Back from Vacation

This upcoming week is my last full week home (without reporting to the office for work). I am still making a point to enjoy each day that I have at home, but I am getting that pit in the stomach feeling knowing that it is coming to an end. I have said it a hundred times, but being home these past few months has been invaluable!

We had such a great time on vacation. We created a number of memories and had a blast visiting with friends. Here are a few highlights. I’ll try to post more later this week.

The first night in St. Louis we went to the Pitman’s house and had a great dinner. The next day we went to Grant’s Farm together. Here are Max, Madison, Brady, Blake, AJ, and Olivia. We are thankful to have met the Pitman in Russia in December!


When we were driving to St. Louis we received a call from our friends Holly and Jamie. We didn’t realize they were still in the St. Louis area. Holly had read on our blog that we were headed down to St. Louis and decided to give us a call so we could get together. It was great to see them and their adorable daughter Emma. It is always fun to catch up with ‘old’ friends!


Justin’s brother Jake, along with his wife Jackie, and daughter Sydney met us in St. Louis. It was a highlight for the kids to spend part of their vacation with their cousin Sydney. We had a great time at the St. Louis Cardinals game. Here is Blake catching a ride on Uncle Jake’s shoulders. The picture should actually probably be of Aunt Jackie since she was the one that was always picking Blake up when he didn’t want to walk. It didn’t take Blake long to figure that out! :o)


We also had a blast at the Magic House. There are lots of neat things about that place, but Brady and Madison thought I had to post pictures of the electricity ball. So here they are!



As most parents know, the highlight of any vacation isn’t everything you go do - it is swimming in the hotel swimming pool. Here are Brady, Sydney, and Madison jumping in. They would have spent an entire day in the pool if we would have let them.


The last picture to share today is in front of The Fudgery at Union Station. It is fun to watch the ‘show’ they put on while making the fudge and of course enjoying the free sample afterward.