Lunch With Friends

Friday I went to companion in Clayton with my best friends Stephanie and Dana. Dana is doing her residency in North Carolina (she's going to be a pediatrician) and only makes it home like twice a year! Steffi lives here but is busy being a lawyer and I don't see her enough. So lunch with them on Friday was priceless! A lot of girl talk and some good food. Similar to the old days of slumber parties... but there was no truth or dare this time! I love you girls! Thanks for making the highlight of my week!

Merry Christmas (Belated)

The first three pictures are from the weekend before Christmas. We went to my cousin Kristen's house to bake and decorate cookies with all the kids. Jack escaped the pictures cause all he did was decorate a cookie and then eat it.... it was a lot of fun... and we all ended up with icing everywhere.
Next is a picture of Brynnplaying her Barbie Piano on Christmas Eve. She had been dancing and singing so she was a mess! It was hilarious watching her, mom and my Aunt Neetz sing and dance to Love Shack and Hot Legs.

Then you can see Jerry, Alex, Andy and I in our Christmas Jammies and wearing our Cardinal's stocking caps on Christmas morning.

The last two pictures are from Christmas Day. First Jerry, Alex, Andy and I with our Mizzou pullovers from Nancy, Derek, Brock and Brynn. Last Brynn sitting on my lap.....before she got wound up dancing again!

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my Mom's 50th Birthday! We had a surprise party for her on Friday Night. It was a lot of fun. My mom is truly the greatest! I love you mommy I hope you had fun at your party and that you have a fantastic birthday. Here are a few pics from the party!

Santa

Here are the pictures of Hudson! Isn't he cute?

Visiting with Friends and Family

Jerry with Katherine- she recently got glasses- if you can't tell... they are purple and she is missing one of her top front teeth and the other one she can wiggle with her tongue. She is most definately a first grader!
Jack didn't want me to take his picture at first- he had just woken up from a nap and was eating a hot dog.
Jack kept wanting to play this game where he said "cover me up" and we would cover him up he's crawl around knock of the banket and ask to be covered up again!
Jerry was lifting Katherine up in the air- this is her superman move.
Here I finally got Jack smiling!

We enjoyed a great weekend of visiting with friends and family. Saturday we went to visit my cousins Kristen, her husband John and their darling kiddos Katherine and Jack. They were a hoot! Then we went out to visit with Amber, Matt and Hudson. When we got there Hudson was dressed in a Santa suit and we taught him to say ho ho ho. He tries to say everything and he is just an absoulte riot. He gave Jer and I kisses before he went to bed. Then Amber Matt Jer and I played the 80's version of trvial pursuit.. I was alright with the music questions but the rest were kinda hard! It was a lot of fun though. Ok blogger won't let me upload the pics of Hudson so I'll make another post.

Ice Storm

Thursday night we got hit with a massive winter storm. We had school on Thursday and released this kids at three when it was sleeting really bad. Amazingly enough they all got home safetly to my knowledge. Swim pracice was canceled and Jer and I sat at home and watched tv with all the reports that it was only going to get worse. I was hoping for a snow day from school.. and at 7:30 I got a call we would be caneclled on Friday. That never happens. We woke up in the middle of the night shivering to realize out power was out.... again (after that July storm... we were prepared) We got up in the morning, packed and left for mom and dad's. Before we left I snapped a few pics. The pictures don't really do it justice.... the trees looked so pretty, almost like thay had glitter in them. The last pic is of our neighbors tree split in half. It's Saturday now, still no power..... wish us luck it comes back on soon!

Pea Ridge Tree Farm

This is me with our tree!

Dad and Mom on the wagon with the trees in the background.

The trees on the top of the Navigator!Dad and Jerry trying to get the trees on the top of the navigator. Alex was mad cause he wanted to help!
Jerry cutting down our tree.

So these are not in order but they are all pictures from our trip to Pea Ridge Tree Farm. We went with Mom, Dad, Andy and Alex (nobody else could go this year) to cut down our Christmas trees. It was a lot of fun as usual... but pretty strange that we were just in sweatshirts and it was like 65 degrees! No need for the yummy hot chocolate this year. We picked out our tree pretty quicky and it is up and decorated in our living room. I'll post pics of the decorated tree tomorrow.. as I will be home from school because of all the sleet/ice and snow!

