. July 14-17.
This was the quietest that Ashlynn was the whole trip. Should have just let her lay there. But she had to get up early every morning and get ready for competitions. And when she was woken up she was a big ole grouch.
Ashlynn in front of the fountain, which was in front of hotel.
Big thank you for Grandma Von for making another beautiful dress.
Not too happy as you can see. Again woken up early.
We went to Busch Stadium, well outside the gates. They were setting up for a U2 concert. Candace and Ashlynn are standing in from a retired Gibson ball player.We did a lot of walking around the city. If you wanted to go or see something it was better to walk.
Our last night we did drive to a McDonald's and it wasn't in a very good neighbor hood. And when someone would ask us about it we didn't recommend any one go there...
There were fountains all over the city. Like this Olympian runner.
Candace and Ashlynn were standing on the steps of this fountain and they allow you to play at the bottom in the water. Ashlynn was playing in this fountain that came up from the sidewalk.
We all took a trolley ride up to the tops of the Arch. They use to let you walk up by stairs, but they don't have that anymore due to safety reasons.
The trolley car was the shape of an egg, and only five people to a car. It was sort of a scary ride because there weren't any windows, except for the door window and that wasn't very big.
It was 630 feet to the top of the Arch. Took 4 minutes to reach the top and only 3 minutes to get back down.
There were little windows at the top of the Arch, so you could look out.
This is Downtown St. Louis
This is the Mississippi River, and it was filthy dirty.
St. Louis zoo. It was really neat. And it was extremely hot. Just one of the free exhibits you could see in St. Louis. Although you had to pay to park and if you wanted to feed the animals or ride the train you had to pay. I think the flowers were beautiful this one is a Hibiscus plant or something. I just know they were big and pretty
Candace and Ashlynn by the giraffes. Candace thought they were neat to look at. There was a momma and her little one.
The beavers weren't too exciting.
Zebras just stood there, like he was posing for a picture. I love the way their stripes are so even and all the way up the to mane and down to the tail.
This tiger was going around in circles and never did come out into the open.
This bird was called an Egret. I don't know, but it sure was pretty. Long white feathers that looked like snowflakes at the bottom.
The orangutan was under veterinary care. He came out of his cave dragging his blanket behind him. Once he reached the window where everyone could see him, he covered his self up.
The bear kept pacing back and forth on the side of his pen.
Rhino wasn't doing anything exciting.
Elephant was eating, and there were 2 others playing in the pool of water. Ashlynn was all about the elephants. She also wanted to see the sharks, but we didn't go there, cause it would have cost extra. We just told her the shark tank was empty and being cleaned.
The tiger wasn't very active either.
An Ant eater.
Digging or scavenging for ants or bugs.
Well I'm not gonna say we had a good time on this trip, nor am I gonna say it was bad. Let's just say it was adventurous and an experience I wish to never go through again. Every place has some sort of drama and we certainly had our share. The arch on Friday, then on Saturday after the zoo, the girls got into an argument. I was so stressed and upset, I went to get the pageant director for Indiana and asked her to please talk to the girls. Really didn't know what to tell her or if she would be able to calm them down. After awhile I went outside and Tabetha came out, we were sitting on the hotel lawn when alot of the hotel guest were coming out. They had told us that the fire alarms were going off and that there was a fire on the 9th floor. We were staying on the 6th floor. I turned to Tabetha and said "Candace is going to freak". I went back in to get her and she and Ashlynn were already at the bottom of the stairway heading out. The whole south tower of the Millinium was out on the lawn. We didn't get back to our rooms until around midnight.
Our last night we did drive to a McDonald's and it wasn't in a very good neighbor hood. And when someone would ask us about it we didn't recommend any one go there...
There were fountains all over the city. Like this Olympian runner.Candace and Ashlynn were standing on the steps of this fountain and they allow you to play at the bottom in the water. Ashlynn was playing in this fountain that came up from the sidewalk.
We all took a trolley ride up to the tops of the Arch. They use to let you walk up by stairs, but they don't have that anymore due to safety reasons.
The trolley car was the shape of an egg, and only five people to a car. It was sort of a scary ride because there weren't any windows, except for the door window and that wasn't very big.
It was 630 feet to the top of the Arch. Took 4 minutes to reach the top and only 3 minutes to get back down. 
There were little windows at the top of the Arch, so you could look out.This is Downtown St. Louis
This is the Mississippi River, and it was filthy dirty.
St. Louis zoo. It was really neat. And it was extremely hot. Just one of the free exhibits you could see in St. Louis. Although you had to pay to park and if you wanted to feed the animals or ride the train you had to pay. I think the flowers were beautiful this one is a Hibiscus plant or something. I just know they were big and pretty
Candace and Ashlynn by the giraffes. Candace thought they were neat to look at. There was a momma and her little one.
The beavers weren't too exciting.
Zebras just stood there, like he was posing for a picture. I love the way their stripes are so even and all the way up the to mane and down to the tail. 
This tiger was going around in circles and never did come out into the open.
This bird was called an Egret. I don't know, but it sure was pretty. Long white feathers that looked like snowflakes at the bottom.
The orangutan was under veterinary care. He came out of his cave dragging his blanket behind him. Once he reached the window where everyone could see him, he covered his self up.
The bear kept pacing back and forth on the side of his pen.
Rhino wasn't doing anything exciting.Elephant was eating, and there were 2 others playing in the pool of water. Ashlynn was all about the elephants. She also wanted to see the sharks, but we didn't go there, cause it would have cost extra. We just told her the shark tank was empty and being cleaned.
The tiger wasn't very active either.An Ant eater.
Digging or scavenging for ants or bugs.Well I'm not gonna say we had a good time on this trip, nor am I gonna say it was bad. Let's just say it was adventurous and an experience I wish to never go through again. Every place has some sort of drama and we certainly had our share. The arch on Friday, then on Saturday after the zoo, the girls got into an argument. I was so stressed and upset, I went to get the pageant director for Indiana and asked her to please talk to the girls. Really didn't know what to tell her or if she would be able to calm them down. After awhile I went outside and Tabetha came out, we were sitting on the hotel lawn when alot of the hotel guest were coming out. They had told us that the fire alarms were going off and that there was a fire on the 9th floor. We were staying on the 6th floor. I turned to Tabetha and said "Candace is going to freak". I went back in to get her and she and Ashlynn were already at the bottom of the stairway heading out. The whole south tower of the Millinium was out on the lawn. We didn't get back to our rooms until around midnight.
Needless to say there were some sleep girls the next day for the crowning ceremony. I know it was pretty quiet on the way home. I drove and everyone slept. I was just crusing down the road listening to music and singing. Guess you could say I was in my own little world. We made it back home and it was soooo good to sleep in my own bed. My cats even missed me while I was gone. Snuggles was sick and was hissing at everyone. Couldn't even pick her up. The next morning I was wakened by the sound of a meow in my face. That was a sound I dearly loved.
Well until next time...Hope all is well and be safe in your journeys!!!