Weekend Fun

We had a really fun weekend with amazing weather!  With Eric's new work schedule every week is different, this week he worked Friday and Saturday night.  It's definitely a huge adjustment and taking some time to get used to.  Elle and I miss him dearly the weekends he works.  However, this weekend we had three little partners in crime.  Nick happened to be out of town all weekend so we were able to spend lots of time with Mary, Henry and Charlie...or "baby" as Elle always calls him.

On Friday we met up with our friend K-Ro then headed out to dinner.  Henry chose the location, "Chicken-Fil-A" where he can "eat and play".  He needs to do their marketing. :)

On Saturday we rolled in to Elle's gymnastics class a tad late, then headed to the zoo to meet up with the Voss family. We had a really fun day, beautiful weather and despite it being pretty crowded never had to wait in too terrible of a line for anything.

We stopped to have lunch at Lakeside Cafe.  It is comical how long it takes us to do the simplest tasks.  Due to the crowds we immediately grabbed an open table.  Then Mary and Henry stood in line to order their food while Elle, Charlie and I stayed back at the table.  Once they had their food I went up to order for Elle and I.  After we all ate we started the parade to the bathrooms. Since the bathrooms were fairly small with a line we decided it would be easiest to take each babe separately.  I went with Elle first to change her, then Mary and Henry went, then Mary came back and took Charlie and then finally I had to go.  Don't forget each time someone went you had to wait in line.  Our quick lunch probably took around 2 hours.  It's our new normal.

We took advantage of our zoo membership and rode the train and carousel.  I LOVE having that membership, best gift idea ever!!!  Elle slept through 75% of the train ride but she really enjoyed the short bit she was awake for. 

Her animal of choice for the carousel was a little wart hog...odd. She was very serious throughout the ride, it's like she knew she had a very important job of holding on tight. :)

After a nap in the car as we headed back home we stopped at Panteras for dinner which is where we snapped this adorable picture of Henry and Elle on a mechanical horse.  The resemblance to Dumb and Dumber is uncanny.

On Sunday we woke up slowly, we were both totally wiped out from the zoo adventures.  Eric got home from work Sunday morning and cooked Elle and I a big breakfast while we watched Frozen.

Next we made a stop by the park before going grocery shopping (where our bagger said Elle and I look identical and it totally made my day) .  Elle picked me 2 dandelions at the park and one for herself.  This girl knows how to melt my heart.

Once we were back home I filled up Elle's water table.  This was her first time playing with it and she LOVED it!! She would pour water out and exclaim "uh oh!" then blame it on the "pup pup's" "MiMi" "MawMaw" and "PawPaw".  She's really into the blame game lately.

We've got a busy May ahead of us, but all fun things I'm looking forward to!

30

I had such a fun time celebrating my 30th birthday!  To me all birthdays are fun, I have yet to ever dread one.  Presents, German chocolate cake and fun times with family and friends, yes please!  Honestly it is a total mind trip to be out of my 20's, they were fun but I'm so happy and grateful with where my life is now.  Wouldn't switch places with 20 year old me for anything.

Friday night really solidified how out of my 20's I really am.  After Henry's soccer the whole family headed to 2 Shamrocks for dinner and to watch the Blues game.  Mary and I sat down and before we could even order food decided it was too loud and crowded for the babes. #momproblems  So off to Chick-Fil-A we went where the babes could eat and play as they pleased. And it was so. much. fun!

On Saturday Eric left for KC for State Bowling and Elle and I headed to the Meadows for some shopping.  Elle lost her lovey in Old Navy which made for a very depressing ride home.  She cried for "wove wove" the whole way home, thank goodness I have back-up lovey's!

Saturday night Mary organized a fun night out for my birthday.  Mary, Paige and I met a couple of my friends at Painting With A Twist which is a fun place where you bring snacks and drink wine all while painting.  I think we paid more attention to the wine than our painting's but that just made things more fun.

Afterwards we headed to Massa's for more drinks and finally Will came to pick up 3 drunk chicka's.

