The Last Few Days

Well hello there!

I thought I'd share about our last couple of days. Last week, my sister, Jennifer had to work more than usual. So she asked if I'd take Emma and Joe to the zoo on Thursday. I said sure. I know we just went to the zoo in St. Louis, but we really didn't see a ton of animals. So this was fun. I always think I'm going to have more fun at the zoo than I do for some reason. I wish they could make it so that there were more of the big animals doing stuff. It isn't really too fun to watch a lion sleep. I guess it is still cool to see them. But sure would be better if they'd come up to you and look at you. Don't you think? But like I said, it was pretty fun anyway.

No, my nephew is NOT Justin Bieber.



You knew this next one was coming. Love me the giraffes. I'm already thinking about what the next baby's animal will be. Girl=zebra. Boy=elephant maybe?? And no, I'm not pregnant. Just always thinking about what I'm going to get someday. I always did that before I had Mary too.




















Then yesterday, my girlfriend, Annabel had another shower. I have never heard of anyone having this many parties thrown for her. My goodness. She has already had one shower before this one(it was a kitchen shower) and an engagement party. She will still have yet another (couples) shower and a bachelorette party. Crazy no?

Anyway, yesterday's shower was a "High Tea". But I think actually it was more like an afternoon tea because I think "High Tea" means dinner and it wasn't a dinner like I was expecting. But what do I know? This was a lingerie shower this time.

Anyway, I was talking to my MIL last week and she asked if I was wearing a hat and gloves to the tea. I was like . . . "Um . . . No???". Then I started worrying that I'd be like the only one there without a hat. After searching briefly, and realizing no one would have a hat I could borrow and not wanting to spend $300, I gave up the idea of wearing a hat. Then Friday morning I saw a plain white hat at Target and wondered if I could make one. So . . . Friday night I made one.



I think I liked it overall. But I still felt a little silly wearing a hat. And there ended up being only 4 of us wearing hats. Go figure right? But it was still fun.
I just hope I didn't embarrass the family as the Sullins' say. Here are a few pics from the shower.

A few of us.


Annabel and her sister.


I had to throw this in for my MIL, Ellen. Ellen, you know Diane from your sewing studio? I remembered after seeing this gift that she handmade for Annabel that you two had sewn together. I remembered that by looking at her work. Isn't that funny? Isn't it stunning??? She was one of the co-hosts.


A few silly ones of Annabel and Me.




Reminiscing about The Will Rogers Follies


And here a just a few pics from tonight of cute Mary cleaning.

She moves it like a vacuum. : )


Trying to figure out how to hold the broom AND the dustpan


Love this girl. Cutie.


Super cutie.

Trip to visit Beckie

Mary and I are back! We had such a wonderful time. Seriously. I think I really needed it. I was in a bit of a funk. So it was theraputic for me.

Honestly, everything went so well. And the only drama we seemed to ever have was who got to sit next to Mary. Her cousins just doted on her and she was in heaven.

Beckie was such a good hostess that I worried a bit that I didn't feel that familiar restlessness to get back home. We were a great team. She'd cook the meals and I'd clean up. And we had so much fun talking and watching our kidlets.

Mary says, "Beck", and "Ee-ve" (Eve), and MaTT. She has a little more trouble with saying "Sterling" and "Sheri" but she did okay on those too. Mary points to many things now and says "Ee-ve". And speaking of those little munchkins, oh how I've missed them! Eve and Sterling are essentially the same - just a little taller. But Sheri has really grown. She talks now. She still has that quiet disposition, but she has a little mischievous twinkle in her eyes and smile. Oh she is just delicious! She has gotten more beautiful too. Of course she was adorable before. But her eyes now have almost an exotic look (Hugh T Murray eyes maybe?) and her hair is longer now.

Matt was traveling and so we didn't see him until Friday night. But here is a quick run down of what we did . . .

Tuesday (of last week) - we flew in and got settled and then went to Beckie's community farm. Upon arrival to the farm we could here the hum of the cicadas - which apparently come every 14 years??? Is that right Beckie? Mary wasn't the least scared to hold one.

"Mommy, why is it hissing at me?"


Cute boy.


SheriAnna


Taking turns pushing Mary



Kidlets



Wednesday - we went to the St. Louis Zoo. Unfortunately we started out the day with Mary having some major allergic reaction to something. She then started rubbing her eyes and nose and face and got sunscreen in her eyes. Poor baby. She was just miserable. But after we visited first aid, they did a saline rinse on her eye and then the eyes cleared up a bit and we were able to enjoy the rest of the day. Didn't really all clear up though until I got some Children's Zyrtec - which of course they didn't carry at the zoo. We did enjoy seeing flamingoes, bears, penguins, a petting zoo with goats, and going on the carousel and playing in the spray fountains.


