But first we parked, walked over to the arch, took some obligatory cousin pictures near the arch, and and bought tickets to go up top. Then we admired some of the museum while waiting for our ticketed time slot. When it was time, we crammed into two tiny pods (5 of us in one, 4 in another), rode up up up four minutes to the top of the arch, and enjoyed the views. The Missouri River was flooding big time but the day was sunny so we could see the full 30 miles in every direction that was promised in the informational video. Jay was freaked out, but still leaned in to look out the tiny windows. He didn't like looking straight down (and I don't blame him--that was a rush), but he was alright. Rose rode up in the pod with Em, Chase, and AmyJane. She enjoyed looking at the view. Amber was a bit reserved and uncertain inside the tiny elevator pod, but perked up when she could run up the sloped floor and climb up to the windows to look out.
After a little while up top in the arch, we rode the pod back down and explored the museum a bit more before heading out. Amber nearly pooped her pants while we were in the museum, and I had to carry her desperate little bum across a large stretch of floor all the way over to the bathroom. Thankfully, she made it and once again I had the joy of standing in a public bathroom while it slowly filled up with stinky smells for the second time that week.
We exited the arch, and I walked/herded the seven kids three large city blocks (crosswalks, stoplights, traffic, and all) over to a cool new downtown playground while Em went and brought the car over to the park. The minute Em was out of sight walking towards the parking area, I started doubting the wisdom of our decision. Herding seven energetic kids through a city by myself? What was I thinking? Half of the kids walked slowly, half ran ahead. Thankfully we regrouped at each crosswalk, but it was a tad stressful keeping eyes on everyone in between. I felt like a mother duck with her ducklings darting everywhere, my head jerking back and forth following each kid's trajectory and calling out to keep them closer together.
At last we arrived at the playground and Em drove up ten minutes later. The kids played and played at the park and I enjoyed all the pretty views with the old courthouse with the arch behind it and the awesome runner fountain next door. It was lovely and sunny, and Em brought snacks for the kids (apples and goldfish). I enjoyed the novelty of the historic Old Courthouse and the arch in the background while I took pictures of the kids playing on the playground.
Eventually we loaded up the van again and headed for another St. Louis classic: Ted Drewes frozen custard. On the way we searched for a bathroom to empty small bladders. I got out of the van and scouted potential bathroom locations twice and failed twice (both doors were locked). After 20 slightly desperate minutes of driving, we finally exited the highway and found a St. Louis Bread Co. (aka Panera). By then 6/7 of the kids plus both of us moms had to pee, so we all trooped into Panera, walked through the rather large dining area in a long desperate line with Em at the front and me at the back, used the bathrooms, and took our circus of a long line of kids back out to the car. I mentally thanked/apologized to the Panera people.
Finally we made it to Ted Drewes and got our sundaes and concretes. There are no tables or bathrooms at that walk-up custard stand! It's a wonder the place got so famous--it's nowhere near downtown St. Louis and it doesn't even have picnic tables or even much parking. But the frozen custard was delicious. It got windy while we were eating our ice cream on the sidewalk next to the car, and Amby's hair kept getting into her ice cream. She also dropped her cup of ice cream within minutes of getting it, splattering a big slosh of half-melted ice cream across the sidewalk and Jay's shoe. She kept tipping her cup sideways so the melting custard and hot fudge dribbled out onto her hands. Then she swiped her windblown curls out of her eyes repeatedly with those same sticky fudgy fingers. The girl was a work of art by the end. Em got a cup of water and extra napkins to help me clean her off (again, no bathrooms). Rose gave herself a large white goatee while eating her ice cream cone. Messy messy!
We exited the arch, and I walked/herded the seven kids three large city blocks (crosswalks, stoplights, traffic, and all) over to a cool new downtown playground while Em went and brought the car over to the park. The minute Em was out of sight walking towards the parking area, I started doubting the wisdom of our decision. Herding seven energetic kids through a city by myself? What was I thinking? Half of the kids walked slowly, half ran ahead. Thankfully we regrouped at each crosswalk, but it was a tad stressful keeping eyes on everyone in between. I felt like a mother duck with her ducklings darting everywhere, my head jerking back and forth following each kid's trajectory and calling out to keep them closer together.
