Missouri Adventure: 3rd/Last Day :(

The moment you've all been waiting for...or forgotten about. Oops.

**My apologies for the lateness of this post (a month later...) but life just...happens!**

Our last day in Missouri was filled with lots of fun, love, and driving!

We started the morning by heading back to downtown Independence to check out the National Frontier Trail Museum. At first it was an attempt to pass time but it turned out to be a great stop in our journey! We spent about 2-3 hours at this place! The museum is located in what remains of an old flour mill. *More on this in a moment*.

 The museum gives an awesome video presentation and then opens up into an exhibit featuring Lewis and Clark's journey's followed by the fur trade and then summed up with the great pioneer migration westward. There were so many neat artifacts, interactive learning tools, and facts! We really enjoyed the pioneer sections as we had just spent the last 2 days visiting some historic sights inhabited by the Latter Day Saint pioneers.

An original stump used in a blacksmith shop.

He who hates rattlesnakes...

Replica of a Conestoga Wagon that would have been used along the trail.

I LOVE buffalo! #myfavoriteanimal

One of my favorite details in the museum where the diary and journal excerpts from real pioneers. They were both inspiring and sad at the same time. There were so many who set out and did not make it. Or, made it, but lost loved ones along the way. I am always in awe with these entries and always leave with the commitment to keep one of my own. Husbandfriend and I are very adamant about beginning our family history/genealogy. It will be a huge challenge for both of us. Johny is new to the church and therefore has A LOT of work to do for his ancestors. I face the challenge of only having information pertaining to my mother's side of my biological family. Anyway, while walking through we came upon this exhibit...

Husband's mother's maiden name is Morrison. Of course, there is a great chance that there is not any relation here, however, you never know! I took picture of all of the artifacts in hopes of using them for Husband's research. How cool would it be to trace his ancestry back to these early pioneers?!




At the end of the exhibits is this hands on activity center. There are shelves stocked with goods that you may or may not choose to take with you on your journey west. You load the wagon with the essentials and a scale will tell you if your load is "Just Right" or "Overloaded". We did pretty darn good! We only had to remove one item, a sack of beans I think? Anyway, I think we would have dominated the trail!

From here we crossed the street to the beautiful Waggoner Estate. The Waggoner's were the owner's of the aforementioned Flour Mill. They were extremely wealthy being that they had such a prosperous business. The last living Waggoner posterity was a son. He sold the property to the city of Independence with the promise that they would maintain the grounds and home. Which they have. Beautifully. Out tour guide was a young man--somewhere in his 20's--and he knew his history! He gave a fabulous tour and we enjoyed every second (not to mention we were the only ones on property...score!).

The home was absolutely breathtaking with 97% of the original furnishings on display. It was not like other home tours I have been on where you aren't allowed to touch anything without being scolded. They encouraged us to pick things up, test the old vacuum, and tryout the piano! It was simply grand and our pictures don't do it justice.

I think I'll take up residence.

The "ladies" room.

Expulsion from party card. Really. Zoom in and read the details!

The piano is an original piece and is routinely tuned.

Hello, WALK IN ICE BOX.

Yep, right at home.

After the Waggoner Estate we high tailed it over to The "K". Also know as Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals. Husbandfriend and I love baseball (Go D-backs!). When we drove into town one day one we passed the K and made a decision that we HAD to go if they were playing. And they were! They had been on an intense winning streak...I repeat HAD been.

It was a super hot and muggy day. We had great seats but they were super cramped and the dude next to me was sweating pretty profusely. Since we weren't really invested in either team playing we decided to wander around the open air stadium. I am so glad we did! We both purchased Royals shirts (DriFit due to the weather) and wore them happily. Husband did not take off his D-backs hat, of course.

The stadium has all kids of history on display as you make the walk around the park. There is also a FREE full scale Kansas City Baseball museum tucked away behind left field. To escape the heat we decided to check it out. It was cool (in the temperature sense of the word) and awesome!

We had to leave in the 8th inning to head over to the GRAND MOMENT! The one that I keep telling you we made the trip for!!!

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Finally, we were on the road to the Buffalo Lodge. Why? Because two of our sweetest friends were getting married in just a couple hours! Matt and Cassie have a beautiful story that you can read over at her part of the web, Sage the Blog, and I highly recommend you do! Matt was the photographer at our wedding, as well as the one that kept us in line the days leading up to"the big day". Cassie wasn't there because that lucky girl was gallivanting across Scotland and beyond! She was, however, at my Bachlorette Party and I am SO glad. She stayed by my side the entire time and we had a blast. We are so blessed to have them as friends.

Ok, back to the REASON WHY WE ARE HERE! So we drove about 2 and a half hours to this beautiful wedding venue that was located on a Buffalo Preserve. We had to check out of the hotel in the morning and clearly weren't dressed for the occasion so we made a pit stop at a gas station to change. I used the restroom, husband changed in the parking lot apparently. Don't ask.

I think we were the first of "the guests" to arrive. As we walked over to the venue I spotted the Bridal suite and pictured a beautiful Cassie in there anxiously awaiting her entrance! Matt spotted us and came out with open arms. The excitement for these two became overwhelming! Not only were they getting married but we hadn't seen them in over a year and it was so nice! Matt looked cool and collected but genuinely happy and ready for the day. The location was beautiful and I could see so much of Cassie's creativity in every single detail.

 I resisted the urge to text Cassie...for awhile. But then the excitement and love could no longer be contained and I sent her a text. I am so glad I did because I wasn't able to talk to her in person after the ceremony. (Did I mention that Husband has to work TOMORROW and we are on the last flight out of KC leaving at 9pm?).

We all took our seats, a cue that we were about to begin, and realized that our camera was going to die. Great. We did catch a few pictures though.

The ceremony was warm and heartfelt. Cassie and Matt wrote their own vows and filled them with love, inside jokes, and eternal promises. I couldn't help but watch as they look at each other with such love and devotion throughout the entire ceremony.

Isn't she stunning?! 

After the ceremony the lovebirds took a few minutes of alone time to revel in their wedded bliss, and then it was time for pictures and festivities! Unfortunately for us, it was time to go.We waved goodbye to the ne Mr. and Mrs. and went on our way. Our trip was over.

Family and friends gave us such a hard time about spending the money to make the trip if we would only we able to be at the wedding for 1 hour. We went anyway. And I would do it one hundred time over. Friends are important. I learned that, from Cassie. No matter what happens in life, true friends will always be there and I am so glad we were.

So here is to one month of marriage Matt and Cassie! Thank you for asking us to be there <3.

Always,

Mo