Taste of Tap

Last week, Anna attended a "Tap and Tumble" camp at the local dance school. On the last day, they had a little performance for us to watch!




This is a video of the basics they practiced.






And this is their routine. Anna had so much fun!

Sorry about the unsteady camerawork. I was holding Andrew and he kept getting really excited and jumping all over whenever Anna would dance.

The Show-Me State

We left BR on the night of July 5 and arrived in St. Louis the next morning, driving overnight. While this mode of travel worked great for Anna and Drew, it was really tough for us. Shaun did most of the driving, so when we arrived at Grandma and Grandpa's house, he slept and we went to the park and went swimming. On Thursday, and each successive day, Daddy biked on different parts of the Katy Trail. In total, he rode about 200 miles (I think). Here is the only picture he took on the trail.



One of the parks down the road from my parents' house has a carousel. This was Anna's favorite thing to do! She was especially excited that she was old enough to go on it by herself. I was too, since it made me incredibly dizzy!



This is a video that Shaun took with his iPhone.





The park also had a playground that the kids enjoyed.



On Thursday evening, Mike and Amy came over for dinner. Anna LOVES her aunt and uncle! Drew just kind of looked at them and poked out his bottom lip. They were going to babysit for us on Saturday night, so we were glad that the kids were able to spend some time getting accustomed to them before then.



Drew LOVES music! He had a wonderful time at my parents' house because there are so many instruments to play. It seems as if music is always blasting on the stereo and it's a lot of fun!






On Friday, my mom and I hosted a bridal luncheon for my friend, Julie. I was a bridesmaid in her wedding over the weekend. We have been friends since we were 12 and she was also one of my bridesmaids. As everyone arrived at noon, Anna and Drew showed off their (ahem) talents.



Shaun took Anna to the Gateway Arch while we ladies were having lunch. You'll just have to take my word for it that this is a picture of her standing in front of it.



The rehearsal dinner was on Friday evening, so Grandma and Grandpa babysat for us.
On Saturday morning, we had our hair done at a salon. Julie was so excited!




Briana brought St. Louis Bread Company (Panera) and coffee to the salon for everyone to enjoy. She is moving to New Orleans next week!!



Julie, with her hair done and hairpiece perfect!



We rode in a stretch hummer to the church to get dressed.



We had a good time on the ride over.



Getting organized at the church.



Getting Julie dressed.



Dressed and ready to go!



On the way to the park to take pictures after the ceremony. Congratulations, Julie and Robi! Unfortunately, I didn't take any more pictures. I was having too much fun! The reception was one of the most enjoyable that we've ever been to!




On Sunday, Margaret came over with her 6 month old daughter, Makenzie. Margaret and I have been friends since we were in 8th grade. She is one of the few people who read this blog regularly (thanks!), and is a hysterically funny person. She makes me laugh constantly. We went to a nearby water park with the kids and they had a great time! So did we!!



We took Anna to the St. Louis Science Center, one of my absolute favorite places to go. I never get tired of being there. I think I had more fun than Anna. Probably doesn't have anything to do with the fact that I'm a science teacher geek...




These pictures are from the Discovery Room, especially for 3-7 year olds.




Anna had fun playing with the dinosaurs. And talking smack to the unassuming teen volunteers.



Drew was sick for second half of our trip with high fever and diarrhea, so that's why there aren't many pictures of him. I took him to the doctor when we got home and found out he also had a double ear infection! Poor little guy!

On our last day, Margaret and I went out to lunch, then took this picture at her work. Her boss tried to convince us to take the picture in front of the business sign to advertise, but offered no quid pro quo. He also didn't seem to understand that a grand total of 5 people actually read this blog. Cause I'm popular like that.



In a last ditch attempt to tire the kids out, we went swimming before starting our journey back home. It worked- don't they look excited!?



