St. Louis Zoo

One of our Missouri stops wast to the St. Louis Zoo, one of my favorites. It worked out that everyone was able to join us. All the kids were really good, and had fun seeing the animals and playing together. The greatest success of the day was actually getting all six grandkids in one spot and almost all of them looking in the same direction. It's probably as good as it's going to get for now considering their ages.

Lincoln and Malachi hanging out in the wagon sharing some snacks.

These two are like peas in a pod. When they are all together, these they seem to migrate to each other. It's super cute!

So, I just realized that I didn't actually post any animals from the zoo. Oops! Oh well, it was the usual animals. I was focused on the kids! I'm also in a bit of a hurry to get a few posts up and scheduled before we leave town...AGAIN! Have a great weekend!

Meramec Caverns and Cards Game

Following the 4th, we spent the week in Missouri. There are always more things on my to do list than I have time for, but we did manage to get in an excursion or two while we were visiting. Tuesday, we started the day off with a stop at Meramec Caverns. For those of you non Missourians, MO is also known as the cave state, and Meramec Caverns is supposedly one of Jesse James' hideouts. If you've traveled on 44 through MO, you couldn't have missed the signs. Kevin has driven past those signs for about 13 years now, but we've never visited, so this was his pick of destinations for the week. I did get a few pictures inside the cave, but I felt kind of rushed and didn't want to hold up the line. I'm just posting ones with people in them. (as if you aren't tired of seeing pictures of us!) The grandparents and the girls at the entrance

Our family pic inside the cave

Kev, Dad and Mom leaving the wine room (I think that's what it's called..)

After the cave tour, we took a little boat tour of the river. Overall, it was a pretty fun little outing. I thought it was a little overpriced, but interesting nonetheless.

Me forcing my dad to smile while taking a picture with me so I have a picture to post when father's day rolls around next year:)

After we went to the caverns, we sent Lincoln home with my parents and we headed to St. Louis for the Cardinals game. I am always terrible about knowing what to get Kevin for his birthday and father's day, but I wanted to surprise him with something. So, I got him tickets to the Cardinals game. Unfortunately, this was the best picture we came away with. Overall, a great day!

Fun on the Fourth!

Did we have fun on the fourth? You bet! It isn't all that often that we have all the Fredendall cousins together, and it still is nearly impossible to get a picture of them all together, but they did get to spend the better part of the fourth playing with each other. We spent the morning leisurely sitting on the porch and hanging around the yard at my Mom and Dad's.

As the temperature rose, the water was rather tempting, so we took advantage of the slip-n-slide. Londyn and Lincoln LOVED it! Skylar tolerated it and was a little awkward, and Malachi and Anastyn gave it their best shot, but it probably wasn't their favorite part of the day. After that we enjoyed my Dad's BBQ pork steaks before heading off to watch fireworks.

We spent the evening watching fireworks at the capital. My sister and her family and my dad weren't able to join us, but we tried to have a good time anyway!

It was a wonderfully filled day that included a few of my favorite things and a lot of my favorite people!

(Aren't you glad that I decided to create collages instead of making 18 posts over one day? You're welcome!)

Introducing...

Our beloved pets. Let me preface this post that we are not really pet people. I have put it off for a long time, but I do believe that every child should have a pet at some point in their life. I was ready to give in and let them get a dog. We had been planning to get a fence, and it would have worked out. However, in the presence of dogs, my children cling to the nearest adult or climb on countertops. Therefore, I decided this was bad decision. We were walking through the mall one day, and there was a little kiosk set up selling hermit crabs. My girls were intrigued, and I thought it may not be a bad idea. I mean, really, is there a lower maintenence pet? Anyway, I waited a few days and the girls were relentlessly begging to go buy the crabs. Finally we got them, and they were impressed for all of about 2 days. Londyn's interest has lasted a little longer, but Skylar is a little more like her mother. When we left for San Antonio, we forgot the crabs, and we forgot to leave food for them. (Again, we should not be allowed to have pets.) Anyway, we were coming home, and Londyn asks, "Do you think the crabs died?" Skylar responds "I don't know, but I hope so. They are a lot of work, and not really that much fun." I think she had been holding that thought in since the second day but held back knowing the wrath she may recieve after all the begging she did. Too bad for Shelly and Sebastion, they did survive and have the pleasure of being owned by such loving caretakers. (Both pets are currently thriving, and I promise we are doing our very best to take care of them!)

Dallas

Following our San Antonio visit, we had to stop in Dallas while Kevin attended a training. It was a pretty dreadful day, which was mostly my fault. I failed to plan the day, so we ended up doing a lot of wandering. It all worked out, but I was very ready for Kevin to meet back up with us and head for home. We had to be checked out of our hotel that morning, and we were limited to doing things that were walking distance from our hotel. The JFK museum was really close, so that was our first stop. Skylar was elated, but the other two were NOT impressed! As we arrived and we were waiting to start the tour Londyn says "After this can we please do something fun?" Skylar responds with "Londyn, there is nothing more fun than this!" Londyn and Lincoln humored us, but the tour would have been a little more beneficial had they stayed behind. I can't blame them though, it was an audio tour, and over their heads. All things considered their behavior was acceptable, but it was a little rough. Skylar thought it was great and was left with even more questions, so I supposed the mission was accomplished. This tour did only last a little over an hour, which left us with about 6 more hours to kill. Did I mention it was HOT, we were walking, and had no idea where we were going? The only thing I could find within walking distance to do was make a stop at the Dallas World Aquarium. I really didn't want to go because it was more than I wanted to spend, but we had to get out of the heat and off the street. So, we visited the aquarium. The kids had a good time, and it counted as a "fun" activity for Londyn, so I guess it worked out. Lincoln was way too tired though, so he was a bit difficult. He loved the animals, but wanted to run around and fussed quite a bit. But you better believe I made them pose for pictures anyway. I'll spare you and only post one, but they look like their having a great time, don't you think?

