a recap

A few things I'm thankful for today: sleeping in our own bed last night instead of the pull-out couch with the icky mattress...that I was able to spend some time with my mom...a week full of family and friends...that there are fall leaves on the Texas trees now...that great feeling of coming home...

A recap of our week, through pictures taken on our trip:



So good to see my mom again! Here we are at her apartment...she's newly blonde again, and is growing her hair out...and yes, we were color coordinated!



We had a quick visit with my Olender side of the family...looked through old pictures and listened to their memories...



After dinner out with the Repps, we headed back to their house for visiting and pictures...and with Dronda's tripod, we captured a shot of all of us...



Chris and I did some sightseeing downtown, and we were very interested in seeing the old stadium and the beginnings of the new stadium...these are the arches of the old Busch stadium.



And here's a bit of the demolition...



And this one shows a little of the old and a little of the new...



We also got some good shots during our visit with the McCarthys...here are my adorable grandparents, my grandma smooching my grandpa on the cheek...



This is me with my two 25 year old cousins...Shelly on the left, Katie on the right...they were teasing me because I will be turning 30 next year, but they are not too far behind!!! We found out that Shelly is pregnant...woo hoo!



And this is my uncle Steve and aunt Karen...



Loved this shot of the reflection of the arch in this building...



We had a great visit with Amy and a yummy dinner at PF Changs! Here I am with my oldest friend (who just turned 30 by the way!!!)



I tried to get a few great pics of my mom with her boyfriend Randy...here they are smooching at the Cheesecake Factory!



Me and Chris on Thanksgiving...



My mom and Randy on Thanksgiving...



My uncle Steve with his daughter Kasey, on Thanksgiving...



On our last full day in St. Louis, we all went to The Hill, the little Italian neighborhood. We had lunch at Zias...



Looked at all the quaint little houses...



And went to the bakery and Italian grocery store...here we all are in front of the grocery...



And...a sure sign that Kelley was clicking away on her camera wayyyyyyyy too much...uncle Steve hiding beneath his napkin!!!!!

Back to work tomorrow...will be an adjustment, after a week away. Full steam ahead!!