The Arch

You can't go to STL as a first time visitor without venturing to The Arch. The boys heard about the arch over and over during the weeks prior to our visit but they gasped when they finally laid eyes on it. In fact, about 20 miles out of STL, our eldest cried and screamed (he was extremely tired of being in the car for 14 hours - I didn't blame him) until we spotted the arch from the Illinois side.

The beautiful Mississippi River.




Our view from 630 feet.

Steven Curtis Chapman's manager speaks

Click here to read the words of Jim Houser regarding the funeral service of Maria Sue Chapman, daughter of Steven Curtis.

Now I've seen it all

I am trying to do a better job at remembering to take my fabric shopping bags with me to the grocery store and to other large stores I frequent (Walmart, Sam's, Target), but I often forget to put them back in the car after their last use. So, I usually have a large amount of plastic bags accumulating in the corner of my laundry room. One use they come in handy for is for plugging up poopy diapers before tossing them into the trash. For the most part, I usually take the bulk of my collection right back to the grocery store into their bag recycling bin.

However, I have found a new use for them! I am definitely going to try this once I can get my hands on a sewing machine. I'd be interested in knowing if my friends who like to sew (Kat, Davina, Maja) would be willing to try this and take a few pictures of their end result for me to post on my blog. It might even bring you some business...who knows?!?!?!!

Anyone? Bueller? Anyone?

The St. Louis Science Center

Again, another brownie point for the city of St. Loius. The STL Science Center was another free stop we took on our trip. Although it was a bit "over the heads of our children", Mitch and I really enjoyed it! The kids liked playing with the cool experiments and trinkets all around the center but, looking back (other than the difference in cost), I wish we would have taken them to The Magic House. Nonetheless, is was a memory made. Now for the pictures.....

The Tucker & McGinnis kids

I think that sounds like a cool company name....Tucker & McGinnis.

Nah....maybe better suited for a law firm.

Anywho, aren't they cute?

Score:
Susie, 4 ; Jawan, 3.

Free yogurt for Dad

TCBY is giving away a free cup or cone of their delicious frozen yogurt this Sunday, June 15, in honor of Father's Day. I know where we'll be heading after lunch on Sunday! Click here for more information.

Family Toes

A few days ago, we were sitting on the kitchen playing and singing together. Abigail was in my lap (trying to crawl up me), Luke was near my feet playing with measuring cups, and Andrew was combing my hair with his new comb from his shaving kit. You know.....another MOMMY moment when all the kids are hanging on you and you LOVE it while, at the same time, are longing to lock yourself up in the bathroom for just one moment of sanity. The kids were getting restless so I grabbed a pen and started making a family of toes on the boys' feet. They thought it was so funny!

Luke & Abigail

Just had to post these pictures. They are far too cute not to share.

Dan In Real Life

Mitch and I just finished watching Dan In Real Life.....what an awesome movie! My mom would love this movie....really, Mom, you would! Mitch and I laughed all the way through it. Steve Carell has slowly become one of our favorite actors, thanks to THE OFFICE.

I'm not going to spend the time telling you what this movie is about but rather give you this link so you can research it yourself, if you're interested. If you'd rather just take my word for it, go rent it now! This is where you get up out of your seat and either head to your nearest RedBox machine with a free promo code for a one-night-free rental or print this coupon for a free movie rental at your local Movie Gallery (new releases included).

Don't throw away those expired coupons

I have recently gotten very involved in couponing and have a large amount in my coupon folder. I try to sit down once a month and purge all the expired coupons from my folder but still hate throwing them away. However, I heard a rumor that expired coupons are needed by military families stationed overseas. So, from now on, I'm going to be mailing my expired coupons to other families and moms who love them just as much as I do!

For more information about sending expired coupons to military families, click here.

Stairway to brotherhood

Ok, that's a cheesy title but it fits the picture. Again, while in Chattanooga (what an awesome city! - can't get enough of it), the boys found the long staircase by the fountains outside the aquarium. They were amazed at the little berries that had fallen from the tree above. I'm just glad they know to ask before eating anything unknown!....Precious sons.

Chattanooga fountains

As I mentioned before, we stopped many times on our way home from vacation. I think we've been to Chattanooga more than we've been to Atlanta (which is MUCH closer to our home). Our boys love Chattanooga. They remember small things like the free electric shuttle and The Chattanooga Choo-Choo. We've taken them to the aquarium before but have never let them play in the water fountains. On our last stop, we stripped them down to their shorts and let them get wet.

The St. Louis Zoo

One of the main reasons we traveled to St. Louis on our family vacation was because we knew it was the home of one of the best (and FREE) zoos in the nation. We were not disappointed. Even though we visited the zoo on the hottest day of the year thus far in Missouri, we had a blast walking around from one animal exhibit to the next.

No, Mom...this snake isn't real.

This turtle isn't real either.
However, this camel is real. It looks nasty. Desperately needing a haircut...for real!

Publix deal this week

These deals are good today through Wednesday, June 11. If you purchase the name brand product then, in turn, Publix will give you their store brand of that product for FREE!

