I finally made a trip to St. Louis, Missouri where I spent 3 years in Junior High! It had been over 10 years since I've seen some of the friends and family I have over there. It was so good to go back and spend some time in my old places. :) But one thing I didn't remember the clearest was the humidity and how it intensifies the heat! lol I'll touch on that later.
I started out my visit touring St. Louis. There were two places I wanted to go: Union Station and the St. Louis Arch. I remember visiting those with my mom when we lived there once and never forgot either. So I wanted to revisit those places and take pictures and video to enjoy and show Leah and Mom when I got back to Washington.
First we stopped at Union Station and right when we got there they were finishing up making the fudge and cutting it, so we walked around for a while and looked at the different shops and art in the Station. Then we came back and things were just getting started on the next batch and the next "show" was starting. The gentleman who made the fudge was very interactive and loved to feed off the crowd that was ALWAYS around him when he makes fudge. He sang, chanted, yelled, and did some tricks. I am going to try to upload a video that I have of him entertaining us and doing some tricks that I remember as a girl. But to me this was awesome. I would have to say that now it's not as mesmerizing as when I was a little girl, but still memorable and entertaining.
This is the guy who was making the fudge and making us laugh.
Then we went a couple miles down to the arch! It was awesome. I wanted to go up it again because I remember when Mom, Leah and I did.
These are the TINY capsules that take you up. They fit 5 people, but if you're claustrophobic I don't think you could handle this. We had 4 people going up and it still felt too small.
In the Museum under the arch they had a history of the Cardinals and baseball in general. It was so cool to walk through and see the different styles of baseballs and how they have evolved into what they play with today. Plus to get the history of baseball and how it all came to be was very interesting and I have to say that I still have a soft spot for the Cardinals. ^_^
This was the arch at a distance. :) It was beautiful to walk up to. Definitely a masterpiece of work that will be here for decades and centuries to come.
This was the view of the Cardinal Stadium from the top of the arch! It was awesome to look down and see all these things!
I took a picture of the legs of the arch from the top. This was one of my favorite pictures actually. lol I really don't know why besides the fact that you couldn't SEE this with your own eyes because I had to tilt my camera over the observation window just right to get it. ;)
Then the wedding day was upon us and we headed out in a VERY hot day to attend Julie and Bruce's wedding! I went up and saw Julie but there was so much going on that I left and took Tenley (my cousin Angie's daughter) and she found 2 decoys (plastic ducks used for hunting purposes) and some frogs that she was getting very close to the water trying to catch.
Uncle Johnny and Julie coming down the isle. She was beautiful. Loved her hair and you could tell she was just beaming!
Finally Married! :)
I totally have to put a comment in there about how hot it was that day! lol
During the wedding as the Bishop was speaking, he had to stop and put down his book to grab his handkerchief out of his pocket and wipe his face! He was sweating so much that he couldn't read! I seriously thought that I was soaked but not from water... from sweat. It was miserably hot! But it was all worth it too! The wedding was beautiful, the bride and groom were awesomely dressed, and it was a great day! At least it wasn't raining which it was forcasted for!
Brother and sister, Angie and Bobbie with Tenley all enjoying some water because if you didn't know having it be 92 degrees with 89 percent humidity was miserable I don't think I've ever been so grateful for air conditioning! One thing that I didn't miss about Missouri was the humidity.
John and Barbie :)
Beautiful family! Uncle Danny and Aunt Gloria with Melody.
My Aunt Linda and Uncle Johnny (bride's parents) who looked awesome and were so good to see after 10 years since I've seen my Uncle and 6 years since I've seen Aunt Linda!
Then the family photos took place and it was so wonderful to see my Uncle Johnny and Aunt Linda still loving each other and young at heart still! They couldn't take their hands off each other! lol
Sisters (Angie, Julie, Jenny)
Angie's family: Tenley, Angie (with little one in oven), Ethan and Chris. Beautiful family.
On our way to the reception Angie and Chris stopped ahead of us and when I got out to see what was going on the kids were holding this turtle! Awesome! They moved it to the side of the road so it didn't get ran over, but I couldn't believe how cool it was to find that in the middle of the road... THAT doesn't happen every day in Washington! lol
We finally arrive at the reception and this is a picture of all the McCullen family that was there in attendance. In order from Left to Right: Aunt Marge, Uncle Tom, Uncle Johnny, Aunt Linda, Aunt Rosie, Aunt Joni, Aunt Gloria, Uncle Mike and Uncle Danny. The only ones missing were my mom and Uncle Phil! Hopefully we can all get together again next year!
