a trip to the orchard.

My cute parents came out to visit last weekend and one of the things to do on our list was head out to Eckert's to pick some apples. We lucked out with great weather on Saturday, which was fortunate since it rained all day Friday, and a bit on Sunday and Monday. The best part though about Eckert's was getting to munch on apples while we were out in the orchards, and let me tell you, those Suncrisp apples were to die for. They were delicious right off the tree, and they were delicious baked into an Apple Crisp! Between the four us, those 8 pounds of apples didn't last long. :)

See last year's peach picking trip to Eckert's here.

running out of summer days.

With summer on its way out and fall just around the corner, I'm getting really excited for some weather changes. But that also might just be because it's been 100 degrees over here recently, with 80% humidity. I die.

Between evening classes and life just being generally busy, there have been quite a few summer activities I haven't gotten around to doing yet this year. Fortunately, my sister-in-law is visiting us this week and was up for a visit to the zoo! Our first 10 minutes was spent searching for an animal (it was so hot they were all hiding), and it pains me to report that a squirrel digging through a garbage can was the first one we saw. The seal tunnel (with A/C!), however, made up for those initial disappointing moments. I'm not an animal person - never have been, never will - but that seal tunnel was pretty sweet and definitely something I could regularly visit.

We have a few festivals going on this weekend and we'll probably hit up a local burger joint in between! Gotta get all of these summer activities in before it's too late. :)

Happy Friday!

4th of July & Visitors!

Ben and I had been looking forward to the 4th for quite a while this year. First, his parents were planning on coming out to visit (we all know how much I love visitors :)! Second, America + red, white, and blue + time off of work! All of that good stuff.

I'm happy to report that this past weekend did not disappoint. We busted out our patriotic colors, went gallivanting around the city, and enjoyed some great firework displays. America, we sure do love you.

 

^^Old Courthouse downtown and the Arch in the background^^

^^The Old Courthouse gets dressed up with flags each 4th of July and it's so fun to go see!^^

 ^^My cute in-laws & Ben and I. (Side note: the Arch is so big that sometimes it's hard to get the whole thing in pictures!)^^

^^Thomas Jefferson. My very favorite part of the Missouri History Museum.^^

^^Watched fireworks from the top of a parking garage by our apartment with this cute guy. One of those moments in life that you want to bottle up and save for for the future. :)^^

^^A room in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. (Learned that there are 41.5 million tiles in the basilica! Crazy!)^^

^^The crowd at Fair St. Louis waiting for The Fray concert and fireworks. SO. Many. People. This picture doesn't even do it justice.^^

Not pictured:

a million other activities and places, fun restaurants, and the many miles we walked around the city

We sure love our family & our country!

we love visitors!

We were lucky enough to have my cousin who lives in Chicago come and visit last weekend.  If you know her, you know that she is a party and a half, so when you throw in some great food and late night chats until 5:30 am, you're living the dream. ;)  We tried to pack as much fun in as we could into the 1.5 days she was here, which explains the 3.5 hours of sleep on Friday night/early Saturday morning.  Thanks to the gorgeous weather, we were able to visit the temple, the art museum, the zoo, and the Missouri Botanical Gardens...and become Asian tourists and ride plastic sheep.  It happens.

when family comes to town.

My younger (but taller!) brother and mom came out to St. Louis two weeks ago to hang out with us for a few days.  We went to the Arch, walked through the Missouri History Museum, tried Lebanese food, and played in the tunnels at the city museum.  We learned new card games, tried new desserts, and got our first Ted Drewes Custard of the year!  Nothing beats family time. :)

the family that plays together, stays together.

(The last picture isn't edited at all.  Cool gray leaves, huh?)

I can not tell you all how excited I was for this past weekend to finally arrive!  My mom and sister flew in to St. Louis on Friday afternoon and played with us for the weekend, before heading home Monday night.  Our playing consisted of:  a yummy Americanized-Mexican restaurant, famous Ted Drewes frozen custard, doing family baptisms at the St. Louis Missouri temple, the Arch museum, going up in the Arch, the Missouri Botanical Gardens, the huge mall, the absolute best Italian restaurant in the little Italian area, church, a short tour of both Washington University campuses, driving through old neighborhoods, playing games, eating pie, and painting nails.  Monday was my first day of work (as a research assistant for a professor at Wash U, for those of you who asked!), so Ben, my sister, and mom met up with me for lunch, and I said goodbye to them there.  

We had so much fun with them and can't wait to see them again at Christmas!