At last we arrived at the playground and Em drove up ten minutes later. The kids played and played at the park and I enjoyed all the pretty views with the old courthouse with the arch behind it and the awesome runner fountain next door. It was lovely and sunny, and Em brought snacks for the kids (apples and goldfish). I enjoyed the novelty of the historic Old Courthouse and the arch in the background while I took pictures of the kids playing on the playground.
Eventually we loaded up the van again and headed for another St. Louis classic: Ted Drewes frozen custard. On the way we searched for a bathroom to empty small bladders. I got out of the van and scouted potential bathroom locations twice and failed twice (both doors were locked). After 20 slightly desperate minutes of driving, we finally exited the highway and found a St. Louis Bread Co. (aka Panera). By then 6/7 of the kids plus both of us moms had to pee, so we all trooped into Panera, walked through the rather large dining area in a long desperate line with Em at the front and me at the back, used the bathrooms, and took our circus of a long line of kids back out to the car. I mentally thanked/apologized to the Panera people.
Finally we made it to Ted Drewes and got our sundaes and concretes. There are no tables or bathrooms at that walk-up custard stand! It's a wonder the place got so famous--it's nowhere near downtown St. Louis and it doesn't even have picnic tables or even much parking. But the frozen custard was delicious. It got windy while we were eating our ice cream on the sidewalk next to the car, and Amby's hair kept getting into her ice cream. She also dropped her cup of ice cream within minutes of getting it, splattering a big slosh of half-melted ice cream across the sidewalk and Jay's shoe. She kept tipping her cup sideways so the melting custard and hot fudge dribbled out onto her hands. Then she swiped her windblown curls out of her eyes repeatedly with those same sticky fudgy fingers. The girl was a work of art by the end. Em got a cup of water and extra napkins to help me clean her off (again, no bathrooms). Rose gave herself a large white goatee while eating her ice cream cone. Messy messy!
After Ted Drewes, we drove back to Chez Broadbent, arriving at 4:30pm, 6 hours after we left. That total includes 2 hours of driving, but still--it was a long day out and about with seven kids. The kids had screen time till dinner while Em and I collapsed on the couch and watched lots of Castle. Em whipped up some quick oven toasted ravioli for the kids and then we put the cute exhausted AJ and Amby to bed while the big kids played outside and then watched a movie.
Flooded river: that's a road.
The girls, holding hands.
A statue of Louis and Clark (drowning in the flooded river).
We tried to get the kids to line up at the base of the arch for a picture, and Amber kept running away. Em GOT her and she was not happy about it.
This was the best we could do, but it shows how enormous the arch really is with those tiny kids leaning against the bottom of it.
Leaning on the arch
Amber was still feeling somber from her Aunt Em encounter, and she would not move over so Jay's head is hidden behind her.
So much personality. So tired of group pictures.
Heading into the museum.
Cramming into a sample pod--only five people were allowed in the real elevator pods.
Checking out the museum.
Jay and Rose boarding a historic river boat.
Jay, stealing a box from the guy in the painting.
A collage of national monuments.
Waiting, waiting, waiting for the pods.
Inside the pod! It was so tiny. The last time I went up the arch was ten years ago when I was pregnant with Jay. The Broadbents were very nice to pay to come with us, even though they've been up it several times.
Checking out the view from the top.
The Old Courthouse and all of St. Louis laid out like a map.
Birdseye view of the floods
Cousins at the tippy top of the arch.
Riding back down--watching the stairs and supports slide slowly past.
Those specks are the kids, running away.
Amber squeezed in for our selfie...haha
Amber, AJ, and Dan loved the Runner fountain by the playground.
"The Runner" is carved into the bench around this fountain. The kids thought it was funny that the runner's bum is showing in the back. I had to recreate an old picture...
2005, same fountain. Our SVU track team went to a meet near St. Louis and we had an afternoon to explore the city. Of course all of us runners loved The Runner fountain.
Curls and custard
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