Gateway to the West

Brian and I flew back today from a weekend trip to St. Louis, MO. It wasn't a trip we had been planning or a place we'd probably pick to visit, but Brian was down for some continuing ed class and for me it was a cheap flight and a good weekend to meet up with him. SO...Missouri....hmm....don't think I'll have to ever go back. I got down there on Thursday evening and we ate at a cute little pizza/pasta place and had T-Rav's which are toasted ravioli-yum! I guess it's a St. Louis thing. Friday I was on my own for most of the day and I spent it eating two times by myself which is good for a person to do every once and a while. I read, journaled 6 months in my 2008 family scrapbook, watched a good movie and napped a little. At noon Brian and I walked to the old St. Louis cathedral for weekday mass. It is a beautiful church. When Brian got done for the day we walked to the Arch which was pretty much across from our hotel. Oh-the view from our 29th floor room was amazing. Th arch to our left and Busch stadium to our right! The Arch was cool to see and a little freaky riding to the top in a space looking pod that held 5 people. Let's just say you don't want to get on with someone who is phobic or sick. :) That evening we took a ride down the Mississippi on the "Tom Sawyer" with a bunch of kids from some chorus club among other "unique" individuals who were very interesting. The food was ummmmm.....not so good but hey the carrot cake with cream cheese frosting at the end made up for it a little. Not much to see besides murky water, barges, debris, train tracks, etc... The only cool view was the arch lit up at night and that view didn't come until the very end. Thank goodness I was on this ride with a very, very fun and good looking date! The next day we visited the HUGE St. Louis Cathedral. It was so pretty and pretty amazing that it only took 7 years to build. The mosiacs were beautiful! We also strolled thru University of St. Louis campus which is very pretty even in a torential downpour. Brian didn't want to share the umbrella (which we purchased at Macy's for $30)so he had a nice afternoon shower. On our train ride back to the hotel we encountered a bit of a spat between two older men who used very colorful words with a security guard standing between them letting them go at it. After the spat the one man walked over to us asking us to spot him a quarter-ok-very uneasy feelings were felt by me. And as Brian handed him .77 he says God bless you. Ok man you were just using his name in vain now, you are blessing us with it?? The world out there.... So after that we headed to the brewery like any good folk would do after an encounter like that. Wouldn't you be up for some free beer???? We had toured the Anheiser-Busch brewery in Colorado but it didn't compare to this one-the original. Very cool tour and we americans drink a lot of beer! As we are sitting at the brewery an employee informs us that we are in a tornado warning! Great! Everyone seemed very calm-again, wouldn't you be with free beer?! So the storm goes thru we hop a taxi ride back and chill in our room before heading out to a very nice steakhouse for a very good meal. It was a perfect end to an eventful few days. I am happy to be home! THANK YOU KEN & GLADYS & MOM for watching the girls! We won't bother you for a while! :)

Sisters Sweet

I just have to share this photo of Rachel and Natalie with you. It is way too sweet. Natalie LOVES to suck on suckers and so if any of the girls eat one, Natalie is sure to be right by them getting free licks.

We're going to the Zoo!

Laura, Mya, Ally, Rachel, Natalie and I enjoyed a little time at the zoo a week ago. The girls had a blast and it was nice to catch up with Laura. Natalie didn't know what to think of the animals. I think it may have been a little overwhelming for her. Rachel can't wait to go again!

Happy Belated April Birthdays

Belated birthday wishes going out to Kendra, Dalton and Drew. :)

Spring on Sunday

What a beautiful day we had yesterday! It's so nice to be able to have a spring we can actually enjoy! Yesterday after Mass we met up with some friends at 7-mile creek park for grilling and a mean game of kick ball. It was sooooo much fun! It's fun to be able to find something everyone can play! We all had an awesome time and hope to make this a regular thing to do on a Sunday. Sunday's are meant for families-no work just play and fellowship with others. We are going to try very hard to honor this day and do just as God wants us to-enjoy eachother!

I've been trying very hard to load pictures on to this blog from Easter yet and am having a hard time doing so. Maybe it's just our computer, I don't know. But I hope to figure it out soon so I can post some cute pictures of the kids.

Happy Easter!

Caitlin, Mom, Owen, Rachel, Mya, Emily, Natalie and Dad

The Salfer Clan less Kenny and Caleb (for some reason they left to get the golf cart at the farm?)

The girls and their Easter outfits. Natalie just woke up from the long car ride and was not expecting to have to take a picture.

What a beautiful Easter weekend we had! Sun was shinning, kids were healthy, caught up with family and celebrated our Lord rising from the dead! We had a wonderful holy week celebration at our church and the girls were so good at all the masses. On Holy Thursday our friends and their son were some of the people getting their feet washed. After Father was done with them Brian leaned down and whispered to Rachel that our turn was next. You should've seen her eyes get as big as saucers! Her smile was not one of happiness but of nervousness! Of course Brian said he was kidding and she relaxed after that. On Good Friday, as Father was processing in, the alter boys/girls had the incense going and Rachel looks over to us with her nose scrunched up wanting to know where that awful smell was coming from and what it was. She was very fun to watch! On Easter Sunday the church was packed and of course we didn't get going when we wanted to so when we got there, there was no big open spots available. Our good friends the Gracks were so kind to give up their comfort and let us the family of 6 sit down with them. Natalie was on Brians lap and Rachel on mine and we were the 3rd row from the front! You could definitely see that Brian was being tested for patience! The music was great and it was fun to see all our friends' kids and their pretty easter outfits.

Friday we spent the night at my parents along with Annie and Owen and Bob and Laura, Mya and Ally. It was fun to see the kids interact with each other. After a very restless night we got up and dyed eggs and had an egg hunt. Brian cooked breakfast-caramel french toast. In the afternoon we went to Wabasso to surprise Grandma along with all the aunts, uncles and cousins on the Schueller side. Grandma now has 11 Great Grandkids and one on the way! Wow!!!! It was a fun afternoon catching up with all my cousins! We decided to head back to St. Peter for a better night sleep and Rachel did NOT want to miss Easter-meaning the easter bunny stopping at our house.

Easter Sunday arrived and the girls were up at 7am. WHY can't they sleep in????? I know-excitement! The Easter bunny left them riddles to figure out where he hid their baskets and they were just loving that. Rachel was super excited that the bunny stopped at our house and that she didn't miss it! So, after mass we headed back to Wabasso for the Salfer celebration. The girls had an awesome day. They were so happy to play with all their cousins! I just love to see that because it reminds me of when I was young and played with my cousins. Gladys made a steller meal once again and there was way too much candy. We spent most of the day outside chatting and playing yard games. Natalie surprised us by taking quite a few steps. I think her walking days are right around the corner!!!

Hope you all had a memorable Easter!!

Pictures to come......

Ahhhhhh....Spring

The girls and I enjoyed the warm weather we had this past week. We rode bike, went to the park, had picnics and played in the backyard. It was fun on Thursday because Caitlin and Emily were home from school but Rachel had school. So we dropped her off along with her bike and I took the other 3 to the coffee shop for breakfast/coffee. It was fun because they never get to go with me. It's usually Rachel who reaps the benefit of being home with me! When Rachel was done with school we picked her up on our bikes and went to Treemendous Park and met up with Amy and the girls and Jessica and her two kiddos. We had a great time! Here are some pictures from playing in the backyard.