Labor Day!

Labor Day = No work. WA.HOOOOOO!

1| Forest Park.  2| Downtown St. Louis 3| Caleco's. 4| Airport :(

We spent the day out and about with my parents before they flew back to Ohio. There were a couple of parks, a great restaurant, an adventure through downtown detours, and lots of pictures. I wish Joe's mom could've been there with us today. We'll see her soon. I can't wait to update her pictures with mini, too!

For the sake of unnecessary words:

pappy + mini | nana + mini | daddy + mini

We love parks. A lot. It would only be fitting for us to take a little jaunt to a big park to hang out for the day. [Great photo opps x lotslotsnlots].

if you don't know... get to knowin'. it is.... delish. 

There's food, and then there's fooooood. This is the latter. If you haven't been, get to goin'. You won't regret it. Nom nom nom nom....

beautiful scenery!

We took a stroll into the old courthouse, too. It's under some minor construction, but it's still functional and it's quite picturesque once you get into it. I'd be inclined to head back for some more shots; there are some mad macros just waiting.... I can feel it.

camera. fun. fun with cameras. ♥ 

I recently ceded to my phone's incessant requests to do a system update. I don't know why I put those things off as long as possible; I think I have some subconscious inkling that by updating, I'll find myself with something important erased, or with some glitch that rode in with the update. [[First world problem, hi...]]

not of this world..... hrmmm.. lol. 

One of the system revisions was via the camera; I noticed a new purple button when I went to take a picture of Sydni at the table. That button = picture effects. This is just a sample of what could happen in 10 minutes. Good stuff. 

My parents are well on their way back to Ohio now; we're here unwinding for the evening. I'm trying to come to the terms with going back to work tomorrow. Shortened work weeks post-holiday are always dicey little things. I think I'll dwell for now on the fact that is indeed a shortened work week. 

Yeah. We'll go with that one. 

Hope your Labor Day weekend was amazing! 

xo | cmd

Four Day Weekend Begin!

We got a ridiculously early start for not having to be out the door by 7am.

rain rain...

Kyle came by to pick up Tessa early this morning, but not before we'd already done baths, dressing, and some light toy clean-up to get the day moving. I decided to tackle some last minute cleaning before Syd and I packed up for the short trek to the airport. Nana & Pappy are here, safe & sound! We picked them up from Lambert just before 10 and brought the whole party back home. Since then, we've made it to the grocery store, Target, and a couple other pit stops. Mom went straight to the kitchen [shocking, I know] and laid down some of her crazy culinary skill. Yayyyy, parents! Haha...

Oh, and it's been raining off-and-on all day. We've been taking advantage of the short dry pockets throughout the day, retreating back under shelter when the drops start falling again. Since rain has been such a foreign thing around here for the past few months, the only complaint I have for all this precip is that it scheduled itself for the weekend my parents are here. Selfishly said, I know. We've made the best of it though, even if it is a bit damp out there.

playtime with nana & pappy! 

Dad called me out at one point to check out the new mailbox decoration. I think it's a good look - certainly unique, and probably in violation of some sort of law. Just my guess. Haha.

mailbox topper!

It's almost dinner time. Joe gets back tonight, too. Sydni & Jacob's birthday party is tomorrow.

In other words: Weekend, we're a-comin' for ya. :) 

xo | cmd

Blah.

Weather-speaking, today was certainly an entire different day than the last few. I woke up to rain, gloomy skies, and a temperature that sent me back in the house for a jacket before I left. Yuck. The gals [&guy] at my work and I agreed that we would’ve been just fine staying home in our beds in pajamas for the day.

Thankfully, the rain let up some and by the time my parents and Sydni met me at work, the skies had softened some and the drive to the airport was made without any windshield wipers or hold-ups. They’re on their way back to Ohio as we speak, and I am back here in what now seems unusually quiet even after just four days of visitors. We’re definitely looking forward to Daddy coming home. [Next week!]

Oh, and just in case any of you were wondering, and because it’s totally related to everything else in this entry [or not, whatever], don’t feed grapes to your dog. I have a mother whose animal-knowledge passed this advice on to me years ago, but I know there are still folks out there who think chocolate is the only no-no for our canine companions. No grapes. Dogs lack the digestive abilities to process grapes, so eating them will make them sick. You’re welcome, Fido.

Well, that being said, I’m gonna get Boogie ready for bed – I can already tell she’s perturbed that Mommy will be doing the teeth brushing and flossing tonight, instead of Pappy. Talk about just making do….

Early start, tomorrow!

xo | cmd

Nana & Pappy!!

Today was an incredible day!
Well, it started comically because I apparently need coaching on how to read an analog clock that isn't labeled with all 12 numbers individually. I've never had an issue with my watch [you know the type, the two hands and then only four dots indicative of 15-minute segments] until last night, when I obviously misread when trying to reset my clocks. There's a bout of ridiculous construction happening in our townhouse complex; I noticed the 3-foot deep trench circling halfway around my building Thursday night on my way home from work, and yesterday there was a collection of Bobcats parked in various spots around the yard and parking lot. At some point during Friday, they managed to knock out our power, so to bring that story full circle, reading my watch correctly would've been nice, since I proceeded to reset all the clocks an hour fast.

*High five, Cori. 


clayton farmer's market fun

 

The best part about all of that was that it was last night, and I didn't realize it until I was heading down the highway entrance ramp en route to Lambert. I finally looked at the clock in the car and it definitely read 8:30am, not 9:30. I took the opportunity to make a pitstop at the Fifth Third over in Clayton to deposit the check the USPS finally sent me in response to my begging to fix my damaged camera. I happened across Companion, an adorable deli at which my parents and I later stopped after we met at the airport. It worked out for the best, because a mini farmer's market was well underway by the time we made it back to Clayton, so of course we scored some fresh veggies before brunch.

 

On our way back from MO, we stopped in Glen Carbon, more specifically the Goodwill and Slackers. Mom and I found a dresser we decided we had to have for Sydni's room, and Dad took Sydni to the Petsmart to oogle at the puppies outside at the adoption fair.

We finally made it back to the house, where we ate lunch and then spent the rest of the day playing outside and catching up on any and all family happenings since the wedding. I seriously wish Joe were here.

To wrap things up, Mom and I made some incredible veggie stir-fry for dinner, and after we were all fed, it was one more round of Finding Nemo (this movie......) before bathtime, teeth-brushing-and-flossing, bedtime story, and bed.

Church tomorrow. :)

xo | cmd

I Love Earthworm

So my parents are coming in town tomorrow morning. I'll pick them up at Lambert around 10am, and they'll be here through Tuesday. I cannot wait to see them. Somewhere in my excitement, I made the stupid decision to postpone all my cleaning until the last minute. Typical.

Anyway, Sydni and I got home from work and daycare and tackled the tasks of laundry, vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms, shelving dishes, emptying trash, and fixing beds. I don't know how people can do this for a living, but major kudos to them. The good news: we found about a half dozen random toys and/or toy parts that we thought had disappeared for good, so they're now safely back where they belong, and the house is clean.

I owe it all to Earthworm. I know for a fact that my mom will ask what I've used to clean all the reachable, cleanable surfaces in my house, and, save for the pledge I used on our wood furniture, Earthworm supplies took over the rest of this place. I also know for a fact that that will delight my mother's heart to know that her daughter has followed her teachings well in straying from using harsh chemical products in liveable airspace.

The clothes are all hung.
The beds are all made.
The rooms are all clean.
The cleaners are tuckered out.

Nana & Pappy will be here, soon! ♥

xo | cmd