Meet Me In St Louie Louie...

Meet me at the fair! Don't tell me the lights are shinning any place but here. We can dance the hoochie koochie. I will be your tootsie wootsie, if you meet me in St Louie Louie. Meet me at the fair!

Okay, Keith thought Lexi and I were nuts singing that song the whole trip (he thought she made it up!) but we grew up on that movie!

Anyway, we did meet in St Louis and it was lots of fun. After my family visited us here in Little Rock, Presley and I headed to St Louis with my parents to meet Lex and her family that were already there. It was a quick trip but we packed it full of lots of fun and I'm so glad we decided to go. The hotel we stayed at was right across from the arch and the little boys thought it was so cool that they could see it from their bed. Nice find Keith!

First thing in the morning we visited the arch. Most of us headed up to the top (except the scaredy cats). It was really neat and a beautiful view.
This is the boys in the "elevator" to the top. It's more like a tiny capsule than an elevator.

Next we walked around by the river. I loved the atmosphere with the great music in the air and old showboats docked on the banks.

Someone (mom) had the bright idea to rent a bike for the whole family. Lets just say... Never Again! Way more work than we expected. It was still a fun adventure!
Presley was beat and next thing I knew she had decided this would be a good place for a nap! So stinkin cute!
Next we headed to Grant's farm. It was the home of Ulysses Grant and later bought by Anheiser Busch (sp?). We went to just see the budweiser cyldesdales but there was so much more than that. It was really a neat place!

Peacocks are always one of my favorites.
The elephant did this really fun show with all kinds of tricks. So much better than watching them just stand there at the zoo.
And of course the Clydesdales! They were really beautiful and all the kids loved them. We got to pet some of the babies and they were as big as a regular horse!


Oh and I can't forget the boys feeding the goats. It was so sweet to watch them giggle while the goats attacked them for milk. Ty was an expert!
Grandma and Grandpa took the girls on their first Merry go Round ride! So cute!

The highlight of Presley's trip was the adorable cowgirl purse and stuffed pony Grandma and Grandpa got her! She was so excited and cuddled it all day. She is still obsessed with snuggling her pony and even likes to sleep with it!

Visitors in Little Rock!

We finally got some visitors here in 'the rock' and it was so much fun! Both of our parents along with my sister and her family drove in last week to visit and help celebrate Presley's birthday. It was so exciting to finally have family around again. We were really missing that. Unfortunately Presley cut another tooth and was pretty miserable most of the week. I felt so bad that they didn't get to see her really be herself but by the end of the week she was finally starting to feel better.

Here's just a glimpse into our week...

(Thanks Lex for all the great pics)

We went to the famous Peabody Hotel to watch the ducks swim in the fountain.

The ducks ride the elevator down, parade to music on the red carpet and up the stairs, and swim in the hotel fountain in the lobby.
We had lunch and treats at the Ottenheimer market...my favorite place!
Rode the trolley around town.

And sat in the park.
Aunt Lexi got Presley her first smoothie and she finally got the hang of sucking out of straw. As you can tell she is in love with smoothies! Probably felt good on that sore tooth.
Played at the splash park.
Ate 3 lb steaks at Doe's Place. Incredible.

Went to Hot Springs and climbed hundreds of stairs to the top of the tower!
And of course played with Grandparents! Paige was especially fond of Presley's Mimi.

Independence Day!

I always loved the 4th of July growing up and I have to admit it was mostly because I liked the new outfits! Now I will forever link the fourth of July to the way I spent it last year...In Labor!

This is how we spent Independence Day 2009...

We took it easy in the morning. Presley was having a rough week because of a new tooth coming in so we just hung out and she napped while I did some last minute preparations for her birthday.
We had a great lunch at the Whole Hog Cafe. Gotta love award winning bbq, ribs, and pulled pork!
The girls found these chairs outside a shop and fell in love...prompting an impromptu photo shoot.

These girls are going to be the best of friends. They are so lucky!


Travis and Keith took a nice relaxing nap together.
Aunt Lexi made the kids these cute buckets of goodies to take to the fireworks. Thanks Auntie!
Presley sweet talked her Mimi and Papa into bringing home one of the cute chairs from the furniture shop we found earlier. She absolutely loves her birthday chair!
We attempted to take a picture of the grandkids...this is what we got.

Family pictures weren't easy either. Between a teething baby and a 'posing' husband.
But we got a few. Thanks Lex.
The 'George'
It was so nice to have both of our families with us in Little Rock!

And Presley was so glad to finally have a whole day with Daddy!
That night we went down town and enjoyed the corn dogs, funnel cakes, fresh squeezed lemonade, symphony concert...
(no I'm not wearing a bandana, its my nursing cover!)
and of course...Fireworks!
It was such a fun day!