Father's Day! (ironically a post with no pictures of the kids...)

Happy Father's Day (a day late) to all the fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and father figures out there! Last week I told Greg I was going to plan something for Saturday for us to do as a family for Father's Day, but was having problems coming up with anything beyond packing a picnic lunch and going hiking. After talking about it, he told me he had an idea and wanted to plan something himself. It turns out he planned something for just the two of us! We dropped the kids off at his parents' house on Saturday morning and headed south...for St. Louis! On the way, we stopped at Cracker Barrel in Lincoln for a leisurely breakfast. While waiting for our food, we played the 'jump all but one game' and each got it down to two pegs. Deciding to try it the other way, we competed for who could leave the most. I thought I did pretty good at five...

...but of course, Greg had to double my score...

...the stinker.

We went straight to the Gateway Arch and actually got there at exactly the same time as Tim and Melissa! It was a bit of a line to get through the security line, but we took some pictures to pass the time.

Me and my sweetie!

I'm sure this picture has been taken countless times, but I think it's cool anyway.

Same here.

The lovely Mr. and Mrs. Tim Beutel

Tim pondering the length of our wait

We waited in another long line to buy tickets for the tram to go to the top of the Arch and finally bought some for 2:25 pm. It was about 12:30 at that point, so we left the Arch to get some lunch before our trek to the top. We ate at a place called the Old Spaghetti Factory...it was SO delicious!!!

Greg's spinach tortellini with alfredo sauce

My mizithra cheese and browned butter pasta...AMAZING! I'm sure it was terribly not good for me, but it tasted sooooo good. I also had spumoni ice cream for the first time and really liked it!

After lunch, we walked back the couple of blocks to the Arch so we wouldn't miss our departure time. Now, something you should know is that heights and small, enclosed spaces are NOT my thing. In fact, when I found out we were going to St. Louis, I told Greg that I would go up the Arch as part of his Father's Day present. I was pretty psyched out by the thought of going up in a tiny elevator and walking around in the Arch that high up with the little windows on the side.

In line...and a wee bit nervous!

I told Greg he better be RIGHT next to me the whole time...I knew I'd need to have his hand to hang on to!

Before you get into your little tram cars, there is a little mini museum you walk through. I don't remember everything about it; I was a little distracted. :P

Tim posing with the dock salesman

Getting 'excited' (it's a little bit forced, yes)

The doorway to our (little) tram car...I didn't get a picture of the inside of it as a whole

Tim and Melissa

Me and Greg...after looking at this picture, Greg said, "Let's take another one...your smile looks a little nervous."

Of course, that made me laugh, so here's the second try. I almost like the first one better.

I made it all the way to the top! Our tram car kept 'adjusting' as we ascended the Arch, and everytime it shifted, I had my hand on Greg's knee and involuntarily squeezed it. Greg's comment was, "It's almost like you're in labor...squeezing my hand off every time a contraction comes." I don't think it was quite that bad!!! Once we got to the top, I couldn't walk across the Arch floor without hanging onto Greg's hand. I got to the side, but knew I couldn't lean over to look out the windows. If I had, I think I would have started crying. My sweet and understanding hubby took pictures for me, instead.

The stadium

The grassy field right below the Arch

I could still smile, at least!

Tim and Melissa were enjoying it, though.

I'm glad I didn't see this out the window, but I love the picture!

After I was up there for a few minutes, I was better and not too shaky anymore.

All in all, I was glad we went up (mostly so I can say that I did it), but I can't guarantee that I'd jump at the chance to go up it again. It was fun to spend some time with Tim and Melissa, though!

Goodbye, Arch!

After the Arch experience, Tim and Melissa wanted to go through the Science Center, but Greg and I went to our hotel. We wanted to swim and sit in the hot tub before going out for supper and our evening activity...an Ambassadors of Harmony concert! We got to the hotel at a few minutes before four o'clock, but our room wasn't ready. We sat in the lobby for a half an hour and I eventually went up and asked at the front desk. A little after four thirty, we finally got our room!

We ate supper at a restaurant called Pei Wei that was situated close to an Old Navy. After a not too heavy supper, we shopped a bit and then headed to the concert. It was fabulous!

Sunday morning we ate breakfast at the hotel and left for home. I was surprised at how much I missed Max and Nora! It was so good to see them again! That afternoon I made my pies for the evening and Greg went on a bike ride and swim with his dad. We went to my parents' house for Father's Day. It was a small group, but we all had a good time. After supper we went swimming, and Greg and Caleb got a workout throwing Joel, Todd, and Seth into the pool...multiple times. We finally came home that night as a family, exhausted and happy. It was a great Father's Day weekend! :D