Olivia on the slide at the fabulous City Museum in St. Louis, MO (In this picture, Olivia looks so much like my sister, Sarah, did at this age!). This past weekend, we drove to St. Louis, MO to pick up Matt's vehicle (shipped from Portugal). We decided to spend some time in the city and were pleasantly surprised by all the city had to offer! Of course, we made a stop at the Arch.
Lila paints a picture (at City Museum) in her pretty bonnet, acquired at a shop in the Arch.I had visited St. Louis with my family as a teenager. However, I was still too young to realize what a family-friendly city it is! It's also becoming a "local" city. While eating at a local brewery, I spotted a little flier encouraging visitors and locals to, "Buy Local, spend wisely...the dollars you spend with locally owned independents keep city and county neighborhoods distinctive, vibrant, and stable."
I support this choice 100%. Here in Kansas, I try to buy local whenever possible. Whether it be locally-owned eateries or stores (I love The Pot Rack- a family-owned kitchen store here in Leavenworth). Sometimes I know I'm spending a bit more money than I would if I bought it online. But, I'm supporting not only the owners of the store or restaurant, who I often even get to meet, and offer suggestions or products I'd like to see them carry, but also the local community. St. Louis has an online Community Buying Guide. I wish each county had one! Even my husband, who is always telling me, "Economics will ALWAYS win," does, for the most part, support my locavore ways.
I meant for this to be the post header picture. The connection is so slow, it won't move the picture!
The best family photo we've gotten in a long time - despite Olivia's lack of desire to be photographed in the arch and Lila's lost hair tie. I know we'll go back to St. Louis. There are a few more local breweries that we'd like to tour and so much more to do with families. It's a four-hour drive from our home here in Kansas and it's worth it! We saved on gas with our Prius. At one point, we averaged 51.6 MPG (which, if you're wondering, we have fit two Britax car seats and one booster in the back seats! It may not be the perfect carpooling car, but, it's perfect for a family of five to use on trips and around town. I truly believe there is no need for so many families to have two huge gas guzzlers - but, hey, that's the World According to Natalie!
If you're one of our friends already here in Leavenworth or moving here soon, I highly recommend spending some time in St. Louis!
