Arkansas

On our way back west we stopped in Rogers Arkansas to visit Grandma Nelson. While we were visiting Uncle Arnold, Aunt Kathy, and Vicki all came up from Louisiana too so we also got to see them.
Our stop in Rogers was a quick stop, but we still got to see some really neat things unique to Arkansas.
The highlight for the Wings, aside from the delicious garden fresh tomatoes that Aunt Marj gave us full reign of, was the petting zoo/ safari in Gentry Arkansas.
It was a petting zoo with basic barnyard animals but also had very unique ones as well such as a kangaroo, peacocks, and quail. Kelsey was in heaven. She wasn't afraid of anything. She even started kissing every animal which totally grossed me out. We tried to stop her from kissing them, but some how she always snuck in a kiss.

She loved the birds the most which we admired because Ethan and I didn't even want to go in the bird cage. She is the only one in the family who would even touch them.
She also loved the goats because they were small, but they kept trying to head butt her. Naturally she just thought this was a sign of affection and tried harder to show the love.

We didn't get too many pictures of the actually petting zoo part where the ponies, pigs, goats, and kangaroos were running around because we were too busy keeping Kelsey from kissing everything. Well and from getting bucked, kicked, bit, or anything else animals can do to a two year old. We were way more paranoid than Kelsey. 

After the petting zoo part and the walk around parts, we all hopped in our cars and did the drive through Safari. It was so awesome! If you ever make it to Gentry I highly recommend it. You have to keep your windows up and for good reason. The animals come RIGHT up to your window. It was a little freaky every time especially when an Emu its giving you a stare down, but it was really awesome.All the hunting animals were caged, but the gazers just roamed free. It was great.

 

 

The trickiest part about the Safari was making sure you didn't hit any of the animals! For real though. This herd of pigs is a great example. They came out of no where, circled the cars, and just hung out by the tires.

Because we were driving so slow, Kelsey sat in the middle of the front seats so that she could see better.

A few other highlights from our trip included a quick stop to the Little Debbie store by the bakery where all your Little Debbie needs could be filled at a cheap price and a big family meal with everyone in the house as well as the Zebley's. We don't get to see the Arkansas/ Louisiana cousins very much but every time we do it is such a great time.

After Arkansas, the road got very long. Kansas is not very exciting to drive through as is much of the mid-west, but we did it. Eventually we made the 12 hour drive from Rogers to Parker Colorado where we stayed the night with cousin Emily, and then we drove the final 9 hours to home.

It was a safe and great journey. Kelsey was amazing in the car considering the miles we pounded out. We are happy to be home and are excited to get settled into a more permanent living situation even if it means only for 9 months.

 

Eventually the moving will stop for the Wings and until then, we consider ourselves a pretty lucky family for all the places we have been and the things we have seen.

As for now, bring on our final year of school! We are ready and excited!!!

Meet me in St Louis

On Monday August 11th we had to say goodbye to the Platt's and started our 9 hour drive to Arkansas to visit Grandma Nelson. We were not thrilled about a 9 hour drive, but St Louis was the half way point so that helped break up the trip a little bit.
We only spent about 2 hours in St Louis so we didn't get to see too much but what we saw was really cool. It was a cute little city and super clean. Again right along the river so it made it pretty cool.The Mississippi never disappoints!

One of the bridges as we came across the Mississippi.

First  view of St Louis.

 

The Arch

 

Touching the Arch. We were going to go inside and ride the elevators up but the line to even get inside the lobby was about 30 minutes long so we decided to forgo that idea. 

 

Across from the Arch is the Dred Scott court house museum. Ethan was especially excited about this and it was air conditioned so we actually spent a lot of time in here. It was a really cool free museum that taught us a lot about the Dred Scott case and the beginnings of St Louis as a city.

 

The court house was especially cool because they let you go everywhere without supervision. We went all the way up to the top of the dome (not inside but as high as the floors would take us) which isn't THAT high, but still really cool.  

Inside the lobby of the museum. Kelsey loved the flag.

 

Cute little garden across from the museum

Where the Cardinals play

 After the court house we headed to a little pub for lunch (where we passed a LEFTY ONLY STORE!! AWESOME!) and then it was time to make the rest of the drive down to Arkansas.

I was DYING to go see where they held the World's Fair because I just had to sing "Meet me in St. Louis" (kind of like how I HAD to sing Rudy on the fields of Notre Dame) but we just ran out of time. Maybe again, but maybe not. Either way, St Louis was really cool.

