Building the Arch

My mom and nieces, McKenna & Taylor, came to visit us over their spring break. We had a great time during their visit! We made it to the science center where grandma, McKenna, Taylor and Elyse built the Arch. THey have this neat exhibit with foam blocks you piece together to make the arch. It was fun watching Elyse try and help!

First Hair Cut!!

Elyse got her first hair cut!! Finally at 19 months. 

We felt there was enough hair on her head to get some snipped off. She did pretty well. She cried off and on. But she sat VERY still!

I finished!!!

On Saturday I did the 5 mile St. Patrick's Day Run!! I am excited since it is my first race ever. I don't think I have really run since 'they' made me do it in high school!! With the support of my great girlfriends I DID IT!!!! I don't know my exact time since I didn't get to the start line until 5- 10 minutes into the race... there were so many people!!!!! It was great.

Here we all are before the race....

And here were are after!! And after a beer. 

Who knew it would taste so good at 10:30 am?

Then of course we had to get all the kids in!

Me and Ellie at the end!

No no mommy...

I couldn't believe it when I saw this picture!! She looks quite serious doesn't she?  I think she may have been trying to poke (point at) my eye. 

I am not sure which is worse...poking me in the eye or telling me no?! 

New Dress!

I made this great dress for Ellie out of one of Nate's old dress shirts. It turned out really nice. I especially like the colors!! I feel spring coming in this dress!!

Here is a front view. This is actually the back of the shirt.

Some nice side views.

Here is the back view of the dress. It is the front of the shirt. So the buttons are already in place to get her in and out easily.

Oh, the pants are the sleeves of the shirt (it was a long sleeve shirt). The next one will be easier to make since I now know what I am doing. If you are at all interested here is the link I got the idea from.

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=5f4a0509f7395fa98f1eaab5f44f0dd7&topic=170402.msg1742893#msg1742893

Our new home!!!

Okay, so it is not really new!! We did get a tree removed from the front yard!! You know life has changed when events like this really excite you. The tree covered a good 1/3 of the house. Now it is GONE!!!!! Now all we need to do is get our neighbor to do the same with his....

Mardi Gras Pet Parade!

My parents and nephew came to visit the weekend of Presidents Day. This also happened to coincide with Valentines Day and the Mardi Gras Pet Parade. We had a fun busy weekend.

Saturday, Valentines Day, we went to the Gateway Arch in the morning. My nephew brought a friend with him as well. So we did the tourist thing. After the second or third time going up to the top Nate and I have refused to go. It is neat to see but not much changes and it is tight quarters. The boys, and my poor Dad, loved it though. Unfortunalely we forgot the camera. Elyse really enjoyed the museum they have down under the arch. She liked the stuffed beavers the best. I practically had to wrestle her down to keep her from going over the rope after them! Saturday night Nate and I took advantage of the free babysitting for a nice dinner (yeah us!!)

Sunday we went down to Soulard for the pet parade!! I was not sure if we would all make it. It started at 1pm, which is Ellie's nap time :0 She actually did really well, with help from a small nap in the car beforehand. We did not forget the camera this time!!

Here are Ellie and Papa at the parade.

This is not my mom, but I swear she will do this one day!!!
What a crazy lady!!

Here are some of the dogs that were around and in the parade.
People really get into it dressing up their dogs, getting them to do tricks.
It is wild to watch...

Is it a bee or a dog??

Westward Ho!!

New breed of Cow Dog...
Lizzard dog...

Elyse, my parents, my nephew and his friend all had a grand time. Nathan and I did as well, but we had been before. Elyse was thirlled with all the dogs and the fun of the parade. She is also really into the beads!! She is still wearing them at home.