Yesterday afternoon after the visit to the Castle of Chee-zus, we were ready to show you more.
Right next door is the Arch. We walked over to it and you excitedly sprinted down the ramp under the Arch, sure that this next new experience would be wonderful, too.
Luck and good fortune were on our side becase we didn't have to wait for a ride to the top as most do.
As soon as we arrived, they said they had enough seats for us to take the next ride but we would have to hurry to get there. We rushed up and waited maybe 4 minutes which was much less than everyone else had to endure, but you howled to get down and tossed your body left and right in my arms as though if you could simply disslodge yourself from my grip, all would suddenly be right with the world. I don't know if you thought that the act of pulling away from me would make the ride doors open and the world spin again, but you wanted to be free.
So, when the ride car came and it was the size of a space capsel, I was a little anxious how the ride up was going to go. I shouldn't have worried. The small size didn't bother you in the least.
When we reached the top, you were excited to see out and had no fear of the obvious height that we were at, practically lying on top of the window in order to make sure you had full view of everything possible.
You pointed out Mommy's Orange Juice Car which I was amazed that you could pick out. Yet you did!
You also noticed Cheezus' castle and talked about the race while watching the cars speeding along the highway far below us.
Daddy pointed out the stadium and the casino boats and things floating in the river as they made their traverse of the Mississippi.
It was a lot of fun.
More fun than I remember having when I was last there on a class trip.
I only remember looking out the window briefly as a child and all I remember thinking was how small the people looked from down there.
After descending in the elevator, we checked out the museum under the Arch which hasn't changed at all from when I was a child. At. All. That bear? I remember him AND I remember touching his paw in spite of the signs not to touch. I saw that as a challenge.
You were a little freaked out by the robotic people that they have talking about the time of the Indians and the early settlers to the area. They are nothing more than human-ISH looking versions of some bad Chuck E. Cheese characters moving their mouth out of sync with the words that they are supposedly saying. Except these characters look like they died. Twice.
We checked out some of our area's history.
You loved the Teepee and were more than a little disappointed that you couldn't crawl in, but you took it in stride.
When we came down out of the Arch, we looked up to show you the tiny windows at the top that you had recently been peering out of. Just then, a plane flew overhead looking like it could touch the top of the Arch. To think you had been high enough in the sky to be as high as a plane was exciting and added to the event in your eyes.It was a great day!
Love,
Mommy
You were fascinated by this amazingly big and beautiful castle.
The sheer size of it and it's magnitude seemed to make the "rules" of the castle that much more important to you. Therefore, we received many reminders to be quiet while we were in this castle. Because you can't be loud in the castle. Or you will go to hell.
You literally walked up and down the aisles looking at everything.
The pictures on the wall, the confessionals, the prayer candles, the statues.
Also, your constant reminders to everyone that it was important to be quiet drove it all home.
Shhhhhhhhhh!
You were riveted when we got to the altar by Jesus on the crucifix and the baby in the arms of Joseph and Mary. Daddy explained that this was Jesus.
You've always been a smart kid, but this stuck into your brain like it had been indelibly imprinted the minute the information was provided because it was THAT IMPORTANT.
"Chee-zus" you repeated quietly to see what it sounded like.
You had me come up on the altar with you so you could show me Chee-zus.
I almost expected you to tell me that he died for my sins. Won't I follow him?
Sorry - I'm definitely not trying to be irreverant here. I was raised Catholic, but my viewpoints and the Church's don't mesh well. I developed and asked questions. It was my experience that those questions weren't appreciated. It didn't seem to be viewed as healthy for me to express doubt and I need to be able to do this. But, that's not everyone's experience and I respect that. Almost all your Aunts and Uncles have strong faith in Catholicism and embrace it. I just wanted to make that point here so I can minimize offense, because my humor here is in the fact that your responses were delivered with such a wise little expression as you shared what you had learned about this Chee-zus with me. 
It isn't always the easiest thing for me to remember - to teach you about everything, even those things that I may not believe in - because when you turned to me on the altar for the first time and indicated that this was Chee-zus, a part of me worried while another part of me wondered at your spongy little mind. I have to remind myself that growing up doesn't mean that you become an exact replica of me. Truth be told, I wouldn't want that. There are so many things that I see about myself that are lacking. Nobody's perfect and I have no allusions that you will be, but I don't want to be the reason that you don't have a full perspective of in order to arrive at your own decisions.
This morning you were playing with your cars oblivious to the fact that Mommy was walking around in the date dress she wore the night before that was obviously slept in and the fact that Daddy and I were ultra quiet this morning.
Here's the conversation that took place over your head:
One could say that we had a good night. :)
Love,
You call it the Turtle Store because there is a tank downstairs with turtles in it amongst the tunnels and climbers.
The "store" part of the name - I don't really understand. Maybe you think you could buy one if you inquired....
This place - the City Museum - is as inventive and creative as it is dusty and dirty. The dusty and dirty part is certainly nothing to bother a toddler, though, so we are loving it right now.
They have slides made out of roller conveyor belts that they painted multiple colors. I have a feeling that some of these conveyors used to be a part of this old building since it's a converted factory.
If that is the case, then kudos to the genius who foresaw this fun activity because you are just loving it like crazy.
Check you out being all adorable!
All the kids line up for the mini train ride which goes in a circle about 100 feet in diameter and stirs up enough dust that you usually come off of it with itchy and puffy eyes, and howling to go again.
There are also sections where you want to play that are a little crazy.
Teenagers like the ramps and will run up and down them paying little to no heed to little ones that are also playing there.
My Momma Bear instincts kick in when this happens and I will plan myself in the path of where you are headed to slide down a ramp and make sure you are safe.
You don't understand and many times will try to make me move away - off to the side - convinced you don't need me there, but some things are just too important, Sweetie.
And the most important one of those things is you.
You'll understand someday I'm sure. :)
Hi, Buddy!
There are tunnels around the train where the older children climb over and around the tracks and you love to watch this as you drive by.
Do you see that, Mom?
Love,