I'm still recovering....

Every once in awhile something special happens in the United States: a 3-day weekend . When we are blessed with a 3-day weekend it's usually something to celebrate, this time it was MEMORIAL DAY.

I always think it's interesting when people don't live near an ocean they find any body of water they can play in, whether it's a river...lake....pond...stream..pool...canal....moat...you get the idea. My family? We go to the lake. We've been going to Grand Lake in Oklahoma for so long, we consider it OUR lake. I just say: We're going to the THE lake and expect people to know which lake I'm talking about (duh). So last weekend, in addition to remembering and honoring our veterans, we invited our friends to THE LAKE and had ourselves a damn good time.

Since we had SO many people spending their weekend with us, we had to bust out the air mattresses. Lesley and Blake graciously agreed to "air-mattress-sleep" the first night. Ten points to Gryffindor if you can spot Betty....hint: she looks like an alien that about to shoot lasers out of her eyes.

The next morning, breakfast was made. In my opinion, as a master chef, the easier the better. Chris wanted to have an omelet bar, waffles, eggs benedict, pancakes and mimosas- although that would have been amazing-I said no. We made homemade McMuffins, and they were much appreciated:

You are going to start noticing a pattern: Every picture I take of my two closest friends,  Lesley is masterfully posed and Jana is... posed in her own special way--she was obviously REALLY excited about homemade McMuffins!

Chris ate his the fastest because he really wanted to be here and breakfast was just getting in the way:

This is the new boat my hard working dad just bought. We haven't named it yet. My brother Christian wants to name it 'The Duke' but I think she looks more like a girl, don't you? Wouldn't Sandy the Suncruiser be a PERFECT boat name (say yes so I can win the boat naming war).

When everyone was done stuffing their faces with breakfast, we loaded the boat and were ready for our voyage.....

These two lovebirds could have cared LESS if we were loading or unloading for a great adventure on THE lake...they were just happy to be together.

My dad is an expert at loading the boat into the water, no big deal:

ANNNND WE'RE OFF!

Jana promoted herself to honorary first-mate.

After driving to "our spot" on "our lake" we dropped anchor, rode the jet skis, 

and floated to our heart's content. 

What does that mean?

PARTY TIME

 

Who knows which boy I'm bossing around here....dad is just glad it's not him.

I would just like to point out that a lot of beverages were consumed, and there was not ONE time anyone asked to be taken back to the house for a bathroom break....

After hours of relaxing and floating, it was time to head back to the house for dinner. 

Christian beat us there and was really ready to eat.

"Ummm could you guys PLEASE hurry up? I'm needing some bacon wrapped stuffed jalapenos right about now!"

I think we could have all just hung out on the boat all evening...

but we knew there were S'mores waiting for us that night:

The bonfire was so hot Jana had to go to extreme measures to roast her marshmallows, but she is fearless and showed all the boys how to do it properly. 

Lesley is saying: I'm not sure why there is no S'more in my hand!

There was even a 'meeting of the minds' on the back porch with deep philosophical questions being asked, like: "What will it take for Kobe to win a championship next year?"

After we solved the world's problems and made ourselves sick with S'mores, it was time for bed. 

The next morning we all woke up...

....and argued over who had the best time and who was most tired.

 But I think Jana may have demonstrated how we all felt the best: 

 

Where my heart is....

 

At a Chief's game (next year boys, next year).

 In Washington, D.C. riding segways

Standing in front of my castle at Walt Disney World....

Getting ready to go into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy....

Eating a double-double animal style with a chocolate shake from the best place ever: IN-N-OUT

At the drive-in on a balmy summer night....

and my heart is:

  in Colorado with these fine folks....except the dog, sorry Hershey.

It's going to a Britney Spears concert: LOOK OUT!

and watching my sister-in-law getting married

and it's hanging out with this girl. 

  My heart is always with this boy:

and most definitely with this girl:

But no matter where my heart is scattered, there's only ONE place I want to be....especially with this nice weather, and that place is here:

You can come to if you want...

I think I went to Willy Wonka's house....

There is a 'so incredible it will blow your mind' secret place located in St. Louis, Missouri. Actually I don't think it's a secret, but everyone I've asked about it always says: "Now just WHAT are you talking about?" And I say: "EXACTLY!"

