Memorial Day Weekend - Part 2

May 23, 2014 (continued)

After the zoo we went back home, met Shawn, packed and headed to the cabin.  We arrived around 5 PM and Shawn mowed the lawn (with Aidan's help!) and Lauren and I unpacked and got the cabin ready.

 Daddy's helper!

After Shawn was done with the lawn, we were starving so went to the local restaurant, The Junction for dinner.

My boys at The Junction

We were ready for dinner!

The next day we got up in the morning and packed everything up to head out for a day on the water at Mark Twain Lake.  We first stopped at the The Hootenany for breakfast.  Talk about a small town diner!  They were short handed, so the cook was also our server!  Breakfast was good though!

After we ate breakfast, we drove down to the marina.  Once there, we unloaded the car, took everything down to the marina, loaded everything on the boat, and then….the battery didn't work!  Oh the joys of owning a boat!  So we unloaded everything from the boat, loaded it back in the car and headed back to the cabin - packed up the cabin and headed home!

Once we got home, me and the kids decided we weren't going to waste the day, so we went to the neighborhood pool.

New shark raft

Lauren's new raft that she picket out.  The water was so cold, I can't believe they swam as long as they did!

Lauren went to sit in one of the lounger chairs and fell right through!  

And monkey see, monkey do!

Despite the boat fiasco, it was a great weekend!

First Day of Summer Break!

Friday, May 23, 2014

For our first day of summer, the kids decided they wanted to head to the St. Louis Zoo.  

We hadn't been to the zoo in awhile, so we were all super excited! 

This year is the 250th birthday for the city of St. Louis.  As a part of the celebration, there are cakes hidden all over the city.  We found our first cake!

After we renewed our membership, we went to the sea lion exhibit.  We really love this one - there's a tunnel you walk through and the sea lions swim all around you - it is really neat!

The kids saw one of the zookeepers using a penny to get the attentions of the sea lions, so they both asked me for a penny.  They put it up to the glass and the sea lions would follow it.  This one sea lion just loved following Aidan's penny.  It was so cute!

 

We spent a lot of time with the Sea Lions!

A quick drink and snack break.  This is Aidan's first of two Dippin' Dots on the day!

On the carousel!  Lauren thought it was hilarious that the name of her animal was the "Wild Ass." 

It was like freedom to say "ass" all day!

Having fun making pressed pennies!

After we left the zoo, we found two more cakes!

One in Turtle Park - with Aidan's stuffed snake souvenir from the zoo!

And one in Dogtown.  They were excited to find this one because of the Irish theme - 

they knew daddy would like it!

And that was just the first part of our day!  Next post will have the rest of our day!

End of the School Year

Thursday, May 22, 2014

The last day of school!  

How can it be that we have already completed another school year????

It's field day, so no uniforms today!

And one of my favorite things to do is the side-by-side, first vs. last day of school photo.  

It always amazes me how much they've grown.

I didn't think Lauren's would look much different, but she's definitely matured.

I can't even believe how much Aidan's matured this year.  

He looks so much older!

They had a half day and I picked them up.  Waiting at home was an early birthday gift from Mama Judy, Papa Renny, Aunt Alisa and Uncle Dan.

We are all super excited about many upcoming Nevins family b-ball games!

That night one of our friends kids school was having a food truck night, 

so we went up there to check it out.

Lauren and I had Russo's and Aidan and Shawn had BBQ.

Both kids found the snow cone truck!!!

It was a gorgeous night out!

Enjoying her toasted ravioli!

Someone is ready to go home!

Today was a great start to our summer!