Julie and Bruce cutting the wedding cake. I so wish I would have gotten this on video because the entire time they were cutting the cake, everyone was yelling at them to get the other first. So when they finally did feed each other the cake, at the last second they both stuffed it into the others face. It was hysterical. Julie and Bruce both got it up their nose and made for some very nice photos!
Making up is the best! :)
David's purple kicks that so fit his personality. He told me if he had to wear a tux for a wedding he at least had to have some comfortable converse to get him through it! lol
Ethan and I. He is no longer the little kid I knew! He is turning into a good young man with a heart of gold. I can still remember Angie pregnant at Aunt Linda's house on a visit there. Wow... time really does fly!
Julie's little Harley getting tired as the evening wore on. Cutie pie.
Then the dancing and fun began!
Gloria and Barbie doing the arm twist lol
Thriller!
Daddy & Daughter Dance
Couple's Pictures :)
Gloria and Danny
Joni and Mike
Marge and Tom
Chris and Angie
The day after Julie's wedding was Aunt Linda and Uncle Johnny's 40th year wedding anniversary. So after Julie toasted them, they danced to their wedding song. It is so good to see those that last through the times to make it and still be so much in love. It warms my heart. :)
This is my cousin David (with the purple converse) and his littlest one! I can't believe it!
Jenny caught the wedding bouquet!
Then we broke out our funny faces and laughed till we were running to the restroom... ok maybe that was just me running to the restroom! *sigh*
I had asked Jessi to take a picture with her husband, my cousin David, and she couldn't get him to turn around so she took a picture as he was! lol She was cracking me up! I loved her high spirited attitude. She was so much fun.
Yes this is Jessi and Angie. Angie=5 months and Jessi=0 lol But they are both HOT mamas!
The evening was a hoot and yes... this is how my family really is when we get together. Good thing we didn't play spoons because we would have had to replace the table I'm sure. ;)
I am so glad I went. I told Julie that I was coming because she came to my wedding in 2004 when we was like 7 and 1/2 months pregnant! So of course I could make it to hers! lol I had forgotten how much fun my family is and though it was intimidating a bit to meet the extended family that I haven't seen (and some I didn't remember) it was amazing how good my cousins meshed that night.
Melody, Angie, Barbie, and Aunt Gloria... You girls are the light of my trip. I had so much fun with you girls on the dance floor and I hope that we can do that again before long! No more 10 years between visits!
Then we went a couple miles down to the arch! It was awesome. I wanted to go up it again because I remember when Mom, Leah and I did.
These are the TINY capsules that take you up. They fit 5 people, but if you're claustrophobic I don't think you could handle this. We had 4 people going up and it still felt too small.
In the Museum under the arch they had a history of the Cardinals and baseball in general. It was so cool to walk through and see the different styles of baseballs and how they have evolved into what they play with today. Plus to get the history of baseball and how it all came to be was very interesting and I have to say that I still have a soft spot for the Cardinals. ^_^
This was the arch at a distance. :) It was beautiful to walk up to. Definitely a masterpiece of work that will be here for decades and centuries to come.
This was the view of the Cardinal Stadium from the top of the arch! It was awesome to look down and see all these things!
I took a picture of the legs of the arch from the top. This was one of my favorite pictures actually. lol I really don't know why besides the fact that you couldn't SEE this with your own eyes because I had to tilt my camera over the observation window just right to get it. ;)
Then the wedding day was upon us and we headed out in a VERY hot day to attend Julie and Bruce's wedding! I went up and saw Julie but there was so much going on that I left and took Tenley (my cousin Angie's daughter) and she found 2 decoys (plastic ducks used for hunting purposes) and some frogs that she was getting very close to the water trying to catch.
Uncle Johnny and Julie coming down the isle. She was beautiful. Loved her hair and you could tell she was just beaming!