On Sunday I headed over to Mom and Dad's for my bday celebration and dinner of my choice (Grandma's soup, rolls and German Chocolate cake).  My mom always choose the exact same dinner growing up for her birthday.  She is the Ethyl to my Lucy. :)

I was completely spoiled for my bday! Gift cards, new sandals, chocolate covered Oreo's, candles, new throw, scarf plus tons of other fun things in mama Rita's world famous birthday basket and some gorgeous earrings from my boys that Henry picked out himself.  I treasure those things more than diamonds.

On Monday my work friends spoiled me with yummy food and flowers.  Plus a commercial shoot we had with the Cardinals just so happened to fall on my birthday so I got to spend part of the day at Busch Stadium watching Matt Adams record a commercial for Step Up to Down Syndrome.  Fun day at work!

When I got home I walked in to this love bug excitedly holding a present for "mama".  Eric took Elle to Von Maur and let her pick out a present for me.  She picked some gold Sperry Espadrille shoes.  I love them and I love even more that she picked them!!  Eric said they were in the shoe section and she pointed to them and said "Mama", the girl knows I love gold, sparkly and leopard print!  My present from Eric was hand picked by moi when we were at Ikea in Chicago a few weeks back.

Next we headed to a yummy dinner at BC's Kitchen.  Elle danced and talked on the phone and was just all around perfectly adorable.

I'm such a lucky lucky lady, could not have asked for a better 30th birthday!

Easter!

We had a really fun Easter weekend!  It was so very very hard getting out of bed this morning.  Multiple cups of coffee are being consumed.

We kicked off our Easter weekend by getting together with some friends.  My friend Katie had people over to her parents house for a dartball tournament.  We had Elle with us so we didn't participate in the dartball but stopped by, had a few beers then headed home to put Elle to bed.  Her parents live right up the street from us so it was nice to be home in under a minute once Elle got tired.

On Saturday Elle had gymnastics.  It was an unofficial dad's day in the class, almost every kid was accompanied by their dad.  It was so fun to be able to sit back and watch her she would even come up to the glass and say hi to me. 

After gymnastics we went to breakfast then to see the Easter bunny!  I actually considered not taking her since she saw him the weekend before at the egg hunt but I'm so glad we did!  The whole time we were in line I would point him out and talk about how nice he is and I think she was actually listening. When it was her turn she immediately cried but then clapped along with the photo assistant in charge of getting their attention.  Soon the tears disappeared.  I was shocked!! When I went to pick her up she yelled "BYE!" to the bunny then cried "more" to sit on his lap again.

Saturday night we dyed Easter Eggs.  I found a spill proof egg dying kit (that Eric was somehow able to defy) so Elle would slide the egg in the container and then once they were out and dry she added some stickers to give them some flair.

 

 

 
Elle stayed up until 10:45pm on Saturday (!!!) of course the night I have a million things to do this little lady decided to stay up suuuuper late. :) Once she was finally asleep in her bed I got to work stuffing eggs and trying desperately to catch up on Game of Thrones.

On Sunday morning Elle walked out into the living room and the first thing she noticed was the bunny foot prints.  They kind of scared her at first but then immediately started saying "Yuck!".  She couldn't believe the Easter bunny came in and left a mess. :)

 

 

The Easter bunny filled her basket with Wizard of Oz dolls, temporary tattoos, cookies, candy, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, Frozen, Olivia purse, new book and a water table.

 

She went through her basket and then hunted for eggs on the deck around her new water table.  Eric went back to bed around this time and Elle and I stayed up and had breakfast together and watched Elmo in Grouchland....again.

 

We got this little lady all dressed up and headed to church. 

After church we headed to Eric's parents house for lunch.  Elle had fun playing with her cousin Charlotte and learning colors with Aunt Cathy.  She even talked to her great Grandma on the phone who unfortunately is in the hospital and couldn't join the Easter fun.

Next stop was MawMaw and PawPaw's house!  These two went ALL OUT for Easter...Elle, Henry and Charlie are very lucky babes!  Elle and Henry enjoyed an indoor and outdoor egg hunt.  After dinner we sat outside on the patio and the babes played with chalk, enjoyed the swings, rode in cars, rode their bike, played wiffle ball.  Basically used up every little bit of energy they had.

 

This is Henry resting.  He would run around like a mad man and then sit down with his eyes closed for 10 seconds and said "KayKay, resting".  I absolutely adore this little love bug.

We had such a fun holiday, we are so so blessed!