One of the cool things about living in our city is that there’s a seemingly endless list of cool things to do.  In that vein, day one was spent downtown in the “shadow” of the Arch.

We found a lovely patch of shade and the Lord was gracious with the breezes – it was the perfect setting for a picnic.

I have to make a confession.  I was in charge of thinking for outings and such and I worked in a couple of our summer bucket list items. Don’t think of it as manipulative, think of it as imaginative or resourceful!

While we ate we memorized Psalm 119:11, “I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” There were hand motions and a little lesson teaching the meaning of the verse before we ate little Bible cookies (yep, Kitty, I DID IT) (Thanks, Pinterest!).  We hid those little guys away in our tummies. . .

It was getting really warm and the troops were getting restless, so we gathered our things and trooped up the street past children playing in the fountain

and made our way to Citygarden – “An Urban Oasis in Downtown”.

This was my first time going here and I have to say it was super fun.  Little had refused to wear her bathing suit that morning and she certainly regretted it; wet clothes are heavy.  Still, fun was had by ALL.