Spring with Nelli

We've had some beautiful Spring days here in St Louis. Nelli would be outside all day, everyday, if I let her!

This day, we were sitting on the porch talking with our neighbors when Sarah pulled out her camera and took these pictures of Nelli.  Oh, it makes me want to learn how to capture shots like these!

Nelli loves her stuffed animals and likes to share her food or water with them

Brie is in the pink dress -- Nelli loves following her around!

These blossoms only lasted a few weeks (the Magnolia blossoms only a few days). They are just gorgeous!

Sneaking some belly button time

Jana and Scott in St Louis

We had a great time with Taylor's parents here! We spent a little time showing them around St Louis by going to the Arch, The World Bird Sanctuary (which has some rare, interesting eagles), and spent part of a day driving around to find supplies for my Wolf scouts.  We also relived some Christmas puzzle time by doing a St. Louis 500 piece puzzle in 4 hours (we missed your talent, Ali :). Overall, we just like having them around; they are a piece of  heaven for us!

Fitz's is unique to St. Louis. They make the best root beer and have some pretty great  food too.

Farewell Anna

My homemade Hondorus flag :)

YAY Anna!

The Gradens

 

We threw Anna a little celebration for her mission call to San Pedro Sula, Hondoras. Go Anna!  She's going to ROCK as a missionary!  We invited a few of our friends that live around here to join in the fun.  Anna helped me make a mango salsa, a bean dip and some yummy cupcakes. So, a neat fact: our friend Sarah Graden has been to San Pedro Sula a few times with her family that do humanitarian work there regularly.  It was cool for Anna to talk to her and it also meant she had some neat stuff for me to decorate my apartment with to give it a Hondorian feel.

Neighborhood Valentines Party

The Gradens put together a neighborhood potluck Valentines day party on Friday so we could all get to know each other better.  It was so fun!  Sarah did a photo booth and these are the results.   

Ruth in St. Louis

She's here!

Ruth's boots

Ruth is so funny teasing me about not throwing my food

The tram to get to the top of the arch is tiny

We rode the Metro downtown

Danforth campus

The Climatron

Nice putting on her hat, daddy

That's better

On a walk-look at those geese!

Nelli and Ruth had a blast.  And we did too.  We took her to Washington University, Danforth Campus, the Arch and the Climatron (indoor rainforest) at the Missouri Botanical gardens.  It was great to have her here for a few days.

Can I just say, Ruth is quite the photographer.  She was snapping shots all over the place.  We have so many great pictures of when she was here.

Christmas in Spokane

Yay for toy stores in airports!  And funny faces =)

Nelli did great on the flight there and back.

Grandpa's toy train

We went on a Christmas light show cruise in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Gotta love Thayne's double chin and that smile is too cute!

Nelli loves Uncle Tyler and Aunt Ali.  Every time I'd put her down she'd go running to one of them.

Bath time in Grandma's baby sized sink...perfect!

Siri's amazing dinner

Nelli loved to give Thayne hugs and kisses

Twins with twin outfits

Daddies and breakfast

We had such a great time in Spokane being with family.  It is a vacation we will never forget.  Siri, Chris, Ali, Tyler, and Thayne were there when we arrived on the 24th and we just loved it.  We played fun games, did a puzzle, visited Coeur d'Alene a few times: once for a light show and once to go swimming.  Over all it was great to relax together.