The allergic reaction started in the car on the way to the zoo . . . as bad as this pic looks, it was actually worse. She also had bright red blotchy patches on the left side of her face and forehead.


Walking in with cousin Eve.




At First Aid.


Finally. A smile.




Still tearing though


Poor baby. Don't you just feel sorry for her?


I hope Mary gets a sister someday.


Cuties. Look at how adorable Beckie's kids look in this pic?


"Why, Hello There Goat!"


Cute pic of Ster"little"



Love my baby.


"Momma, I wanna sit here now. Move."


I couldn't resist letting Mary play in the fountains. It was so hot and she had had such a rough morning, I thought, "Who cares? I'll take off her wet pants when we get to the car." This was the last thing we did before leaving the zoo.




Thursday - we went back to the zoo. It took almost an hour each day to get there. That along with having to spend so much time on Mary the day before and the fact that the place was huge - we wanted to see more. We still didn't see everything and could've spent at least one more day there. On this day we got to see the insectarium, the sting(less)rays (Ariel, Sebastion, and Flounder were there too), gorillas, tigers, and a train ride.

Zoo. Take Two. Mary looking so cute in her pigtails on the way to zoo.

Meeting the Little Mermaid and Friends

Stingrays! Mary was just happy to get her hands wet I think.



Pretty cool creatures.

Time for lunch! Sorry. I just thought Mary looked cute here. And yes, she is eating a peep.

Whilst waiting in line for the train, lookie what Mary found (her favorite new toys - brooms and vaccuums)?! BTW, she must have gotten Beckie's broom out of the pantry room 50 times a day. Also, after we had to move forward in line and put the broom back, that was the one temper tantrum of the trip. Not too bad considering she wasn't getting proper naps.

Beautiful Beckie


Is that Eve with Mary again? I'm noticing a pattern here. Isn't Eve so beautiful too?


Entering the insectarium . . .



Before leaving the zoo, there is time to throw pennies in the pond.


Dropping her penny carefully.

Friday - we decided to try to go swimming later in the day when the pool opened, so we had a fun relaxing morning playing in Beckie's backyard with the bunnies and frogs, looking at Beckie's garden, just hanging out. The clouds started coming in though right when it was time to leave for the pool so we decided to go get ice cream at McDonalds instead and let the kids play at the play place. We wanted to make sure they got better naps on this day too because Eve had a dress rehearsal for her dance recital that night. So we did that in the evening (most of us only stayed for half of it).

Frog.

Lookin' like GrammE again.
Stunning Sheri.


Lovin' the little sandbox.

Skinny Beckie.

Beckie and kids by the garden. Beckie lives in a more rural area. Her house backs up to a farm. Isn't it pretty?

I really love it when businesses cater to kids. It's brilliant. Don't Beckie's kids look so cute here?

At Eve's Rehearsal

Joining in the dancing!

Watching intently.

Also stunning.

Seriously.



Saturday - we had a relaxing morning again and then went out on Matt's new boat on the good ol' Mississippi River. I was a bit nervous about that, but it turned out being so fun. So I was really glad we did it.
Boating with my baby.


Happy couple.


Sheri looking cute again.


Okay. I admit it. She's one of my favorites.


Taking it all in.


Loving it.


Our babies fell asleep.



This might be my favorite picture of the whole trip. : )


Sunday - we went to church and more bunny time and that evening we went a concert in the park. It was a community band that played a lot of old favorites. The fireflies were out and the kids brought along two of the bunnies to play with. It was fun and I loved that the evening ended with our National anthem.

The other babies.





This one was my favorite. I considered taking it home. Jeff did not. : ) I'm glad now we didn't.


Sure is cute though.



Beckie holding the fat daddy rabbit. Beckie always was the animal lover of the Murray's. There ain't much hope for the rest of us though.


Walking to the park. Mary is so bow-legged. : )


I love this pic of Sheri holding the bunny with her skirt caught up.


We've come a long way baby!


Sweet eskimo kisses.


Growing up so fast.


So happy together.

My Sweet Mary Pie.


Monday - we had promised the kids we would try to go swimming. So we went to the pool. It was really fun, but we couldn't stay as long as we wanted because I needed Mary to try to nap before flying that evening.

Fun way to spend the last day.


Mary and Momma


Nothing like swimming to bring on the need for a snack right?

So that is about it! We had a nice time and came home to Jeff who had done several house projects for me (weeding the rocks, organizing, and a new dryer)!!!!! It was wonderful that he did those things and wonderful to be a complete family again.

Thanks again Beckie and Matt and kids!!!! We love you and can't wait to see you again in July!