Happy Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving at my Mom and Dad's house. Unfortunately I was having so much fun ( or stirring the gravy and then stuffing my face) that I forgot to get my camera out early enough. By the time I remembered Nancy, Derek, Brock and Brynn had already left. So here are just a few shots..... I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving!

Jerry and I

Alex organized a big Madden Football Tournament for the big boys (himself included)He got knocked out early and was quite upset but he got over it..... Andy ended up winning.

Here is a candid of Mom, Dad, Granny and PaPa and you can see the left over turkey!
Here is Lauren with her Penguin from build a bear... his name is Yadi.

And to start the Christmas Season off right.... Alex (inspired by Buddy Elf from ELF) made his playroom a winter wonderland. I wish you could see just how intricately cut his snowflakes are. The chain all the way to the back says Merry Christmas.

The Girls Trip To Chicago

Last weekend the girls in the fam traveled up to Chicago for the Lights Festival and some shopping on Michigan Avenue. We were sad that Granny, Jeannie, Lauren and Kristen couldn't make it but we seemed to entertain ourselves! Nobody wanted their pictures taken but I did get a few.....
Aunt Juanita is getting her makeover at the smashbox counter. This was after Mom and I had microdermabration treatments and made some large large purchases at Marshall Fields. Mom and I also got makeovers and really loved that makeup. We spent a lot of time in Marshall Fields.. and Jaci and Nancy bought like 4 pairs of shoes each!
This is one of the window displays outside Marshall Fields.

It was a Mary Poppins theme and it was really cute!

Here are our favorite Red Heads (Mom and Nancy) at their Piano Bar. We didn't stay because we didn't like the place, but the name was fun!

Mom is wearing an awesome hat at Bloomingdales!

Jaci is showing off two of her 4 new pairs of shoes... and her jammies!
Santa was at the end of the Lights Parade! The lights made downtown look so pretty!

I gathered all of our purchaes in the middle of the room to see the final dammage.

And look... it all fit in the back of the Pilot with room to spare.... and Mom could even see out!

Happy First Birthday Caden

Happy First Birthday to our little buddy Caden. It seems like just yesterday Elizabeth and Wes told us they were expecting! Time flies! Caden is such a cutie and he was adorable in his little man outfit!

Caden opening presents with his Daddy (Wes)

Caden loved the boxes and tissue paper. He got quite upset when Mom and Dad took them away to open a new gift!

Caden was so dainty with the cake at first- just two fingers and he got it right into his mouth. After a little help from Dad- he got into it a little more. Poor little guy though he got a tummy ache in the middle of the night! Too much icing!

Congrats Todd and Amy

Jerry and I in front of the vault door.

Elizabeth and I

Here are Jerry and Wes in front of the vault.

The Fab Four- Elizabeth, Wes, Jerry and Me
Yesterday Jerry and I went to a wedding for our friend Todd. Our good friends Wes and Elizabeth were also there ( Wes was a groomsman.) I didn't get any pictures of the Bride and Groom... sorry Todd and Amy! We didn't have a very good view at the church.. and it was so dark at the reception. I did get some good shots of the fabulous four! The reception was in the Vault Room at the City Museum... so that is what that circle thing is behind us in some of these pictures.

Happy Halloween... I know it's a little late!

Here I am in my costume... I dressed as Scott Rolen.. my boyfriend! The kids got a huge kick out of it since they know I like Scott and baseball so much! Alex was a lot of help for this costume I didn't have to buy a thing! You can't see too well.... but his spikes have the STL logo on the tongue flap. I also changed the number on the back of them to say 27!

The above two pics show my kiddos at school eating their nachos during their party!

Here we have Pippi Longstocking, Bat Girl and a Fairy!

Here is Alex dressed as the Burger King. He was pretty funny in this costume... and when he took the robe off... he had on this gold skirt..... it was hilarious!

Hope everyone had as much fun as we did on Halloween!