Our Play Group

This summer, Mandy and a few of her girlfriends had made plans to join a play group. The play group never became a reality. But she and her friends are trying to make their own, albeit disorganized, activities. They've been swimming a few times, at our friend Katie's pool, which has been great for Brendan. His first time he was rather frightened. After pulling out the kiddie pool in the backyard, and a few trips face-first down the slide, he is starting to get over his fear of water in the face. And the second trip to Katie's pool, was much less dramatic.

This week we decided at the spur of the moment to go to the Butterfly house in Faust Park with our friends Jessica and Josie. Both Josie and Brendan were a little temperamental but everyone survived the day. The Butterfly House was pretty cool, if you've never been. OK, maybe cool isn't the word as it's rediculously humid inside the butterfly house, but you get the point. Mandy was worried going into it that Brendan would have a hard time finding the butterflies. But there were so many that this was definitely not an issue. Even little Josie was able to spot them. They really are beautiful to watch.



It was very hard to catch the butterflies in mid-flight on camera, but I swear they are there. This is Josie and Brendan taking a moment to check them out.





Brendan is in a bit of a "I want to run off and do exactly what you ask me not to do"phase. So one of the few things we could do to keep him with us was to allow him to push Josie. Sometime you gotta do whatever works.






Mommy and Brendan at the end of our visit to the Butterfly House.





After the Butterfly House we decided to cool off from the humidity with some fun in the play room. There we played with some puppets and a little dress-up. Here is Brendan the bee.






Josie the butterfly.






After the Butterfly house we ate a picnic lunch and rode on the indoor carousel. This is the second time that Brendan has been to this carousel, but the first was much more of a fiasco. Once the carousel started the last time he screamed until it came to a stop. This time, he had a lot more fun. Before the ride started he was making his "horsee sound" and wanted to show Mommy the horse's nose, eyes, and ears. Once on his horse, he enjoyed petting it's mane and saying, "Nice, nice." Once the ride began, he seemed to enjoy it, with a few smiles here and there and no screaming this year.

Can't wait for more of our play group activities!



Josie and Jessica enjoy the Carousel.





Brendan on the Carousel. No screaming this time.

New Friends

In recent months, we have been blessed to share in new additions to both family and friends' lives. In April we welcomed Nico Marianne Brooks to the family, and Madison (Maddie) Gray Kahle to our friends Alicia and Paul. In May, came the arrival of Christopher Michael Klenke, to our friends Michelle and Chris. And in June, we were very excited to also welcome to the family baby Tyler Jaxson Duffe. Unfortunately I don't have many pics of these new wonderful babies, but I'm sure to have some in the coming months. For now, this is Brendan's 1st pic with baby Christopher. At their first meeting, Chris slept right through and Brendan was obsessed with pushing the buttons on his pumpkin seat.

Brendan's 1st Cardinals Game

In late June we took Brendan to his first Cardinal's game. We sat in Big Mac Land and were joined by Brendan's Uncle Shane and Aunt Lilly. Brendan loved climbing up and down the stairs. He also thoroughly enjoyed his first official ballpark frank. His patience (or should I say, Mom's patience) only lasted until the end of the 6th inning, but it was far longer than we had anticipated. Unfortunately, we were losing to the Diamondbacks at the point that we left the stadium. Shane and Lilly were able to stay for the remainder of the game and informed us the Cardinals came back to win the game in a very unconventional way: a walk-off win on an error. Whatever folks, it was still a win.

Walking to the stadium.

The view from Big Mac Land

Yum! Hot Dogs!

In our seats (Brendan is still enjoying his hot dog): Ryan, Mandy, Brendan, Lilly, and Shane

Brendan and Uncle Shane keep score.

Wicked

For Mother's Day, Mandy and her dad wrangled up some tickets to see Wicked at the Fox Theater as a gift to Mandy's mom. Miraculously, we were able to score a total of 8 tickets so we were able to also take 2 of her sisters, and their daughters to make it a family girls' night. Even more awesome was the private booth that we had! Yes, that's correct, private!!! It was an amazing show, and we all had a great time. Happy Mother's Day, Mom.

The whole crew in front of our entrance. From left: Mandy, Brandy, Karen, Christy, Lynn, Lilly, Kathy, Tara.

The Cole girls: Mandy, Christy, and Lilly (soon-to-be a Cole). The only one missing is Jess, poor thing had to work. We missed you, Jess.

Me and my Mommy.

Mom, and her sisters: Kathy, Karen and Mom (Christy)

Hard to tell in this picture, but the sign says "Private Box. Do Not Enter." Except that was OUR box, and of course, WE entered.

A Tour of Busch Stadium

On June 13 we were invited to help our friend Dave celebrate his birthday with some surprises by his wife, Jessica. Together with the couple, we enjoyed a tour of Busch Stadium. We had a great tour guide, and there were so many interesting things we learned. After the tour we ran by Gus's pretzels where Jessica had arranged for a giant StL pretzel that we then took with us to eat at a restaurant in Soulard. It was such a fun day, and so nice to spend some time with our friends, and without our toddler. Thanks again for allowing us to share this day with you, Whitlocks.

In the announcing booth.

Our group in the dugout: Mandy, Jessica, Ryan and Dave

Us, sitting on the dugout bench. Can you believe it?!

That's one, big pretzel!!! Happy Birthday, Dave.

Race for the Cure 2010

On June 12 we once again participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. This time was bittersweet, however, as we not only walked in survival of Mandy's grandmother and our soon-to-be brother-in-law, Danny's, grandmother but we also walked in remembrance of Ryan's mother, Suzi, for the first time. We try to go to this event every year, the only one missed in the past 8 years was the year that Brendan was born. This year we were supported by some family and friends: NaNa and BawBaw (Mandy's mom and dad), Aunt T (Ryan's sister, Tory), Uncle Danny (Tory's fiance), Robyn (Danny's mom) and her mother (a breast cancer survivor), and our friends, Brad, and the Whitlock family (Dave, Jessica, and Josie). But boy was it a hot, hot, HOT day!!!

It is always astounding to see the amount of people who have been affected in someway by this disease, and this year was no exception. Nearly 65,500 people were said to pack the streets of downtown St. Louis and $3.4 million was earned to find cures for breast cancer. I truely believe that within our lifetime a cure will be found for this disease. And our part can be played, by participating in anyway we can and through our prayers.

Ryan's family (in a way), from left=Mandy, Ryan, Danny, Tory, Danny's grandma, Robyn; down in front (not paying any attention)=Brendan

Our poster in memory of Ryan's mom, Suzi. Our way of having her with us on that day.

Group shot, Mandy's fam and friends, top row from left=Jessica, Dave, NaNa, BawBaw, Ryan, Mandy; bottom row from left=Josie (in case anyone is unaware, this is Brendan's future wife), and Brendan

Brendan goofing of with Mommy before the start of the Race:

Too rough a day for Miss Josie, asleep in her stoller: