2017 Blue Jeans Week 32

Summer is officially over here.  School has started.  Last week we had one last get away before the chaos starts :)  We went to St. Louis to explore and also attend our nephew's wedding reception.  It was a really fun time, very busy, and we did a lot.  There is A LOT to do in St. Louis, and so much of it is free!!  A great place to visit!  Take a look at our week. . .

These three things have gone with us on all 3 of our summer mini-vacations this summer.  Girl scout cookie knock-offs.  Love them!  Wouldn't be a proper get away without them!

Got to St. Louis in time for lunch and went to the Nathaniel Reed bakery.  Wow!  It was yummy!  I knew croissants were good, but these were really good!  He is a world renowned pastry chef and it did not disappoint.

Forest Park in St. Louis is huge and is home to many wonderful and free things--like this awesome St. Louis art museum which we enjoyed visiting.

Forest park is also home to the free St. Louis zoo which we enjoyed visiting too!

Our nephew and his new bride. It was nice to see some family while we were there!!

When in St. Louis, you need to visit the Gateway Arch.  Pretty impressive.  Mr J and I don't do well with heights or enclosed spaces (the tram car going up is really small) so just Ben and the girls went up to the top.  Mr J and I enjoyed the downtown while they were up in the arch.

The St. Louis Gateway Arch

Downtown St. Louis has some pretty parks and is fun to explore.

We went to the St. Louis City Museum which was just bizarre--climbing stuff, 9 story slides, like a 9 story McDonald's play place on steroids.  Wow!  the kids loved it.  A very unique place!

When in St. Louis you need to get Ted Drewes frozen custard, a St. Louis tradition since 1929!  So yummy!

Also in the awesome Forest Park is the outdoor Muny theater.  It seats 14,000, and each performance they give away 1,400 free seats!  First come, first served, so we got in line and got in one night and saw Newsies.  It was SO GOOD!!!  The weather was not your typical August weather either--but cool and so nice!  A perfect evening!

Another day and another section of Forest Park (seriously this place is huge with sooo much to do) this is the Jewel Box.  Forest Park was where they had the 1904 Worlds' Fair.

Then near Forest Park is the amazing Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis which we went to see and had a tour of.  Amazing!!!  So beautiful!

We felt like we were in a European Cathedral---so huge and so beautiful!!!  We got there at the end of mass and heard the organ being played.  Wow!  Loved it!

Hope the beginning of your school year goes well!!!  We are not ready for early mornings, but here we come!