St Louis City Museum

This is probably our favorite place to go when we visit St Louis.

Such an artistically fun place to spend the day.

When people ask us what the museum is, I find it hard to describe. There are tunnels, 7 story slides, caverns, giant whales, sculptures to climb in and on, a skateboardless park. Things pop out at you from nowhere and lead to somewhere. A school bus and airplane appear to hang off the building but are completely safe to climb in. It is basically the epitome of the most elaborate playground taken from a Dr Seuss book that is roaming around a child's mind put into reality with recycled steel, wood and the help of very talented adults.

Freya in a tunnel just bellow a ceiling with Grandma Norika following. You just never know where the tunnels will lead you.
Hall of mirrors

Giant....Hamster wheel?

Skateboardless park, even Raita had to try his hand at it.

There are a few artificats from the City which is where I guess the name comes from

Giant SlideIn this picture are Chloe in the thin white slide, Freya on the big white slide and Jonah running amok.

Jonah in a giant birdcage? Too bad he found his way out....
Raita and Freya walking on water:
Way more pictures to come in round two....

Fishing in St Louis

One of the best parts of our trip was hanging out at the lake with all the kids. They swam, they went in boats, they fished. It was really great.

Here are a few pictures of ours kids and their cousins during a fishing excursion.


If you look closely you will see a rare sight, whether it be in nature or captivity; big brother helping younger sister. Amazing!


Chloe putting a worm on
Cousin Michael wormin' up

Chloe reeling in the big catch of the day

Cousin Marissa showing off her catch
Freya loves her some worms
Lisa and Marissa fishing from the canoe
I love this picture of Jonah

To Raita

We miss you! We'll see you tomorrow!

Camping in Central Oregon

My dad drove us to central Oregon to visit with family.

We stayed at a camp site with my Aunt and Uncle while a few of my cousins, Grandmother and other Uncle came to visit.

I have many great memories playing with my cousins. This made it extremely sentimental to watch my kids play with my cousin's children.

My aunt and her youngest grandchild.

Freya and Macy playing around the lake.

Grandma and her three kids along with my three kids.
Grandpa Steve
Freya and Macy, only about a month apart.
A lizard Jonah made a home for.
My uncle and a couple of his sons around the campfire.

Chloe playing with the youngest

Freya and Chloe being little mothers to the baby.
Freya playing with two of her cousins.

Children's Museum Oregon Style

This is the CM that my kids grew up with.  We met some of our friends and Uncle Brian and had some fun.

Milestone

Chloe got her ears pierced.  It was so cute, I wish I had the picture of her face when she first saw them.  She was so happy and she just kept saying, "I can't believe I got my ears pierced!"

Oregon Zoo

The first day of our Oregon trip, the kids and I headed over to the Zoo.  This is such a great zoo, you don't really appreciate it when you live here.  The kids had been away for such a long time that they kept commenting on how awesome the zoo was! 

It was overcast and drizzling but what a reprieve from the 100 degree weather in Austin..  I was happy to be out in the cool wet weather enjoying my kids' delight in the animals.  

We went extra early right when it opened at 8:00.  Many of the animals were pacing waiting for their food.  We saw many get their morning meals.  The otters were so cute and man are they smart, doing more tricks than Suki!

And the bird show is always a must.  I swear one of the birds buzzed me so close that it's wing tip grazed my hair.

Freya's Birthday Party!

We will be gone during her actual birthday and she really wanted to have a party here with her friends. So we had a bit of an early party with our Austin friends.


There was swimming, eating, karaoke, pink cake, eating, pink cocktails, pink Italian sodas. It was perfection even though I do say so myself! I love the aftermath of the cake eating.


Freya was so happy and we're still recovering from the soda/cake high.