After T-day

While some went to Kansas City's Union Station to see the train exhibit (click here for our 2008 visit), several of us stayed to get a Taco Bar ready at Twenter's Casa.

Kyle's parents came to join us for lunch. Pat apparently didn't get the memo that I take photos while people eat. My daughters, on the other hand. . . .
After lunch some of the kids played outside.
Some took naps and some played Wii.
Brett achieved Pro Bowling status bowling 296. His Uncle Jason said he can't touch him.
After some naps, we celebrated Anna's birthday a little early with cupcakes, pumpkin gooey butter, chocolate croissant bread pudding. . . .
Cherry pie and TCBY brought by the Elder Twenters.
Afterwards, the birthday girl took a bath while
Others went through toy catalogs. . .


Cutting and pasting what they want for Christmas.

Then, Anna opened up some birthday gifts. . . .
Watching Anna's excitement with her baby made us all giggle. . . but when she started saying "Baby" in her special baby voice. . . .priceless.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving, the past few years has been in Kansas City with the Lewis Family as hosts. Above are Jason and Todd frying two turkeys---looks very methodical!
But, of course, what's a male-bonding cook out without a little beer?
Eli, Louie and Roman enjoying some of their own male-bonding with Chex Mix.
Meanwhile, the ladies were. . . .bonding and fixing goodies inside.
We did manage a little play time---some with Thomas and some with iPads!

At last the food was ready and we could feast. Gregg, Todd's dad was our special guest.
After dinner, the kids decorated some cookies to look like turkeys.

M---m, that looks good Davis!

Anna had a little dessert with her mom Leah and Aunt Reebs.
That evening, we played a little game of chance. . .my brother was the big winner. Nothing says, "Thanks" like a pot full of money. But, the best was everyone working together to create wonderful memories.

Kansas City Before Thanksgiving

Shortly after arriving in Kansas City, we picked the kids up from school. Libby came out in JUST tights, t-shirt, boots and jacket. Her teacher explained, "She didn't have an accident or anything, she got hot and took her dress off."
We later talked her into putting the dress back on so we could go out to eat. I asked Davis, "When you saw Libby at the morning assembly, did she have her dress on?" Davis: "No, and I was pretty surprised."
We went out to Waldo Pizza for dinner where we tried the "Pat and Connie Special". Brett was the star having participated in limbo at the school assembly and being the opening speaker at mass the next day.
St. Elizabeth's was beautifully decorated for Thanksgiving. Brett's opening speech had a lot of "th" sounds which he has been working on. He did a great job. . .Davis said, "I thought at the end he was going to say, 'I said my "th"!'" But, Brett did a fine job and didn't stray from his script.
Doesn't he look handsome and poised!
Miss Libby colored a page for me and wrote (with help): "Grandma, I love you. She is my friend."
Davis was busy crossing off the days until Dad gets home. . .
And, helping me get ready for Thanksgiving by crumbling the cornbread, putting all of the ingredients in, stirring, adding herbs. And, Uncle Jim gave the stuffing high praise the next day!

St. Louis Historic Hotels Part II

We had lunch at the Coronado Hotel on Lindell which was designed by Preston J. Bradshaw who also designed the Chase Park Plaza and the Mayfair Hotel which we also visited.

The company of St. Mark friends made lunch even more special.
Although it is no longer a hotel but apartments for students at St. Louis University (studio starts at $999 a month), the ballroom is used for weddings and other functions.
This fireplace had been in a wall which probably preserved it during the time the hotel was abandoned and used by the homeless. Brides often have their photos taken by this fireplace where some of their grandparents had their bridal photos also made.
The Ballroom is magnificent with its lights in the original floor.
We learned that the ballroom was built for a reception for Charles Lindbergh. The lights were in the floor to make the ladies' dresses shimmer when they danced in the 1920's. This room was a disco in the 1960's with a wooden floor placed on top. During the 1990's some of the roof had caved in damaging the wooden floor which had protected the unique floor.

Our next stop was the Drury Plaza which had been the fur exchange and a hat factory so technically not a historic hotel, but rather a hotel in a historic building. Our tour guide told us the Drurys walked by as the wrecking ball was tearing part of this down. They thought it was a shame to lose such a historic structure, so they bought it the next day.
One wall of the lobby has sculptures of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

The Statler Hotel is now part of the Renaissance Hotel which has been beautifully restored. This hotel was the site of the first air conditioning and the "gentleman's bar" below. . .

Was the site of the first woman to publicly light a cigarette (a suffragette). I loved the crystal light fixture above. The "gentleman's bar" is very modern and welcomes all genders today, but no one can smoke there.
The ballroom has Wedgwood china panels throughout the ceiling.
The Mayfair Hotel (home of the yummy Mayfair salad dressing and the Prosperity sandwich) is undergoing renovations so we didn't see too much of it.
Apparently all of the downtown hotels had a German-themed restaurant including the Mayfair.

Another Drury Hotel renovation is next door to Union Station. This one was once a residential YMCA frequently visited by railroad executives who enjoyed its exercise rooms and indoor pool.

I'd wanted to visit it ever since I'd heard about its renovations. They have a wonderful (static) collection of model trains through out the lobby, but none of my photos turned out.
Of course the Grand Dame is the Union Station Hotel. Although I've been there often attending dances in 1970's, touring it and attending conferences, I'm always in awe of its grandeur. If you can't stay there, be sure to include it on your visit to see the magnificent Tiffany window representing the three major railroad cities of San Francisco, St. Louis and New York City.

Historic St. Louis Hotels

While on a tour of historic hotels in St. Louis, our first stop was the Seven Gables in Clayton, Mo. The photo above is in the courtyard and was actually a street/alley at one time.
Several of the rooms have doors to the courtyard with "house numbers" which helped give the hotel historic status.
Inside is also a Molly Darcy's Irish Pub where we enjoyed delicious cookies, tea and lemonade.
The photo below is of the "breakfast room". I really felt like I was in Europe rather than in St. Louis County.
We also learned a lot about hotels that are long gone (to read about the fire at one of the hotels click here): Southern Hotel, Planter's Hotel (home of two famous drinks Planter's Punch, Tom Collins ) and the Lindell Hotel which was the largest and grandest hotel west of the Mississippi.