Our drive home was easy and the kids slept right through it. We have finally all recovered, and hopefully, will never need to drive all night again. Thanks for a great visit, Grandma and Grandpa. See you next summer, St. Louis!

That Holiday with the American Flag

We started off the holiday weekend with Anna dumping an entire box of Cheerios around the house. I think she was playing "Hansel and Gretel" or possibly leaving a Cheerio trail for Roo to follow. It reminded me of the movie, "ET", when Elliott uses Reese's Pieces to get ET to come to his room...




When I informed her that she would have to clean it ALL up, she immediately ordered Drew and Fritz to start eating.



She even demonstrated the most efficient (and possibly grossest) way to get Cheerios into your mouth. She learned everything she knows from Fritz.



Drew just pouched.



I saw a T-shirt somewhere that said, "The Bigger the Bow, the Better the Mom". When I mentioned it to Anna, she immediately pulled the bow off.



We went to NO on Sunday for a pool party at my cousins' house. Jay and Tom have made it a 4th of July tradition and we look forward to it!

Grandma asked Stephen to make her a drink. Stephen grabbed Anna and taught her how to make the perfect bourbon and coke. "Foist, you gotta fill da glass wit ice. Grandma likes her drinks with two fingas of bourbon. You got little fingas, so you got to use TREE!"



"And den, you gotta fill da rest up wit coke."



Robert and Joelle came to the party and helped us entertain the kids while it stormed outside.



Drew played the piano. Shaun is convinced that we have a virtuoso.



Anna ate lots of chips while she waited for the storm to end.



While Joelle taught Andrew how to go up and down stairs in preparation for our trip to St. Louis.



He LOVED the stairs! Unfortunately after this, my camera batteries died, so I have no pictures past this point in time.



On Monday, Carl and Mary Jane hosted dinner for everyone. Aunt Sheila, Aunt Rochelle, and Uncle Howie drove in from NO. Rochelle convinced Drew that she was ok by feeding him chips.




Here were our (not so successful) attempts at a family picture.

Midsummer

I have come to the startling realization that summer is halfway over :(
Shaun maintains that he can't wait to go back.
I maintain that if he doesn't shut up, he'll get beaten with my big toe.


Drew LOVES the power wheels and often sits in it and yells until Anna takes pity and gives him a ride around the yard. She is such a good big sister.




Drew has been taking a few steps on his own. Unfortunately, he seems to have performance anxiety whenever he knows we're filming him.





Drew is holding the gift that Shaun and Anna picked out for me for our 6 year anniversary. When Shaun asked Anna if he should get me flowers, she said, "No, get Mommy M&Ms so that she can share with me!"




On Wednesday, we drove down to NO to spend the day at "Camp Kathy". First, we walked to City Park so we could travel over the bridges.




Then, Anna fed the ducks.




We checked out the swings on the Great Lawn. Miss Independent told Kathy to get off of her swing because she could swing it herself. :(
(I DID admonish her for being rude)




In Story Land, Anna ran around and tried everything at least twice. Kathy was really good at keeping up with her. Drew just watched.




The slide at Jack and Jill was almost vertical and Anna tried to convince us to let her hold Drew on the way down. He passed on that one.




Both kids liked the Fire Truck a lot!




I think it was Drew's favorite thing all day!




He did NOT like the mister. We tried to decide if it did much because we were already so wet with sweat, all it did was make us wetter, rather than cooler.




We took a break in the castle, where Anna sat on the throne and learned a new shape:
the fleur-de-lis.




We walked back to Kathy's for lunch and a swim. Drew was so tired that he fell asleep in the pool.




So we made a little pallet for him and he napped while we continued swimming.




Anna showed Grandma her new swimming skills. Grandpa let her take a break so that she could visit and swim with us!




After we swam, we ran by the house to visit Grandpa and to see the progress. I absolutely love the floors that my parents are installing!



Here is the kitchen. My dad is a bit out of focus, but you can see how fantastic it looks!