". Guess who got the DEEEP priviledge of going back outside to inform the gang that their freedom from healthfood by way of frostees wasn't going to happen. You got it.
Illinois seemed to be better, though, as by this time we had bought some candy, chocolate, etc. Plus, everyone watched a pretty funny movie. Darcy took a nice walk at the rest area, and on to St. Louis we came.
Crossing the river into St. Louis, we were able to see from a distance just how large the Arch really is. We found our hotel (Courtyard downtown), on market street, 4 blocks from Union Station. After checking in, we drove down to the arch and parked by the river. The sun was out, it was really pretty, and very few people around. We saw the local "FOX" news reporter, and we figured something was wrong. It was....the cable on one side of the arch had broken, and the people on the tram on that side had been stranded for over an hour and a half. We couldn't get tickets for the other half for this evening, so we went to Union Station. Will got a St. Louis Rams shirt, Hannah got some stuff for her dog, Julie got some fudge, and we ate at Houlihans. It was pretty, the waiter was kinda weird, and my chicken ceasar salad was a little dry. All in all, though, it was a good day. It goes to prove that just because things start off a little frisky, doesn't mean the day has to go that way!
We are contemplating going up the arch tomorrow...and then it is on to Hays Kansas. Hannah said today that she didn't think she had ever seen any place as flat as southern Illinois. I have news for her....wait until we cross Missouri and half of Kansas tomorrow. The definition of flat will change!
Until we reach Hays, Kansas......so long!
By the way, Marissa is trying very hard to win the "best kid award". Will, on the other hand, just wants someone to go swimming with him.
---WJLsr

Thoughts from Hannah

Mom and Dad are fighting right now. "I hate vacations when we fuss. (insert naughty saying of the beach that cannot be displayed because mom and dad just freaked out and made me change it because it might hurt some people's feelings when really I thought it was just hilarious and showed how dramatic our family really is, and maybe if Dad was so embarrassed by what he said he shouldn't be saying those comments anyway! That was a run-on sentence, but I don't care!) If the world didn't have a beach it would be ok with me" -Dad "If the world didn't have a grand canyon it would be ok with me!" -Ansley

That's what I'm hearing right now.

Ansley is being a royal pain in the neck. She complains about everything that happens. I think this selfishness can be traced back to her childhood where our family motto for about 2 years was "what Ansley wants, Ansley gets." Darcy, on the other hand, has been wonderful. He sleeps a lot in the car and is overall happy. He slept with me through the whole night and only woke me up once by beating me in the head with his tail. He did pee on my blanket, but it's all good.

We're off to St. Louis where most of the world's crimes take place. Pray we don't get shot.
-H