Louisville

Friday August 8th was the end of our Chicago summer. Ethan had to go into work that day but only for a quick exit interview and was home by 10:30. By 1:30 we were all packed and loaded to head out. Our first stop was going to be in  Louisville which was slightly out of the way, but we really wanted to see the Platts. 

Our landlord had some vacuum bags so driving home was a little more classy than driving out

On our way through Indiana, this car flew past us! We were so excited we wanted to follow him or rear end him or something to get his attention and show our approval.

I was excited to drive through Indiana because I really wanted to see Indianapolis. Talk about the lamest city ever. I mean LAME! There was NOTHING there.  This is it! No joke! I really big hospital and that building in the background. 

We didn't stop.

On the way through Indiana we also passed through Whiteland. They were experiencing a Heavy Drizzle. Not rain or mist or just a drizzle, but a heavy drizzle. Oh Whiteland. Could you sound any more pretentious.

After only 5 hours we made it to Louisville. Since I don't really know my geography very well I didn't realize that it was right outside of Indiana and right on the river. It was really fun to drive into for those reasons. It was the cutest little city.

On Saturday the Platt's showed us the town! It was so much fun to be with them again. It had definitely been way too long. Our first stop was the Louisville Slugger bat museum where we got to see how they made bats and then  play around with a bunch of baseball stuff. Rich would have loved it!

We are both holding Mickey Mantle's bat. I asked for Ripken's, but the bat guy confused. It was seriously okay though because I thought Cal Ripken was Mark Rypen who went to Shadle Park, and when I figured out how wrong I was I realized I don't know enough about sports to care who's bat I was holding. 

Rich seriously would have loved this place. Here is me with Ken Griffy and Ethan at the batting cages with a bat that simulated Babe Ruth's bat!

While Ethan was at the batting cages Kelsey and I went to the little tyke cages. She wasn't very good, but it was so much fun! She laughed and laughed and laughed as did Julie and I.

We couldn't get a picture but we also got to stand behind this glass wall that shows you how fast pitchers pitch and the ball hits the wall. We stood behind it while a 90 mph fast ball came towards us and oh my goodness! I can't believe anyone can hit that ball!

Coolest street was have seen all trip.

After naps and lunch we got the tour of Churchill Downs where the Kentucky Derby is held. Unfortunately the races ended the week before we got there, but we still got a pretty good idea of it. It is MASSIVE!!! Like so big! I couldn't believe it. Also, the humidity in Kentucky is the WORST! Oh my goodness. We literally swam everywhere we went. It was terribly humid.

And our tour wouldn't be complete without some hat modeling! We were going to buy them but mine cost I think $110 and Julie's cost $85. Um... never mind!

Across from Churchill Downs is where all the Louisville sports stadiums are. Talk about impressive. Each sport has its own stadium. We saw football, baseball, track, field hockey, lacrosse, and I think soccer. It was just miles of stadiums.

Kelsey and I were getting super hot so we decided to play at home while the rest of the group went to see Zachary Taylor's grave which was like down the street from the Platts. I didn't see it in life, but it looked super awesome.

The Platts were the best hosts! We got to eat at a genuine Kentucky BBQ place for dinner and got some ice cream at a place called the Comfy Cow. It is nationally known and I actually heard about it in Chicago. It did not disappoint. Julie and I were a little upset though because in our attempts to branch out we accidentally got an ice cream called Miss Piggy, which was delicious until we found the BACON CHUNKS in it!!! I HATE the whole maple bacon craze. I think its so stupid and gross. It was a slight let down. That's what I get for getting something other than Cookies and Cream.


On Sunday we took a walking tour of Downtown by the river. Again a super hot and humid day but being on the bridges was nice because it was super breezy. Trent also took us on a drive by of where he is going to school. It was just so much fun to be with them.

 

Some really cool boats that you can take rides on around the river. 

On the bridge between Kentucky and Indiana.

We all had so much fun, but I think Kelsey had the most fun. She LOVED Trent and Julie. At first she kept calling Trent Rich, but then she kept calling him Dad. No matter what she called him, he responded and just showed so much love back. Julie and Trent played with her and talked to her and showed her more attention then she had gotten probably since Grandma had visited Chicago. It was just so cute. She followed them everywhere. They will be greatly missed. Its sad to say but we just don't know when we will get to see them again. Maybe soon, maybe not. I kind of hate that part about growing up.