Chocolate chip cookies and sauerkraut

There's a place in St. Louis called Grant's Farm. It's this farm (duh) that used to belong to Ulysses S. Grant. Thus the sparkly name. Anyway, we used to love this place because it had animals and a tram ride and animals and a bird show and an elephant show with cute elephant trainers and um, elephants and little animals that kids(I mean children) could feed. Actually the kids (baby goats)would eat the children's clothes while the children tried to feed them from bottles. Sometimes they'd knock the children down in their eagerness to eat their clothes (which probably had Spaghettios all over them. So that's fair) and the children were scarred for life. But it was FREE! So, there's that. Before we lived here, we went to Grant's Farm at least once a year, when we would come to St. Louis for a vacation or long weekend. Since we moved here 15 years ago, I think we've gone maybe twice.


I feel a parenting theory coming on........



It's important when one has young children that one take them on outings that will enrich their minds and souls. Communing with nature molds their young minds and helps them to understand the delicate balance in our world. Also, back when we used to visit Grant's Farm, the tour ended with free samples of BEER due to the fact that the attraction was owned by a major brewery! YAY! I know my children hold memories of their visits to this wonderful place in their hearts! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 ....

*Girl Note* Actually, no. No we don't. Or I don't, at least. Brother might. All I remember is the sauerkraut and chocolate chip cookies. You should tell them about that. I don't feel like it. I have to write about dalmatians or Pokemon or something.


Fine.


Thanks for the transitory insertion.


So we were sitting there, me, Spouse, Boy and Girl. My parents were there also. The adults were enjoying their FREE refreshments in a responsible fashion. The kids were getting hungry but we had dinner plans and as a good mom I had to say "You may get a small snack but don't ruin your appetite." The truth was, I had neglected to visit the ATM and only had $3. The children (probably around 5 and 7) went to stand in line (in plain sight--don't judge me). I could see them discussing, negotiating, doing math....and they came back with a bowl of sauerkraut, two forks and two big chocolate chip cookies.


Then they ate it.



The end

*Girl* Speaking of awesome St. Louis things we've only done once or twice, how about the Arch? I've gone twice, and once was with school. It's kind of a big deal, you know. Thank dog we didn't fall into this trap with the Zoo. Well, with the other Zoo.


I'm sorry, but how is a smart girl like you struggling with "The end."? It's a fairly simple concept. The first time we went up in the Arch with you child-like life forms, we got a pretty straightforward peek into the future with you, personality-wise. Those little trammy elevator pod thingies that take you to the top are quite safe but look precarious. And they are small. Boy (age 8?) took one look and said, "I'm not getting into that thing." We said all the parental things about it being perfectly safe, there's no reason to be scared, blahbitty blah. (Your father was proooobably talking himself into it a little as well, what with his tendancy towards claustrophobia and all. But I digress.) Boy said, "I'm not scared. I'm just not going." Girl (6?) said, "I'm scared, but I'm going!" And so we go......


THE END, dammit.