S'mores, Girls Day Out, and Boys Day!

Friday night we took a break from our regular routine of watching Ste. Gen football and we gathered with some friends in the neighborhood for a bonfire and s'mores. Dane ran wild with his little buddies and loved the s'more.

Chloe, the only girl

Colton
Tyler, the oldest one of the group

Aiden

We went home to get a good night's sleep so we could get up early and head to Kirkwood.

I met my mom, my sister, Tammy, and my sister in law, Ashley at my mom and dad's house at 9:00. We headed to Chesterfield Valley, one of our favorite places to shop. We met Kara at Babies R Us and got started helping Tammy register for Baby Knoll, who is coming December 12th! After helping Tammy find all of the necessities we went to pick up Katie, who had ran a 5K in the morning, and Amy, who had a Girl Scout Leader meeting. We went to Central West End. It was absolutely gorgeous out! We found a table on the patio at Bar Italia and enjoyed a delicious lunch and the wonderful weather.

Amy, Ashley, and Kara

Tammy, Katie, Me, and Mom

We saved room for dessert, but instead of getting it at the restaurant we went across the street to The Cupcakery. We got sugar cookies and cupcakes! Everything looked so good!

We ate as we walked down the block to the Chase Park Plaza Cinema.

We saw the 2:20 show of Eat, Pray, Love.

It was the perfect movie for our "girls" day.

Such a fun, fun day with my mom and sisters!

And while I had my "Girls Day"...........Dave, Dane, and Papa had a boys day.

Papa had to take care of some stuff for work in the morning,

so Dave and Dane spent some time at Cabelas.

Dane enjoyed checking out the animals.

They had lunch at Qdoba.

They went back to Mama and Papa's house. Papa came home and they played on the deck.

Dane hugged on Molly a bit.

They had a nice "Boys Day".

When we got home from the movie Dane was so happy to see us.

Mama pushed him around in his car for a bit.

It was getting chilly and starting to rain and Dane would not get out.

Whenever Mama would stop pushing he would try around and look at her.

It has been a couple of full, fun days!

Kirkwood Greentree Festival

Saturday morning Dave, Dane, and I headed up to Kirkwood for the Annual Greentree Parade and Festival. I have so many memories of going to the parade and festival with my mom and grandma and then later walking in the parade as a Pom Pon girl and hanging out at the park all weekend with my friends. I was excited to take Dane to the parade and festival this year.

Last year Dane went when he was just 2 months old.

We missed watching the parade with Mama. Mama and Papa had their high school reunion all weekend so they weren't able to come this year.

Dane took a little nap in the truck on the way up.

We found a nice spot towards the beginning of the parade route.
Dane heard something coming down the street.

He liked to watch the motorcycles, except when they got a little too loud.

This firetruck was quite a bit bigger than the truck Dane has seen at Daddy's firehouse.

Kirkwood Pioneers!

The Marching Pioneers were leading the Pom Pon girls and we got so excited.......

Taylor was marching in her first Greentree Parade as a

Kirkwood High School Pom Pon girl!

She smiled big as she performed in front of us.

Not far behind Taylor was Delaney and Darnel walking with Delaney's dancing school.

She was excited to see us.

Dane watched Uncle Darnel all the way down the street as he passed.

The Clydesdales!

We were surprised to see them. We had heard they wouldn't be in any more parades.

Watching the big Clydesdales go down the street.

Dave thinks this would be a fun job to have.

Mommy and Dane watching the parade

Having a little snack in his stroller

When a float he liked would go by he would sit up and check it out.

Dane moved quickly from being held, to his stroller, to standing.

The Bubblebus that Dane loves!

And finally, Robinson Elementary School with Trey and Aunt Amy.

Trey was riding in the truck so we missed his picture, but Aunt Amy came to say hi.

After the parade ended we went to the park.

We got hot dogs for lunch.

Trey and Dane were excited to see each other.

I had to get a picture of Trey since I missed him in the parade.

We ate, watched Delaney and Taylor perform, and looked at some craft booths before heading out of the park. It was starting to get warm. We went by Mama and Papa's for a bit to say hi. Papa and Aunt Katie were home. Mama was at a luncheon with her high school friends. Dane hung out with Papa for a while and showed Aunt Katie the sign language he learned from Tracey at daycare. He showed her "more" several times so she ended up sharing her lunch with him.

We stopped by the mall on our way home.

Daddy let Dane ride in the firetruck at the mall.

After the mall we headed home. Dane took a nap in the truck. We BBQed and watched football. It was our first Saturday night at home since July! We enjoyed relaxing!

Next weekend things start getting busy, busy, busy again!

Loves, Loves, Loves to be Outside!

Dane loves to be outside! The minute we come home in the afternoon he goes to the sliding glass door and starts pointing. I used to be able to take him out and sit in a lawnchair next to his playset while he played. Now he runs all over the backyard.

Walking to the back

Swinging
Playing with a stick

Dane standing on a chair and Max on the table.....trouble!

Playing on his playset

Just hanging out

It has been a long evening here.

Dave mowed the lawn this morning, then played golf all afternoon/evening. When he mows he moves the playset to the patio. He didn't have time to move it back before leaving to play golf. I didn't want to take Dane outside because I knew he would want to climb on his playset and slide down the slide (onto concrete). Dane sat at the sliding glass door and sobbed because we couldn't go out to play tonight.

Dane's New Obsession

Dane has a new obsession.....the shower. It kind of drives me crazy. I am always afraid he will trip on the door frame as he moves in and out. No matter how many baskets of toys I bring in our room to entertain him with as we get ready he always finds his way to the shower.

He always smiles really big when he gets in the shower.

He might know I don't want him in there so he is trying to butter me up!

He takes his blanket with him.
He likes to cover the bench in the shower with his blanket.
He will laugh and then pull it off really fast.

He loves to play peek a boo now,

so he will get in the shower and slide the doors shut.

Dane will also pick up any toys that he is "supposed" to be playing with and throw them in the shower with him. Between Dane going into my closet and pulling out all of my shoes and now playing in the shower our bedroom door is closed at all times!

Can't leave this little guy for even a second!