Maple Festival

I know it's a broken record you've heard here before, but we live in the greatest area! 

Last weekend the kids and I trekked out to Rockwoods Reservation for a quick glimpse at maple sugaring!  No, we don't live in Vermont nor the northeast corner of anything ~ but apparently all you really need is the right sized sugar maple tree, a few supplies, and time.  With a little educating you, too, can have fresh, pure maple syrup on your morning pancakes! 

Y.U.M.!

We took a hike up into the woods where the park rangers showed how to identify a sugar maple tree by the number of points on its leaves and its branch patterns. (Did you know trees exhibit one of two types of branch pattern?  Who knew, right?  You totally learned something on my blog today, didn't you?!)

The kids got a taste of tree sap straight from the collection buckets!

Sara said it tasted like toothpaste.  :)  Everyone else said it tasted just a little sweet.  I didn't have the guts to play baby birdie getting squirtied. 

We also learned how settlers heated the sap in stages of three buckets...

(do those kids look super enthusiastic, or what?  In their defense, it was cold and raining!)

...and sampled some tasty maple sugar!

That certainly appealed to everyone - and all agreed tasting maple sugar was the best part of the trip! 

After the hike, we hustled back to the main area of the festival to try more samples (my bucket list includes trying candy on snow - like in Little House in the Big Woods when Ma drizzles hot maple syrup on a bucket of snow to make a delicious treat for Laura and Mary - but alas, we were too late and the campground was a ghost town.)

 
Guess that just means we have to allow more time and do it again next year! 

What a cool thing to try in the middle of Missouri!

busy tuesday night?

If you're looking for free, fun, kid-friendly things to do in The Lou, you should check out the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park on Tuesday nights.  If you're a city or county resident, you can get in to the Mastodon Exhibit for free ... and it is uber-cool ~ for kids AND adults.

No pics are allowed within the exhibit, but there were tons of hands-on things for the kids, plenty of facts for the adults, and entertaining science videos to keep us all involved and interested. 

The exhibit was put together by the Field Museum in Chicago.   We give it two thumbs way up and highly recommend you give it a try if you're in the area!

We sure do live in one super cool city!

this little cultural mecca of the midwest

Friday night we went to the St. Louis Art Museum to see Claude Monet's Agapanthus Triptych.  For the first time in 30 years, our art museum - in conjunction with the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City and The Cleveland Museum of Art - have brought together three enormous pieces of art that Monet originally planned to display at the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris.  He changed his mind, however, and the three pieces (Agapanthus, Water Lilies, and Harmony in Blue) were brought to the US, and eventually sold separately to the three art museums.

The kids have a pretty cool art teacher who taught them all about Monet in first grade.  (How spectacular is that?!)  So as soon as I heard this exhibit would be here, I began to plan to take the kids.  Add to the consideration that the art museum promised free tickets on Fridays, and we were a solid, "We'll be there!"  We actually tried to go over Winter Break but those free tickets were sold out!  Instead, we made arrangements to go with the grands in the new year and we made a whole night of it.  So fun!

one of my favorite pieces in the whole museum - "St. Peter's Cathedral."  The kids LOVE how the perspective changes as you walk by...Me Too!  The girls enjoyed walking past with Grandpa!

"Smiling Girl with Obscene Object" - gotta love art!  (FYI, the obscene object is a naked man!)  Don't you love Pookie's studious expression next to Grammie??  She is really taking in that piece!

Grandma with Sashi

two handsome art oficionados!

his fave of the evening

this was the kids' most favorite part of the actual exhibit by far ~ making their own digital Monet masterpieces

Of course, taking photos in the special exhibit was a big no-no, but we snapped a few of our favorite pieces in the actual museum itself before we toured Monet with our iPod tour.  Afterwards, we scarfed down a whole lotta pizza at Imo's and called ourselves culturated, marveling how fortunate we are to live here in St. Louis where we have so many opportunities like these to teach our kids about the world beyond here.



Such a fun family night!

10-4 Good Buddy! It really is a great day for an anniversary!

I am not always a fan of 'the gift thing' (although I am NOT against them entirely [yes, that's for you, MIL]...;) ).  We live in a small house with a lot of people who seem to like to collect things, so I actually like gifts that are more experiential.  For instance, last Christmas we took the kids to Chicago as part of their gift. This year for our anniversary, because my hubby "has people in town" (i.e. The Bosses) on our actual anniversary, he planned ahead and took the day before our anniversary off to hang out with me.  And man did we enjoy our day together!

We took 'The Fabric' - what Sara calls my husband's midlife crisis - the convertible [because I call it The Maverick and she doesn't say Maverick, she says Fabric - so all convertibles now are either 1) "Grammie's car" ( a VW Beetle convertible) or 2) a "fabric" (which is actually an '89 BMW convertible)] - to Hermann, Missouri, or Missouri wine country.  We had a blast there on our 10th anniversary, so we knew it would be a great day!

