Wild Lights at the St Louis Zoo

I hardly got to finish my piece of pie at Thanksgiving when I realized that Christmas was right around the corner. It's kinda amazing how having 6 less days between Thanksgiving and Christmas can throw you for a loop. Our tree went up the day after Thanksgiving and the calendar started filling up with holiday events. I do love participating in Christmas activities, and since the weather was nice we headed to Wild Lights at the zoo. This was our first time ever attending. I figured I had enjoyed plenty of free days at the zoo, so the $5 a person to walk through the display was the least I could do. We invited some friends to join us and enjoyed a beautiful, night at the zoo.

Only a few animal exhibits are available to view, the Insectarium, the Herpetarium (Reptile House), and Sea Lion Sound. Sea Lion Sound is pretty cool anyway, but I thought it was pretty neat at night with all the lights. Unfortunately, I don't know how to use my camera well enough to capture all the action. And the one shot I did like is loading washed out. It doesn't look like this anywhere but here, so I'm not sure how to fix it.

The kids had a great time making crafts, listening to storytelling, and wandering through the lights. 

It was a fun night!

Wild Lights is open on weekends from 5:30 - 8:30 pm and then every night Dec. 20-23 and 26-30. Parking is free in the south parking lot, next to I-40. There is an entry fee of $5 per person or $4 for members. Children under the age of 2 are free.

The Jewel Box and The Saint Louis Art Musuem

We had a snow day in St. Louis yesterday and the kids are still out of school for it today (don't get too excited, you can still see the top of the grass through the snow). I remember my little sister praying every night for it to snow and for school to be cancelled (it's a lot harder to have school cancelled just because of snow where I grew up). Actually, she's now in college and I'm sure she still prays for snow days. Anyways, it was not my best mommy/snow day yesterday. I've been sick this week, my house needed cleaned, and I decided I don't like snow. I use to like snow. Now it just means no school, wet clothes and boots everywhere, icy roads and then dirty roads. However, I have an adventure to blog about from our wonderful Christmas break. Unlike yesterday, the weather was beautiful, everyone was in a good mood, and my kids were as close to angels as you could get. It really was one of those days that I thought, "This is just such a nice, fun day."

Our family really likes the Saint Louis Art Museum, but haven't been for a few years. The Museum does family activities on Sundays, but that day doesn't work for us, so I was excited to see they were doing some extended family activities during the week between Christmas and New Years. Casey was off work, but hunting, so Nanny joined us for our visit.

Since we were at Forest Park, we decided to stop by The Jewel Box first to see the poinsettias.

To be honest, I was expecting more poinsettias, but it was still nice. It cost a dollar a person for those over the age of five (it's free a couple mornings a week). Though I don't know if I'll ever go again, I don't feel bad for paying $3 for the one time I did go.

Maybe because there isn't a lot to do inside the Jewel Box, the kids agreed to pose for an absurd amount of pictures.

We then headed to the Art Museum to do a scavenger hunt. The museum was hosting one for kids, but I think you could come up with something on your own anytime and it would go over well. Though I was a little worried about my kids in an art museum, they were really good. They loved the scavenger hunt, the mummies, the guns, the swords and the armor. They might even have looked at a few pictures.
I didn't take any pictures inside, oops! I didn't know you were allowed to until we were done. This first picture reminds me that the museum has had a special exhibit of Monet's Water Lilies that I regret not taking advantage of. Admission into the art museum is always fee. Special exhibits do cost, but they are free on Fridays.

It was a fun trip!

I know I need to not complain about the weather or the snow we are having now. It is January! Tomorrow we are hopefully headed to the  Ice Carnival on The Loop. It probably needs to be cold so the ice sculptures don't melt, though I'm hoping we don't freeze. That will be another post.

Balloon Glow - The Great Forest Park Ballon Race

Friday night we went to the Balloon Glow portion of Saint Louis' Great Forest Park Balloon Race. It is amazing!

I think everyone should go at least once (but if you never choose to go again after that, I wouldn't blame you). The kids loved it and I'm glad we finally went.

I'll give a play-by-play because I had only heard bits and pieces before going. The Balloon Glow starts at 7:00 pm. We arrived at Forest Park at 5:30 pm. Forest Park was already packed (we actually needed to go somewhere by Forest Park one year during the actual race day - you can't even get into Forest Park by the afternoon on race day). We parked a good 30 minute walk away from the field with the balloons.

