Two Weeks!

Okay, so it's been more like three weeks.  But who's counting?  Right?  Okay, quite possibly my mother, who needs to see pictures of the grands. Anyone else miss me?  Anyone.......?  Anyone.......? 

Alrighty then.

So, we went on a semi vacation a few weeks ago.  What's a semi vacation?  Glad you asked!  It's where you take a trip that you need to take and dress it up for the kids so you can pretend it's a vacation....and they don't really know the difference if you just keep saying things like "isn't this a great vacation!" 

Heh. 

Or maybe they are on to me, but they let me get away with it.  I'll have to think on that one for a while.

Anyway.

Let me just say that taking a vacation with a Monster Van is way way cooler than a minivan!  I believe I may have packed everything we own in there and still had room to take the kids with us!  Alas, I packed the cameras, so no shots of the Monster Van packed.

But, I dug it out after 23,964 hours on the road and took this picture.... 'cause that was a sight for our eyes!  Have I mentioned that {for no logical reason what-so-ever}, we love going to St. Louis. 

We love the drive.  We love the picnics at rest stops along the way.  And we Love seeing the arch as we approach our destination! 

But most of all,  we loved seeing these faces waiting in the hotel for us! 

Mia (adopted by Scott and Karla when we adopted Claire)

Katelyn (adopted last year by our travel mates, Doug and Sue)

Cole (adopted by Doug and Sue when we adopted Claire)

YoYo (adopted by Shane and Anna when we adopted Claire)

Several families from our travel group met us in St. Louis for a little mini-reunion.  Wish the other families could have come too, but it was fun anyway! We broke bread, shared stories and generally had a blast!  It was a long weekend loaded with good times and we can't wait to do it again next year. 

Because it was so much fun to hang out with all everyone.

Just like when we were in China.....only the kids are older, bigger and happier!

Okay....sometimes they are happier! 

All the kids!  Can you believe we got them all in one frame!!! And yeah, okay, I realize that 50% of the kids from 4 families are mine.  Whatever.  That is only because the Gulkes didn't bring 3 of their kids.

   

And how about for the group shot my girl can flash everybody!

We're so proud....

Anyway.

We have done many things during our many trips to St. Louis....the zoo, the science museum, some caverns, the arch and museum downtown, so this time we decided to try out The Magic House children's museum.  I highly recommend it for a hands on learning experience! 

There was something for everyone on this trip!

The kids played and played in the bubble room.  Who knew bubbles could be so entertaining?  I think I need to set up a bubble station at my house to occupy the hordes of children hanging out at my house this summer! 

And a building station.

The little girls had a tea party.

Which was too cute!

While Parker and Katelyn made seed necklaces.

Isabel

When the kids got out of control we found a way to contain them!

Cole

YoYo

It was a good day!

Scott got in touch with his inner prom queen!

And Mia kept her eye on the situation!

Claire and YoYo played house.

Awwwwww!

YoYo was bringing home the bacon cabbage!

And all was right with the world!

But who gave this kid a drivers license???

I guess she's going shopping with all that bacon cabbage YoYo is bringing home!

There was so much to do and so many pictures to choose from.  I mean,  there were four camera-happy Mamas there.  So, that means there were about 56,789 pictures taken!  Like this one at the magnet station.

And this one at the dress-up area!

 

Oh, and Claire went to  Shriners to see Dr. Wonderful Dobbs.  I gave the camera a break so no pictures of that part of the day.   She went, he took x-rays, she walked, he took pictures, she wowed them, we left!  It was good for everybody! I love to hear the words: keep doing what your doing because she's doing fine! 

Yay God!