We walked around town for a bit and bought Sara a slushy. Hubs held my hand and whispered sweet things in my ear. OK, really he told me I excel at being lazy (he called it 'relaxing') and doing nothing (he called it 'companionship') ;).   I'll take it.  I do tend to be the more laid back of the two of us (i.e. nothing ever gets done with me around...).

We stopped at Stone Hill winery and got an education from our fabulous Sommelier Charlotta (name changed to protect the innocent!).  She gave us the 4-1-1 on Hermann politics, I'll tell you that much!  When we vistited three years ago, there was an old high school building for sale that I could just picture being a fabulous spot for country shops on the first floor, coffee and baked goods for sale, my father-in-law's furniture...The second floor would be perfect as an income property with lofts for rent and the top floor, of course, our home - refurbished with all the asbestos and critters removed, first, of course.  A wee bit surprisingly (or not, as the case may be....), the high school is still for sale, so after discovering that Charlotta had refurbished an old Catholic church near town, we started chatting about the old high school's potential.

Apparently, Hermann is a very small town.  {And all that that means in terms of politics and newbies moving in and stirring things up.  ;)}

But we sure enjoyed the wine tasting, the conversation, and - actually - running in to an old college classmate of mine from our undergraduate days in Kirksville!  (such a small world...)

We ate at one of my favorite restaurants in all of the midwest (actually, I'm serious) - Wings Ablazin.'  I can't believe I don't have a photo of the place!  But we did have Sashi take our {anniversary} picture.  She did a pretty good job (can you tell who she loves "the most?"  - a blogpost for a different day):

And she got better quickly!

Oh wait - here we both are!

I love that picture - my new fave of the two of us!
And because it's us, and we're just this silly:

We also made a stop at Hermannhoff Wineries - where Tres was able to get that Sommelier talking, too.   It really does drive me crazy the way John, his dad, and my mom can talk to anyone.  I roll my eyes and wish we could just move on, but inevitably, I am drawn in and grateful for the way they can converse and bring on stories we otherwise would never have the privilege of knowing.  They are so annoying like that.

;)

But man alive did she weave a tale of monopoly, espionage, and arsen!  

From there, we stopped at the town chocolatier (the baker: closed again!) and then, home - with the top down, of course!

A big fat thank you to my awesome husband - who makes life just a whole lot sweeter (with and without cupcakes).  I can't imagine a better man to share my life with.  I am a lucky girl!


...and now I better go clean the kitchen!

Grand Bluffs

Not to leave you hanging about the remainder of our fabulous week of Spring Break, I thought I would share one final outing idea with you who are St. Louis near or bound.

The Grand Bluff was another locale I researched on a recent trek to my favorite bookstore, Barnes & Noble.  (Who doesn't like train tables, frozen cappucinos and racks of virgin cupcake and self-help books??)  I learned that it was the tallest bluff overlooking the Missouri River.  It was not far from St. Louis (although admittedly farther than I thought or had planned).  And it was an adventure.

I was in.

Now.  There was the question of the children.  Remember how their hearts desired all things ChuckECheese and having friends over whereas I was more interested in biking across old bridges and ... apparently... hiking up tall mountains?  Yeah?  Well, we got there.

It was amazing, actually.  The Katy Trail goes right along the river/bluff in Montgomery County.  For our 10th Anniversary, Hubs and I rode by bike the same stretch of road the kids and I were on that day of Spring Break.

I told them stories of the old "On Walden Pond-esque" woman we'd come across while resting near her freakishly foreboding property.  And the honor system snack bar in the middle of absolutely no where where you can grab a bottle of water or a granola bar (unlike my ever least-favorite Mean Park gas station in the city...). 

And we drove by this gorgeous, towering cliff-like structure, at which point I chirped, "If you wonder what a 'bluff' is, get a look at THAT!"  Around one more river-road corner we went and nearly ran right into the microscopic road sign that read "Grand River Bluff --->."  We pulled onto a gravel road.   And eventually climbed that same ginormous rock wall...only via a leafy, wooded path replete with animal tracks and butterflies flitting about.  And one antler.

Rabid dogs barked.  Jedd came out of his planked shack again (I kid.  Total Chain of Rocks reference.  And my inherent ability to be a chicken who takes her kids on apparently dangerous, death-defying adventures on Spring Break all in the name of fun and togetherness! ... OK, I actually only partially kid...)

Anywho, once I convince you to visit this amazing monument...

We climbed (I carried Sashi). 

And climbed (And carried Sashi). 

And climbed (And carried the 40 pound 3 year-old). 

I believe at one point T said Diamond Head was easier (I tended to agree...when Daddy carried Sashi).

And once we reached the summit, everyone gushed that the views made it totally worth the blood, sweat, and tears. 