Click here to view pictures and information about the items this offer applies to.

Summer boredom buster ideas

Most of my friends are mothers to preschoolers but I think this list can be altered in ways that are necessary for younger ages. This list of ideas came from The Happy Housewife.


If when you ask your kids what they want to do this summer they come up with either completely unrealistic expectations or they can’t think of anything, here are a few ideas to help them along.

Join the summer reading club at the library.

Visit a nursing home. Many of the residents are very lonely and would love to see the smiling faces of children.

If you are going on vacation, have your kids research the area you are going to and find something interesting they would like to see or do there.

All those games in the back of your hall closet… play them.

Let your kids plan and cook a few meals a week.

Get a pen pal for your child.

Research movies that are also books, have your kids read the book and then watch the movie to compare.

Find unique places in your area and visit them.

Have your kids start a wildlife journal.

Find an elderly person your neighborhood and have your (older) child help them for a few hours a week. They could mow their yard, clean house, or just visit.

With supervision, kids can go around the neighborhood and pick up trash.

Get a membership to a local museum, zoo, aquarium.

Teach your child a life skill this summer.

REDBOX Free Codes

Try these two Redbox codes this week. If you're unfamiliar with how Redbox works, click here to read my post with details.

MEMORIAL

MILLER

Free doughnut on Friday @ Krispy Kreme

Thanks to Heather at Freebies for Mom for her current post about this offer!

Friday, June 6 is "Doughnut Day" at Krispy Kreme. They are offering you a free doughnut of your choice! As with all offers like this, please call your local store to see if they are participating. Also, if you sign up for Friends of Krispy Kreme you will get a coupon by email for a free doughnut.

Superman

On our way home from St. Louis, we stopped for a restroom break in Metropolis, Illinois. Don't you remember? The hometown of Clark Kent...SUPERMAN! So, we drove downtown so the kids could see the giant statue of Superman himself.






We had fun playing around but, as you can see, Luke slept through it all. He still managed to swing a picture of himself with the caped hero.


As we were leaving the very large city of Metropolis, we drove by a grocery store named BIG JOHN with their mascot greeting visitors as they passed by. I think BIG JOHN is larger than Superman. Humph....the nerve!


Metropolis is also the home to Harrah's Riverboat Casino, but we bypassed that adventure.

Friends

Visiting St. Louis meant that I got to see some friends whom I haven't laid eyes on in a while. God is so good!

We spent five hours at the Kicklighters house Saturday morning/afternoon. We chatted, ate BBQ at the park, came back home and put kids down for a nap and laughed together some more. I sure wish I could take Becky back home with me. She and I are soooooo alike....it's a little scary!


After finally leaving the Kicklighters, we traveled over to visit our friends who are attending Covenant Theological Seminary . On the left is my spunky funky Jesus lovin' friend, Christine. I've known Christine since 1997 when meeting her after forming a tight friendship with her twin sister, Diane. Christine always makes me laugh, she's such a hoot. I got to finally meet her sweet husband, Tom R. I wanted to go home with them and spend a few days since they never stopped joking around the entire night! On the right is my sweet friend, Leesa. I've only known Leesa for about three years but she has made an impact on my life and I enjoy being friends with her. Her husband, Scott, and my husband have a tight friendship. We love getting together and letting our husbands discuss the newest theology book while watching our kids play after eating hotdogs and hamburgers. Come back to Columbus, Leesa!


Also, I was able to see April. April read scripture in my wedding. Gosh, this girl makes me laugh. I also FINALLY got to meet her wonderful husband, Dan. I think that they are a perfect match and you can tell that he's head-over-heels in love with April....as it should be. Next time Mitch and I go swing dancing, we're calling up the Dan and April, for sure!


Before we got married, Mitch's roommate was Jason. Jason got to watch Mitch and I fall in love. Since I came into the friendship a little late, I got to hear all about Jason's pursual of Susie. Susie and I immediately clicked (who wouldn't click with her? She's amazing!) and have kept in touch, depsite the miles between us. I sure do miss the stew out of this girl. I could spend all day with Susie and never get enough time with her. She is genuine, through and through. She and Jason have been through some heartache after losing two of their daughters but their love for the Gospel runs deep. We're praying that Jason will find a job soon since he has just graduated from seminary.


I'll be posting more pictures of our time in St. Louis when I return home in a few days so stay tuned!

St. Louis is AWESOME!

So far, we're having a blast on vacation in St. Louis! More pictures coming soon. Here's a moment from our time at THE ARCH on Thursday. The boys enjoyed running barefoot through the grass with Dad.

Light up my Life!

To help make some fun on the long drive to St. L this week, we purchased these crazy light up thingys for the boys. They have been enjoying themselves. The boys especially like to find dark places where the light is all that more fun. Lights on, lights off!

Andrew is my little artist. I love that his mind is always making something, whether I see it his way or not. He strewed his cars about the yard and made a race track on the back of a box. He got very frustrated with his lack of race-track design but his cars worked just the same. Four years old and quite the perfectionist, he is