When you're in downtown St. Louis, you're already in an appreciative mood because of the beautiful architecture and rich history. It looks like this:
 

The guys and I are walking to a restaurant in this shot. I promise, Andrew WAS in St. Louis with us, but he is very popular, and had many fans to attend to. However, notice the very metropolitan area we're in?

Little did we know that just a few streets over a place that was a cross between Narnia, Hogwarts, Willy Wonka's chocolate factory,  and the World's Fair was awaiting us to explore its deepest depths. What's the name of this magical wonderland, you ask? CITY MUSEUM. Don't let the name fool you.

We found a place to park, and as we were walking up to CITY MUSEUM, our eyes feasted on this sight:

This is the outside. COVERED with ramps, ladders, tunnels, TWO airplanes, a castle turret, a fire truck, and a bonfire complete with marshmallows. 

When we walked into CITY MUSEUM, I was delightfully overwhelmed by all awesomeness:

Wait- is this real? Or is that man in a BRIGHT yellow shirt about to tell me I'm dreaming and then turn into a cat or something?!?

 After pinching myself in sensitive areas that shouldn't be pinched, it was decided I was most certainly NOT dreaming....so we went to work in the EnChAnTeD cAvEs (that writing is meant to denote whimsy). Exploring the man-made caves was a bit daunting. It was fairly dark in there and you never knew where a tunnel would take you, if  it would get smaller or if it would ever end. 

This was a very small dark tunnel. I used my camera flash to see where it would lead. Immediately after this picture, I quickly (frantically) crawled out backwards saying: "Nope! Nope! Not happening. Turn around! Go back! Go back!"

Now this is more my speed, lots of room: 

You can't tell but, those jagged spikes are actually dinosaur teeth. Yup, you read right, DINOSAURS!

My brother Christian has a true skill for climbing and fitting through tight spaces. He was in heaven: 

Ahhh! Look out! There is a Cave Monster behind you!!! Or pushy 3 year old.

After thoroughly exploring the CaVeS, we discovered the stairs to the TEN STORY SLIDE. We climbed for what felt like hours and finally reached the summit.  We had some time while waiting in line to reflect on the awesomeness that is CITY MUSEUM, and discuss how to re-create it in our backyard. Many ideas were thrown around, but somehow my suggestion of adding a mermaid pool was shot down....not cool.

This is at the top of the 10 stories looking down, pretty cool right!?

My mom and I, after looking down at the spiral stair case.....

I almost said: "Hold me mommy! I don't wanna goooo!"

but I remembered I really didn't want to walk ALL the way down the stairs so I got brave and did what any sensible girl would do: 

...and made her go first.

The ride down wasn't that bad.....if you don't mind careening around a spiral slide for ten stories:

Dad obviously liked it. I'm pretty sure on his way down he yelled: "SEE YA SUCKAS!"

We all made it down the slide of death in one piece, and worked our way back through the EnChAnTeD cAvEs with only one emergency along the way: 

Christian! A giant fish just ate you! Get out of there!

I got really excited because I thought SURELY this was a time machine hiding in St. Louis, ready to transport me to all kinds of fascinating places past and future....

.....it wasn't. 

It may not have time travel, but CITY MUSEUM did show us some other cool things like:

Don't mind me, just climbing an indoor tree-house. LIKE A BOSS.

and

It really did have a lot of mirth, mystery and mayhem....AND a circus. Yes, a circus. What are we holding? Oh just a beer CITY MUSEUM legally sold us! This place is paradise!

An art center with pottery, painting, chalk drawing and paper mache? Yes, please!
I know what you're thinking, reader: "No way this is all in one place! She somehow transported me to a dream she had!"  I am here to tell you that IT IS REAL (at least that is what Chris tells me) and IT'S WONDERFUL!

I don't know why the creators of this magic-land decided to put a bank vault in it, but I'm glad they did...

because now I can crack a safe....like a true professional (lie.).

The outside was just as cool as the inside: 

HELLLOOOO DOWN THERE!! You look like tiny ants! I wanted to spit, but Chris said no....

We're just hanging out climbing stuff...no big deal. 

So if you're ever in St. Louis make sure you make it a PRIORITY to get yourself over to CITY MUSEUM! You won't regret it. Be careful though, because when you leave, you'll want to put this in your backyard: 

Hello my loyal subjects! Thank you for being so faithful now GET OFF MY LAWN!

and it might end up looking like this: 

Actually, if you can achieve this give me a call so you can make one in my backyard. Seriously.