A Week without the Girls

Saturday Chris drove the girls to Joplin, MO and came back to Dallas all in one day!  Since I had in-service and weird hours all week, I worked it out with my mom that they stay with her all week.  It was a blessing, because there were a few days I wasn't home until 8:30 at night!  This is the first summer ever I have not been to StL, and that hurts my heart so much!  I'm glad the girls could go though.  They had a blast hanging out with Aunt Colleen and Shannon, Uncle Ryan, Baby Brendan, and of course the grandparents.  Uncle Craig was even in StL for a night or 2 for business so they got to see him too.  And maybe best of all, Gianna and Sophia got to reunite twice, thanks to my mom coordinating with Rebecca.  Then, after a week, I drove back to Joplin to pick the girls up.  It was wonderful to see them!

Aunt Colleen and Rebecca's baby, Mary

Love everything in this pic!

Aunt Colleen took the girls to the Magic House!

We found a park in Joplin.  Glad to see Ry!

WE stopped on the way home near Lake Eufala- prettiest place in OK if you ask me!

 The next day (Sunday) we hit the ground running- taking the girls to the park with the dog.  This is their latest trick- DarDar running next to G on her bike, while Elia tries to catch up.

This was literally seconds before Daria took off across the street and almost got hit by a car, 

just so she could say hello to another dog across the street.

Then we had a back to school mass and came home to get ready for the first day!

StL Weekend Surprise

All of the sisters COMPLETELY surprised my mom this weekend for her birthday.  Megan and I flew up to St. Louis.  She left the boys at home and brought sweet baby Anna.

On Saturday, we had brunch at Aunt Shanny's, and even did a craft. 

A Valentine Wreath

Then we went and saw Les Mis and out to dinner. 

It was wonderful, and the first weekend in a while I have been away from the girls in a while.  It was good to kiss their sweet faces when I got home.  Lovely Weekend.

St. Louis: A visit with the McBrides

I'm so glad we were able to meet up with Rebecca this visit!  She texted me a few days before to tell me that little X had croup so it was up in the air whether or not we would be able to see them.  But he turned a corner pretty quickly, so we were able to playdate the day before we left.  It was so great to catch up with her!

Watching a show before lunch.

Playing dress up, a Sophia- Gianna favorite!

Rebecca is just a week and a half away from baby #4.  Her new house in St. Louis is perfect for them.  We will be back to visit soon!

St. Louis Trip Photo Dump

My mom stayed in AtL for a few days and then we drove back to StL on Wednesday.  We stopped at Patty's, a restaurant in Kentucky that we always stopped in growing up after family reunions.  I felt like it was a right of passage for my girls to be there and eat!  It is very old time, they serve drinks in mason jars, have the most wonderful fried pickles and strawberry butter, and their bread is baked in flower pots!

We were only in StL for 72 hours, but we packed it in with a visit to the zoo, play time with Baby B, and lots of quality family time!

G said the bread grew out of the flower pot!

The girls helping Grandma make hamburgers.

Tummy time for baby Brendan

Photo-op at the zoo!

New Sea Lion exhibit that Uncle Tom's firm helped build!

This orangutan (sp?) got so close to Elia!  Their faces are so weird looking!

Bobby, the ever patient and fun loving Uncle, teaching G to pump gas. 
She held her nose the while time!

St. Louis: Grants Farm

Thursday Aunt Shanny and I took the kids to Grants Farm.  The first time I took Chris here, he was confused.  A petting zoo, and then 2 free beers at the end?  I guess growing up in the Lou I never questioned it but either way it is so fun.  We took Gianna there right before she turned 1, so we were long overdue!

Our future vet.  She was very methodical about feeding the goats.  She would go around to each little guy and give him a sip and then move on.  Very, very fair.

After 2 bottles we got on the carousel.  Always picture worthy.

Then we went for another bottle.  This little guy somehow escaped from the pen and was pawing at Elia.  Oh, and do you like the 80s sweater?  It was pretty cool in StL and since I didnt bring any warm clothes my mom pulled this out of the closet.  She actually rocked the sweater pretty well!

And a sno cone to finish off the day.

St. Louis: Hanging with the Family

Right before we left.  I hid away some of theirbday presents, plus new packs of crayons etc. for the car ride. 
They were so excited to get in the car.  However, they weren't so excited by the 5th hour.  Or the 9th.

We got in late Friday night so this is the first time they hung out with the cousins-
helping grandpa make banana split pancakes!

Hello Kitty Bingo, of course.

Blanket fort.

Colin taught G how to make rainbows.  

Sweet Baby Anna!
 I was totally reminded of Elia, as she wore a lot of her old
clothes and has the same coloring and cute chubby cheeks!

Ryan graduated from SLUH!  Looking good there Ry.

Deep conversation while they took Elmo out.

Grandpa reading

Filling the bird feeder

Happy Birthday Ice Cream at Oberweiss

Always always helping!  This was right before G accidentally swung
the hose right overElia's head and got water all over Elia!

St. Louis: My 30th Birthday

I celebrated my 30th year of life with my St. Louis Family, and it was so much fun. We rented a 12 passenger van and headed to Fast Eddies for the night. All my sisters were there and a few high school friends. No kids. It was AWESOME!

All the sisters in front of the van.

My HS BFF

The 30 year old twinnies!

More StL Pictures

Ry is so grown up!

Look at sweetie Brendan's eyes all open!

Meeting Baby Brendan

Gianna and I took a whilrwind 30 hour trip to St. Louis over the weekend. 

My travel buddy

Reading the emergency procedures

Gianna stayed with Grandma the whole time, and I spent my time at Shannon's, loving on the new baby.  He sure is cute!

My mom had us all over to dinner so I got to see Colleen and Bobby, and Ryan too.  More pics to come- these are the ones on my camera and I am having trouble loading the ones form Shan's phone.