St. Louis

This weekend we were fortunate enough to get some great Cardinals vs. Angles tickets from Schreiber, so we decided to make a weekend out of it. On Friday we loaded up the kids and drove 3 1/2 hours east.

When we got there our hotel was only about 5 minutes from the temple so we decided to go check it out. It was absolutely beautiful. The grounds were gorgeous, and they had these amazing little flowers that were orange, yellow, and pink all on one little stem. They are my new favorites and I have to figure out what they are!

It is amazing the spirit you can feel just by being there. It has been a while since we have been able to go to the temple, this is the nearest one and we don't quite know anyone well enough to leave them with our kids all day.

After we checked into our hotel we headed to the game. All Pierce has been talking about for the past week was, "baseball". He was so excited to get there. He is such a BOY! Derek took Allee to try to get a ball from batting practice and she was so close! The kids to her left and right got balls, so when they came back to our seats she was not happy. After the promise of some cotton candy she perked right up. We had some tasty hot dogs and some amazing garlic Parmesan fries and settled in for the game. The Cardinals won, which is always fun when the home team wins. Allee got her promised cotton candy and Pierce picked out a blue hat. It was a great evening.

The next morning we woke up and took a trip to the St. Louis Zoo. It is an amazing zoo and the best part is admission is free! There is so much to do and see. Allee's favorite animals were the elephants, and they were so close! Pierce loved the monkeys. You can see how they settled in next to the glass and he kept telling them about his blue hat. He LOVED them. It was such a hot day, around 91 degrees with 90% humidity so we all enjoyed the train ride. The only down side to the zoo is that in order to park for free you have to walk a bit. We didn't mind since we had brought two strollers and both kids fell asleep on the walk back to the car. I love seeing the kids light up at the animals and something about the zoo makes me feel like a kid too.

The last thing we did before heading home was we stopped at Gateway Arch. I was so excited to go up in the arch, but by the time we made it there the tickets had sold out for the day. Note to self and anyone going there, book online! We did enjoy seeing the mighty Mississippi and the arch is absolutely beautiful. It is SO tall. Next time we are definitely going inside.

Before heading home we stopped and ate at The Cheesecake Factory, the best dessert I have had in ages! When we were leaving we passed Tori Hunter, a player for the Angels. Derek was so excited.

The kids were exhausted and we were as well, so we headed home. The kids watching Curious George and Derek listening to his Celtics on the radio. I took them all in and enjoyed the wonderful family I have.
It was a wonderful trip and just the getaway we needed. It is so fun to take the kids new places and we feel very blessed to be able to do all these fun things.

5K

I never thought it was possible. In fact if you would have told me a few months ago that I would even want to run a 5K I would have told you that you were crazy. But that is exactly what I did.
Some girls in my ward were talking about running it, and I thought it sounded pretty easy and they convinced me to run it. I came home and told Derek my plan and he thought I was crazy. The 5K was in two weeks, and I absolutely HATE to run. I didn't train except for running a couple of miles a few days before the race. I didn't want to be fast by any means, I just thought it would be a huge accomplishment for me to do it. A few prominent men in my life, (Derek and my Uncle Matt) doubted my mad running skills, and that fueled me even more.
It was SO much fun. It was a freezing cold morning, but the miles went by quickly, in fact I was surprised when I hit the one mile mark. I will definitely do it again. The feeling of me actually accomplishing it was exhilarating. I was not fast, in fact it took me 35 minutes, but that wasn't the point. I did it, and it has been a long time since I have been able to accomplish something myself that didn't have anything to do with Derek or the kids.
So the moral of the story, this girl that HATES to run did a 5K, and loved every minute.

Look Mom, 2 Wheels

Last Wednesday Allee and her best friend Mikiah decided they wanted to learn how to ride their bikes without training wheels. The girls were outside playing while I was cleaning up dinner and when I took Pierce outside Allee had convinced Mikiah's dad to take off her training wheels. Derek was on his way to Young Men's and I figured she would attempt to ride up and down the street once or twice and then we could wait for when Derek could help her. I was wrong!

I held onto her seat for a few minutes and after going up the street twice, she was a pro! Mikiah's family went in for dinner, and since she ate with us that night (I think these two eat dinner together four of five nights during the week!) she asked if I would help her. It took her a couple more times up and down the road, and then they were off!

These two may as well be twins. They love to dress the same, and after Kiah gets done with school she will come over and ask me to do her hair to match Allee's. The other night we went to ice cream and we were asked if they were twins. They are so silly, and the perfect match for each other.

Now these two little blondies are all over the neighborhood. They have no fear! They ride all over lawns, up and down driveways and hills, and it has only been a week!

I guess Allee was ready for 2 wheels.

Derek's 32nd

For Derek's birthday his Mom and sister Maleese came out to spend the day with him. The kids had a great time seeing family.

This year his birthday landed on a Sunday, so instead of having his FAVORITE meal (Pizza Hut) he had to settle for something I make. He chose Costa Vida Pork which is still quite yummy. The kids gave Derek a new skin for his IPOD and some new headphones. He got some shorts and USU shorts from his mom, and I gave him some docking speakers.

To top it all off he had his favorite cake.

We are blessed to have this wonderful man in our lives and love him more than he will ever know.

Easter Best

I have been so behind this year with taking the kids pictures in their Easter clothes. It really messed me up with conference that same weekend.

Miss. Allee

Piercer

Derek insisted that they didn't match this year, and I gave in, but I make no such promises for the future!

Since moving to Missouri it is amazing what little friends they have become. I never thought that with such an age difference that they would play together so well. I am still telling Allee to put Pierce down quite a bit, but he would do anything to play with her.

Yesterday I went into Pierce's room and found that they were both in his crib and had made a tent over the top. As I walked in they were both stifling giggles. It is one of those moments where I just took a step back and smiled, no words can describe the happy warm heart I felt in that moment. THIS is what my life is about and THIS is what I treasure.