I read to bring a blanket. We did. People spread blankets out waiting for it to start. You could have a picnic, buy food and souvenirs, or visit booths. People are pretty packed together.

We ate in the car when we got there so we wouldn't have to haul so much stuff. We did get a funnel cake though as a treat. These treats are exactly why I have to go on diet starting tomorrow. I was suppose to start this morning, but I ate some left over cake at 10:30 am. Oh well, I've heard you're not suppose to start diets on Monday anyway.

At 7 pm, all the balloons begin to fill. It's kind of an awe-inspiring moment seeing all these huge balloons fill before you. This is also when everyone who is not in front stands up, so I'm not sure why we all bring blankets to sit on in the first place (probably because we get there so early).

After the balloons fill you can walk among the balloons (pick up and take your blanket with you). Every few minutes a horn will blow and the balloons will light up at the same time. It's beautiful!

The kids will love it!

The night ends with fireworks! My kids were very excited. This was a great experience! However, there are TONS of people, not enough port-a-potties, and for some reason it felt like it was a lot of work.

Saint Louis Science Center

Hailey said the Science Center was on her list of to do's this summer and since we're running out of time before school starts, we headed there last week. They have a lot of things to see and do at the Saint Louis Science Center. General Admission is free (and if you park on the Forest Park Side, so is the parking). We've seen all the free stuff quite a few times, and since my kids haven't picked up on special exhibits and IMAX movies, they are still happy.

This is how much it would cost to send them all into Space, guess they won't be going to the moon any time soon.

Building an arch is always a favorite activity. Or maybe it's watching the arch fall down, I'm not sure which is more popular.

The Giant Moving Dinosaur...why my kids either love or hate the Science Center depending on the child and/or age.

Ethan watching a volcano, which fortunately, we don't have to worry about in Missouri.

Instead, we get to worry about tornadoes

and earthquakes.

The boys love making the train go forward or backwards and fast or slow.

This might be Ethan's favorite part, watching the balls go though the obstacle course.

On a different note, my sister sent me Meet Me in St. Louis for my birthday! I am so excited! I will probably be singing songs from the movie every time I go to Forest Park.

The Muny

I love the Muny! It's one of my favorite things to do in the summer! The Muny is "America's oldest and largest outdoor musical theatre." And the best part...they have free seats available! You have to come early to claim them, but I think it's worth your time. I've sat in the free seats, really good seats and in between seats. Really good seats are awesome! For the price, I don't think in between seats are much better than free seats, but that's just my opinion.

Here's a shot from the free seats.

The Muny has a great schedule this year. We had a family and friend girls night to Legally Blonde. Casey's sisters and I saw it in NYC a couple of years ago and we still loved it at the Muny. Last week, Hailey and I took Grandma to see The Little Mermaid. It was really good!

Singing in the Rain is playing this week. I've seen it twice before. It's one of my favorites, so if you haven't been before this is a great week to try out the Muny. I'll even go with you!

Missouri History Museum

I've mentioned Hailey loves museums. I think she's how we stumbled upon the Missouri History Museum in the first place and definitely the reason we went back a second time. However, the second time we discovered the great storytime crafts they host. This summer the museum is hosting a Summer Family Fun series with a special visitor or children's act on Tuesdays, and storytimes and crafts on Thursdays and Fridays. It's all free, so if you have kids, I highly recommend it. Your kids might pick up on some history afterwards, or just make you nervous they are going to break something.

Tuesday we went to the Missouri History Museum with Grandma, Mom's cousin Laura and her little girl Brynlee. It's located in Forest Park and is just as pretty as the rest of the park.

Mr. Saxophone was performing Tuesday morning. He played the saxophone, guitar and sang and danced with the kids. I've noticed my kids have found a way to get to the front for things like this.

This is how Ethan participated.

But I did get him to smile for me.

The museum has a replica of Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis.

The plane gives the museum my kid's stamp of approval.

They don't care if they really see anything else after the plane as long as they get to listen to the phone type things. I think the replica of the inside of Lindbergh's plane is really cool. However, Brenton was more excited to hear a plane take off.

The museum has a nice World's Fair Display (and I know it's getting old...but I can't help being reminded of Meet Me in St. Louis, I really need to track down that movie).

A couple other exhibits also survived our visit, but I didn't manage to take any pictures of them.

Jordan, Laura and Brynlee just moved to the area. We're so excited to have them close and to get to play with them!  If you are family, there is now even more of us here in Missouri to come see!