St. Louis Day 4

My sister and I spent the morning shopping. Sister shopping is always very fun! I wish I could do it more often.

Mason decided he wanted to hold Ellie (who was wearing one of my favorite dresses from Isabel's younger years)-

We spent the afternoon at the Jones-Confluence State Park, the point where America's two greatest rivers - the Missouri and the Mississippi - come together. You can walk right out to the very point of confluence. I loved it! Of course we had to keep a close watch on the little ones, with two large rivers with swift currents on either side. But it was a really neat spot. A short, pretty hike out to the point. As with other spots, this would be much prettier when it's green, but it was awesome - very interesting to watch the waters and currents merge.

Connor contemplating the meeting of the waters-

Our family at the confluence-

A tribute to the great flood of 1993

Looking up the Mississippi-

Looking up the Missouri-

We enjoyed watching this boat come down the Mississippi and then turn and go up the Missouri, noticing how much harder its engine worked against the current once it turned-

We went on a scenic drive into Illinois (to give little ones a nap and so my kids and Brian could say they've been to Illinois, although we all know that doesn't really count), and then came back into St. Louis from the east-

A lovely tower on our drive through the city-

We picked up well-known and highly regarded Pappy's for dinner. Now, I have never been a lover of BBQ, but man, this place blew me away. It was sooooooo good. A memorable dinner for sure-

We paired our Pappy's with a Fitz's soda fest, a St. Louis soda company. I can go months without having soda, and more than made up for it that night. The black cherry was my fave.