We made it back down in record time, me joking about the time Daddy and I literally ran down the mountain last August in the Redwood Forest in an effort to visit the wineries of the Russian River Valley near SanFransisco before they closed for the evening.

So in true Jackson spirit, we found a suitable reward back in Herman (I was just bummed Time for Pie had closed - and the town's authentic german bakery - closed, too!  But just for the day...).  And we even stopped in at Wings Ablazin' and grabbed Big Daddy a bucket of yummy wings for dinner!

It was a good day.

The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge

I know you'll believe me when I tell you St. Louis is quite seriously a great place to explore.  I mean, you already know about the arch - even if you don't live here!  But we have a wonderful zoo that is - get this - FREE.  We also have another cool spot called Grant's Farm which is free, too, although you pay to park.  Anyway, there are tons of fun, inexpensive things to do around here with your kids.  Tons.

I think we've done them all.  Seriously.

When I think about things to do during our annual Spring Break StayCay, in fact, I'm beginning to feel a sense of de'ja vu.  Facing a week at home with the kids and no beach in sight (I quite literally pine for Hawaii, I kid you not), I really needed some new ideas to entertain us.  The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge proved to be one such adventure. 

:: watch Sashi in each of the following photos ::

First of all, everyone was very, very, very excited about the prospect of riding their bikes across a bridge over the Mississippi River.  (*cue sarcastic laughter*)

Daddy actually told me, "Don't do it."  He was convinced the Chain of Rocks Bridge was a death trap wrought with semi-tractor trailers, racing motorists, and a 12" path for only those bikers crazy and daring enough to risk their lives to cross it.

And maybe the boys were more into dinosaur battles and wrestling each other on the living room floor than the prospect of hiking their bikes into the back of the van only to risk *see above*. 

And Sashi, the whole time, repeated, "I do not like this.  This is not fun."  Over and over again as we headed into Illinois.

I was pretty, fairly, almost certain, however, that the bridge was closed to vehicular traffic.  At least I thought so.  And since Pookie and I planned to run the distance of the bridge and back of 2 miles (I'll tell you more about her upcoming 5K race another day), I packed lunch and off we went for what proved to be - a wonderful experience!  The kids are already making plans to do this again and again!

When we arrived in IL, however, countless signs read "Dead End" and "Road Closed" and "Do not enter."  Surveillance cameras marked a path that I timidly approached by van.  I nervously rehearsed to myself what I would say if stopped by gunpoint a la military base. (I would plead ignorance, speedily maneuver a u-turn, and get the heck on out of there!!!)  Fortunately, I summoned the courage to keep driving straight and, eventually, we came upon a barren parking lot and a bridge proclaiming "Old Chain of Rocks" (and no army vehicles or Jed Clampett-looking characters!).  And no vehicular traffic whatsoever.  Unless you consider my two boys and little Sash on their self-propelled two-wheelers 'vehicular.' 

The round-trip across the old route 66, two lane bridge lasted about 30 minutes since Pooks and I were on foot.  We saw two antique water towers built in the river.  We marveled at Route 66 paraphernalia.  We ended at a single picnic table eating ham sandwiches and scarfing down Girl Scout cookies.  And, like I said, the big kids are planning annual trips.  Perhaps even one for each season in between.

Win won for Mommy and our St. Louis StayCay!!!  
See where else we spent our week tomorrow!
~Karin

Spring Break 2011

Months ago I sat on the couch with my sweetie and whined I meaned begged I mean asked if we could please, please, please GO somewhere this year during spring break.  It seems every year that this week rolls around I find myself planning the St. Louis StayCay.  Not that there's anything wrong with that...it's just been the case every year for 7 years.  And apparently I was getting a 7 year itch to travel!!!  But because Hubby was in Southern California the first two weeks of March (yeah - I know), he felt he needed to be in the office rather than at the beach.  (*hrumph*)  So we were in the Lou once again.

Once I made amends with that (which was, like, 20 seconds, because really I love our town and I love being with my kids more), I asked the kids what they wanted to do - Zoo (always!).  Check.  ChuckECheese.  Check.  Friends over.  Check.  That left at least two free days.  I trekked to the bookstore looking for ideas on other things to do. 

A great nature book I found spoke highly of two spots we'd never been.  The first - The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge - is a spot I've often wanted to visit.  The second - The Grand Bluff - sounded dangerous and steep and different and exciting!  The week was planned!

Unfortunately, Mother Nature didn't show up to play near the beginning of the week - when I'd planned to do our outdoor activities.  My attitude stunk.  The kids got squirrely.  My patience wained.  The kids got squirrelier.  But in the end, I think we made it a memorable week.  I look forward to sharing some of our adventures in the next few days!  (My computer is finally home from the shop - for good?? - so I should be good to my word this time!!!)  See you soon!