Gateway to the West

Sunday (July 22nd) was out last day of partying. :( However, we still made sure to have lots of fun. Our destination today was downtown St. Louis to see the famous Arch, or Gateway to the West as it is sometimes known as.




The day before we bought our tickets for going up to the top of the Arch at 9:20 in the morning. We all got up early and made our way to the Arch where we picked up our tickets, browsed the gift store, and wondered through a cool museum. The museum had things all about Lewis and Cark’s journey. It was fun to see quotes from them and pictures of the areas the visited. It also was awesome to see the places that they visited that we had been to. Of course, one of them is where Nathan and Natalie were born and another about and hour from where we grew up. After the museum we waited around a little bit then were able to be let through for our tour. After waiting around a little more our transportation arrived. Guess what it was. A bird? A plane? Superman?…nope just this little white capsule thingy that fits five people. It is not that big and has a tiny door to go through. lol. Soon enough we were up, up, and away. The cool thing is that the capsule has a glass door, so we could see the shaft. The view was basically stairs and cement. :D

Once the capsule reached the top we climb our through the tiny door and were met with people lining the stairs to head back down. We then have to climb some stairs, then you are in the hallway of the arch. on each side there are windows that you can look through. It was really cool seeing the view. Natalie even had a great idea of watching a baseball game from up there because there is a perfect view of the stadium. :D We hung out up there for while peering out different windows and taking it all in. Then we made our way to the other side and caught a ride down.

Ready to conquer the Arch!

  

We got busted trying to scale the outside of the Arch. :D

The view from the top of the Arch.

 

Barge traffic on the Mighty Mississippi

The Rams stadium is towards the bottom right corner.

 

So high!!!! At least they are not going to drop us. lol

 

The capital building with the Arch’s shadow

 

My AWESOME family!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

'Where the yucky Cardinals play!

 

 

 

 

Still pictures of the Arch…

 

After the Arch we grabbed a bite to eat, then headed back to Nathan’s place, packed up, and headed out. We made it home safely where we all crashed from the five days of partying. Thus ends the Great Adventure of Dad’s 60th Birthday!

“That’s All Folks!”

Zootastic

Despite the fact that it was no longer Dad’s birthday, we kept up the party on Saturday (July 21st) by going to the St. Louis Zoo. It is a really cool zoo. The paths are surrounded by flowers and plants and animals exhibits, obviously. We spent three hours wondering the zoo looking at lions and tigers and bears. Oh. My. :D My favorite exhibits were the penguins, the lions, and the sea lions/seals. The penguins were awesome because you walk into this building where you are right next to the penguins. If you wanted you could pet them (though you aren’t suppose to and you would probably ended being bit). Zach and I were even splashed my a penguin. lol. The lion exhibit was really cool because the female lion was IN THE TREE!!!! I was so awesome! I like the sea lion/seal exhibit, well, because I just plain love those guys!!!!!!!!!!…Oh, and another really fun part was the chimps. There were two chimps that were playing follow the leader. They both were holding straw and then would walk in perfect unison. SO AMUSING!!!! Want to see it. Here are some pictures…..

Some scenery along the path

Peek A Boo

 

That is fish eating (cleaning) a hippo!

 

Quick before the Hyenas come!

 

It was lunch time for this guy.

He then throw dirt all over him. :D

 

A couple of snoozing Sun Bears

 

The outside part of the penguin exhibit.

Aren’t they cute?

 

She’s cute too!

Waiting to go inside the penguin exhibit.

 

Lovely Ladies!!!

 

These guys were so close you could touch them (theatrically).

 

Mmm, Mmm got a crick in my neck!

 

The Three Amigos!

 

Look Ma, Puffins!

 

This is Michael Jackson, he moonwalks on the water.

Awesome, right?

The chimps playing follow the leader.

 

It was highly amusing!

 

 

This guy was right at the window.

He’s soooo cute!

Looks a lot like South Dakota!

 

One of the sea lions.

My buddy, a Harbor Seal.

 

It’s nap time for this gorilla.

In the Avery cage

 

Best Buds!

Are those newspapers?

The perfect picture!

 

Someone is tired.

Aww, they like each other!

 

“Don’t mess with me,” she says!

 

This was totally awesome!

LOL!

Men, always sleeping! :D

 

ME!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope ya’ll enjoyed those pictures. After the zoo, we went shopping for a little bit. Then backs to Nathan’s place to chillax. That evening Mom, Dad, and Natalie went out to eat and shop a little more. Nathan, Zach, and I went to go see the Batman movie. It is a good movie and had a classic ending: a fiery plane crash over Pittsburgh into a village of dwarfs. Just kidding (sort of). lol. Thus ends the fun fourth day of partying!

“That’s All Folks!” 

P.S. There are a few flower pictures from the zoo on Photoblog.