In the past couple weeks...
We went rock climbing. Well, sort of. This was the rock. :)
The rock is at our favorite bike riding park, Creve Coeur Lake. Heft that 12 mile ride! And Mike is a master at hauling those extra 70 lbs of kids in a trailer! Hoo-ya!


Our garden produced its bounty. Sadly this was about it. We failed to fertilize enough this year and know better for next year.

Lydia got to bring bugs into her preschool class! We found a cicada that we brought in last week and a praying mantis that we took in today. Unfortunately we only have one very forlorn looking picture.

I got to test out a couple patterns for my super talented friend before she marketed them (like really sell them for money!). Look at my cute skirt... that I made!
Check out Bethany's array of awesome creations at loveseptember.etsy.com! Amazing!

6 years! Mike and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary on Saturday! We went to a snazzy restaurant, Eau Bistro. It was located in the Chase Park Plaza Hotel, which was built in 1922 and has had celebreties and most of the US presidents from that time on stay there. We didn't get a room, but we got to see a suite and walked around the place. It was nice.

Anyway, our dinner was exceptional! We'd ordered an appetizer and the waiter came out with two plates of a tiny arrangement of food and we were both like "oh no." You know like what you see on commercials making fun of gourmet restaraunts. But it wasn't our appetizers, it was just something the chef had been working on and wanted to see if we liked it. Eggplant caviar. Ooh fancy! Just the idea of getting a sample of something was really fun!

The rest of the food was great too. Even the bread basket was unlike anything I'd seen. Yummy little chive and cheddar biscuits, a Bavarian pretzel, and some other Italian bread. I took a picture of the pretzel because it was so lovely! And look at the pretty flower butter!

Here's my amazing pork chop, smothered in shredded brussel sprouts, black eyed peas and cherries! It was enormous! And soo scrumptious!
Mike ordered a Brazillian steak with a lima bean and corn concoction and plantain mashed potatoes.

I love my dear sweet husband. He has to put up with a wife who wants to take pictures of food. I had to promise him that I'd never do that if we're out to dinner with his boss. I just can't help that food is such an exciting thing for me! Just like for my sisters! It just runs in my family. :) That and picking things out of people's trash on the side of the road, which just drives Mike crazy. Sigh, I love being married to such a wonderful, patient man!

Lydia is going to preschool! Wahhh! Monday was her first day and, seriously, I cried after I dropped her off.

Last Thursday we went to the Open House for her class and she was in heaven. Her teacher, Ms. Becky, is wonderful and has had half the kids in primary throughout the years. Anyway, here are some pictures from the open house...Check out the cool reading hut in the back! Ms. Becky's husband (Mr. Becky?) built it.

Tiny couches next to a tiny kitchen area!

Isaac at the puff ball table. Super cool, huh? Yeah, he was having a great time. At one point he was running around with two baby dolls in his arms. Too cute. And here's Lydia on the big first day! Complete with a Dora backpack.

Ms. Becky and Lydia. Not a great picture of either one. Ms. Becky looks a little like she's going to eat Lydia and I think Lydia felt the same way. Lydia goes to preschool MWF, 8:30 -11:30. She had fun on her first day and is excited to go back! Sigh, what a big girl! If I can remember preschool I seriously can't percieve having a child old enough to go herself. Especially when she's a little Elizabeth enough as it is. Too bizarre.

Last week's story time at the library we read books about characters with crazy hair. The craft? Mohawks. Righteous! (or insert your punk phrase of preference here)