We still had a couple of hours before Kevin's training was supposed to be over, so we made stop at a self-serve yogurt bar that happened to be on our path and a visit to the scariest McDonald's I've ever stepped foot into. Once I realized the surroundings, I grabbed the food, grabbed the kids and made a run for it, attempting to be very nonchalant, of course. So much for a relaxing break and a cold drink. We did survive, but I was SO relieved to finally get in the car and head back to Tulsa. It was quite an exhausting day. I am however thankful for resilient kids that do a good job of making the best out of any situation. I'm thinking they probably didn't get that from me.

San Antonio-The End

It is time for these posts to come to an end. Our friends met us on our last evening there, and we had planned to meet for dinner and then go to Seaworld together the next day. They did make it there, but had a car accident after dropping half the crew off for dinner, and it just kind of went downhill from there. Thankfully, no one was hurt, and we did get to spend a little bit of time together. Gavin is quite the ladies man.

Lincoln just couldn't stay awake, even in good company.

And again, at the Shamu show, but this time with Gavin. We didn't get quite as wet the second time which was a huge disappointment for the kids, but a relief for the parents. And with that, I will close the San Antonio chapter of our summer. Missouri fun to come!

San Antonio-Yes,There's More..

You can't say I didn't warn you that there were going to be way too many posts about our San Antonio days. Please excuse, and I'm sure I'm boring you to death, but they make me happy, so they just keep coming. I spent the days that Kevin was working at the waterpark with the kids, and it was perfect. There was plenty to do for all of them, and it was easy to keep them in the same location. Kevin did manage to make it with us one morning, and so I used that opportunity to take a few pics of the kids doing what they love most. Water makes everyone happy, right?

Lincoln couldn't have been happier to slide down the slide and play with the big kids.

This is Lincoln heading to the line for the slide...AGAIN! He couldn't get enough, and he thought he was plenty big enough to go on his own. Silly boy!

San Antonio-Riverwalk

Just so you know, trying to keep track of three kids, find your way around an unfamiliar city in extreme heat, make sure everyone is having fun, decide on a place to eat and take pictures of the beautiful surroundings is near impossible. Therefore, I'm settling to be happy with what I got. We spent a couple of evenings at the Riverwalk eating dinner and wandering around a little. We stopped to eat at a great little restaurant and sat outside for dinner. The girls found this lizard like creature, and though very out of character, picked it up and played with it while we were waiting for food. (yes, I made them wash their hands before they ate) Lincoln was a little overly tired, so Kevin and I were pretty much trying to entertain him until the food came. We remembered why we don't like to leisurely go out to eat dinner as a family. Sad but true.

Skylar taking over the photography duties to snap a picture of me and Kevin.

Londyn not sure what to think about being serenaded by the mariachi band.

A quick stop in front of the Alamo while we were there.

A nice man stopped and asked if we wanted a family picture. Thank you nice man, it's the only one we got the whole trip!

Skylar and Londyn being goofy in the souvenir store.

Requesting me take their picture, goofy smiles and all. Overall, we had a great night out and enjoyed being together. It's so great to just get away from the everyday chores of home and just focus on having fun together.

San Antonio-Seaworld

So, there are no whole family pics, but here are a few that I took while at Seaworld. It was a very wet destination, so I kept my camera packed up most of the time. The mandatory entrance pictures. One with dad, and....

one with mom. Thanks kids for cooperating!

Going on a water ride with dad. They also rode the Journey to Atlantis, but I can't seem to locate that picture on my camera.

Lincoln doing everything his sisters do, seeing if he was tall enough for the ride. Not quite..sometimes being the baby just stinks.

Yes, we bought one refillable cup and made them share. Worked like a dream!

Standing in front of the rollercoaster that they weren't quite big enough to ride.

Baby Shamu...

San Antonio-Arrival

Our summer of crazy travels has begun, and I'm just going to warn you that you are going to get so sick of seeing pictures of these three kids in San Antonio. I took a lot of pictures, most of them aren't even very good, but it was just fun to be doing something! Also, when I look back at pictures, it makes me think of good things and the frustrations of a vacation with three little kids sort of slips away. We did have a great time for the most part with no major hiccups. Traveling with a 21 month old can be difficult worrying about naps and such, but for the most part he was a real trooper. The best part of the trip was that it was virtually free. Since Kevin was there for a training, we will be reimbursed for mileage and hotel. So, it was a no brainer for us to tag along. We had grand plans to wake up last Saturday morning and leave the house by 5:00 AM. Kevin's alarm didn't go off, so it was a little after 7:00 when we headed out. We didn't really have any plans for the evening, so it wasn't really a big deal. We did still manage to go to Seaworld the first night, check things out for the next day, and catch the"Shamu Rocks" show. The kids posing for a pic after a long day in the car.

Two peas in a pod. Londyn taking care of her little brother.

This was my first time at Seaworld, and I must say, those whales are amazing! I'm sure you already knew that!

Kevin with the kids.

Me with Londyn and Lincoln. I'm not sure why Sklar wasn't cooperating.

Me and Skylar allowing Londyn to practice her photography skills. (she still struggles to actually get the people all the way in the pic)

Seaworld has a funpass that you can buy that is the exact same price as a day pass, so we bought that and went for four days. That may have been a little bit of overkill, but we just took it easy and didn't feel rushed to get through everything. They also had a waterpark inside Seaworld, so the kids and I took advantage of that the days that Kevin was working. It worked out perfectly! More of the same, Seaworld/San Antonio pictures to come. I bet you are on the edge of your seat...