Finally Married! :)
I totally have to put a comment in there about how hot it was that day! lolDuring the wedding as the Bishop was speaking, he had to stop and put down his book to grab his handkerchief out of his pocket and wipe his face! He was sweating so much that he couldn't read! I seriously thought that I was soaked but not from water... from sweat. It was miserably hot! But it was all worth it too! The wedding was beautiful, the bride and groom were awesomely dressed, and it was a great day! At least it wasn't raining which it was forcasted for!
Brother and sister, Angie and Bobbie with Tenley all enjoying some water because if you didn't know having it be 92 degrees with 89 percent humidity was miserable I don't think I've ever been so grateful for air conditioning! One thing that I didn't miss about Missouri was the humidity.
John and Barbie :)
Beautiful family! Uncle Danny and Aunt Gloria with Melody.
My Aunt Linda and Uncle Johnny (bride's parents) who looked awesome and were so good to see after 10 years since I've seen my Uncle and 6 years since I've seen Aunt Linda!
Then the family photos took place and it was so wonderful to see my Uncle Johnny and Aunt Linda still loving each other and young at heart still! They couldn't take their hands off each other! lol
Sisters (Angie, Julie, Jenny)
Angie's family: Tenley, Angie (with little one in oven), Ethan and Chris. Beautiful family.
On our way to the reception Angie and Chris stopped ahead of us and when I got out to see what was going on the kids were holding this turtle! Awesome! They moved it to the side of the road so it didn't get ran over, but I couldn't believe how cool it was to find that in the middle of the road... THAT doesn't happen every day in Washington! lol
We finally arrive at the reception and this is a picture of all the McCullen family that was there in attendance. In order from Left to Right: Aunt Marge, Uncle Tom, Uncle Johnny, Aunt Linda, Aunt Rosie, Aunt Joni, Aunt Gloria, Uncle Mike and Uncle Danny. The only ones missing were my mom and Uncle Phil! Hopefully we can all get together again next year!
Julie and Bruce cutting the wedding cake. I so wish I would have gotten this on video because the entire time they were cutting the cake, everyone was yelling at them to get the other first. So when they finally did feed each other the cake, at the last second they both stuffed it into the others face. It was hysterical. Julie and Bruce both got it up their nose and made for some very nice photos!
Making up is the best! :)
David's purple kicks that so fit his personality. He told me if he had to wear a tux for a wedding he at least had to have some comfortable converse to get him through it! lol
Ethan and I. He is no longer the little kid I knew! He is turning into a good young man with a heart of gold. I can still remember Angie pregnant at Aunt Linda's house on a visit there. Wow... time really does fly!
Julie's little Harley getting tired as the evening wore on. Cutie pie.
Then the dancing and fun began!
Gloria and Barbie doing the arm twist lol
Thriller!
Daddy & Daughter Dance
Couple's Pictures :)
Gloria and Danny
Joni and Mike
Marge and Tom
Chris and Angie
The day after Julie's wedding was Aunt Linda and Uncle Johnny's 40th year wedding anniversary. So after Julie toasted them, they danced to their wedding song. It is so good to see those that last through the times to make it and still be so much in love. It warms my heart. :)
This is my cousin David (with the purple converse) and his littlest one! I can't believe it!
Jenny caught the wedding bouquet!
Then we broke out our funny faces and laughed till we were running to the restroom... ok maybe that was just me running to the restroom! *sigh*
I had asked Jessi to take a picture with her husband, my cousin David, and she couldn't get him to turn around so she took a picture as he was! lol She was cracking me up! I loved her high spirited attitude. She was so much fun.
Yes this is Jessi and Angie. Angie=5 months and Jessi=0 lol But they are both HOT mamas!
The evening was a hoot and yes... this is how my family really is when we get together. Good thing we didn't play spoons because we would have had to replace the table I'm sure. ;)
I am so glad I went. I told Julie that I was coming because she came to my wedding in 2004 when we was like 7 and 1/2 months pregnant! So of course I could make it to hers! lol I had forgotten how much fun my family is and though it was intimidating a bit to meet the extended family that I haven't seen (and some I didn't remember) it was amazing how good my cousins meshed that night.
Melody, Angie, Barbie, and Aunt Gloria... You girls are the light of my trip. I had so much fun with you girls on the dance floor and I hope that we can do that again before long! No more 10 years between visits!
