Cheers to 6 years

After our fun apple picking adventure Eric and I hit the rode for Chicago Saturday morning.  Actually our first stop was Mary's house to drop Elle off for a weekend of fun.  She rotated between Mary's house and my mom and dad's over the weekend.

Our first stop in Chicago was IKEA, of course!  I love IKEA, I could spend all day there...Eric doesn't share the love.  He was a trooper and shopped with me, we left with a new bed for Elle's big girl room, a step stool so she could help in the kitchen, little side table, chalkboard easel for Elle for Christmas and some Christmas decorations.  Successful shopping trip...for Elle at least!

After Ikea we checked into our hotel downtown then headed out for dinner.  Cheers with beers and root beers. :)

When we were walking back to our hotel from dinner a group stopped us and asked if we wanted to come into the church and light a candle.  I had been suspicious of the church being the one in My Best Friends Wedding so I was up for it...and I also wanted to say a prayer...it wasn't all about the movie set. Honest.  I'm still not 100% sure if it was the church from the movie but I'm thinking it was, wish I would have taken a picture.

The next morning we walked to breakfast where Eric may of had his most favorite breakfast of his life.  Actually it was the meal I ordered (Santa Fe Fritata) but he was obsessed and talked about it the rest of the trip.  We had lunch reservations at RPM, I have been wanting to try this restaurant on our last couple trips to Chicago.  It's the restaurant owned by Giuliani & Bill Rancic.  The pasta I ordered came with a raw egg on top and a little man that personally sliced and diced it to shreds right in front of me.  We were dying. 

I always say this little bbaby in my belly is going to be a mini Eric Russell and even the foods I'm craving are some of Eric's favorites.  Like spaghetti, I hate spaghetti but ended up switching plates with Eric because his meal looked and smelled so yummy.  There is a mini Italian baby making all food choices for me these days.

After lunch I hit up Michigan Ave for some shopping (after walking a million miles in the wrong direction, my poor prego feet were awarded with new boots :) and Eric hit up a liquor store to stock up on some of his favorite beers that aren't sold in St. Louis.

I had started reading Gone Girl on our drive to Chicago in the car and was determined to finish it so we could see the movie while away.  I don't think Eric and I had been to a movie together since before Elle was born.  We had tickets to a dine in theatre so we planned on eating dinner there.  On our walk back to the hotel before the movie we decided to pop in M Burger and share a snack since we were starving.  Our snack turned into sharing a bacon cheeseburger, fries and we each got an ice cream.  Mine was this delightful peanut butter crunch dip cone.  I've been dreaming about M Burger ever since...again the mini Eric Russell I'm growing, I would normally never order a cheeseburger...ever!

Monday morning we got up early and hit the road, we were both excited to see Elle...who probably wishes we would go out of town more often, she was having the time of her life with her MiMi and MawMaw and PawPaw.  She got to go to my cousin Cordie's baby shower, hang with her best buds Henry & Charlie and go to the Pumpkin Patch where she rode a pony.  She's a very lucky little lady...and so am I for having a husband take the time to plan something special for our anniversary.  Now if I could just get him to drive the 5 hours to M Burger because I'm having a craving. :)

Apple Picking

One chilly Friday morning in early October we decided to take Elle apple picking.  Eric and I were both off work since our anniversary was that weekend.  We were actually supposed to be boarding an early morning flight to Nantucket but plans changed, flights filled up, so late late late Thursday night we scratched that idea and decided Eckerts for apple picking was the next best thing. :)  Actually we decided Chicago was but didn't plan to leave until Saturday morning.  Which gave us a fun family day out with Elle Belle!

 

We took the Ferry to Illinois and made a stop at a restaurant on the water for lunch.  As soon as I opened the door to get her out of her car seat she she said "apples?", she couldn't wait to start picking.  At lunch Elle was fascinated by a bird that was flying around inside the restaurant, girl couldn't focus on anything else.

 

 

I had never been to Eckerts or apple picking, since it was a Friday morning we pretty much had the place to ourselves.  We started with a hay ride to the apple trees.

Once we got there all I could picture was the Wizard of Oz and the trees slapping our hands for picking their apples...the weird places my mind travels.

 

 

Elle absolutely loved it!  She was great at picking the low ones and sampling the goods.  I don't know if it was just the excitement of picking your own apples but they were delicious.

After we filled two bags we went to the little country store to pay, Eric and I were both on an apple high so we also left with Apple Cider, Apple Butter, Pumpkin Butter and a new scarf (I was cold :).

They had a cute little area with rides and some animals (chickens, pony's, etc.) but the wind was blowing so hard and it started raining (which again made me think of the Wizard of Oz, this time the tornado scene) so we made a mad dash to the car.

Elle had such a fun day, I want to make sure a trip to Eckerts lands on our to do list every fall.

MIZ

This September we took Elle to her first Mizzou game.  Eric has been showing her videos of Truman Tiger so Elle was pretty excited to go see him.

Eric found us amazing seats that came with a parking pass in one of the tailgate lots.  Our set up was quite tame compared to everyone else.  We had a blanket, tiny grill and some chips and cheddar turkey sausages.  It was so neat seeing the pro tailgaters in action, flags flying, TVs set up, huge spreads of food.  I'm pretty sure this is Eric's dream for our family.

 

 

It was a pretty hot Saturday so it was perfect that we had club seats so we could also go inside and sit in the a/c for a bit.  Elle enjoyed a nap inside at one point and Eric enjoyed a beer.  These seats are the only area in the stadium where alcohol is served so Eric was pretty pumped.  I told Eric this is the only way I'm going to be able to come to Mizzou games now and he quickly let me know we will most likely never be in these seats again.  He went all out for Elle's first game.

 

 

We received a lot of compliments on our adorable sleeping cheerleader :)

 

Elle was able to spot Truman on the field a few times but never got to meet him.  After the game we were walking back to the car and she noticed all the tiger tails, we told her Truman was taking a nap in people's trunks so she loved going up to pet all the tiger tails.  Eric learned that our car needs a tail of it's own and I learned that having Elle with us helps soften the blow of a Mizzou loss for Eric.

September 2014

In our house Fall starts September 1st.  Which means decorations go up, fall candles are burning and candy corn is being enjoyed (by me, Eric hates it!).

We didn't have a super crazy September.  We celebrated Will's 25th birthday (which I have no pictures of) and we found out we are having a baby BOY!  High five if your excited to meet baby brother!

We had Henry over one day to spend the night while Mary and Nick were at a wedding.  He loves coming over and playing with the "puters" (Elle's toy laptops) and loves putting on this tutu and any headband he can get his hands on. 

 

Wrestling with Uncle E

 

I love this face.  Look at that little smirk, he is about to do something crazy...

 

he flashed me...that was the crazy thing.

 

We celebrated Auggie's 1st birthday.  Baum was sweet and found Elle a balloon to tie on her wrist.  The kiddos were crazy this day.  Elle was a cupcake monster.  Eric had to leave the party early to go to work which left Mary and I with the 3 babes.  Our ride home was interesting!

 

 

 

A bad cold ran through our family in September.  I was the first to get it in our house and it knocked me out!  Daddy dressed Elle this day while I was sick in bed...that's a pj shirt. 

 



Elle loves Vito and Hermann but is still pretty strict with them. I LOVE hearing her yell at them when they are outside ("puppy dog no!" "in the grass" "inside puppy dog!")

When Elle takes baths (always in our big tub) she lays on her stomach and says she's swimming.

Eric and Elle went to a Cardinal game one afternoon and they stopped by my office on their way to say hi.  She was so shy with all my coworkers but I loved seeing this little babe in the middle of my day!

Trying on her new fall boots

Up to no good I'm sure...

Soaking up this amazing Fall weather