Wednesday, September 23, 2015

My neighbor's mansard

Our neighbors are hard at work on their mansard and doing a kick ass job. I feel poor for them- that level of restoration is an investment!

That's a wrap! Summer 2015.

Summer of 2015 is officially over and we did a lot of new and different things this summer. Or things we haven't done in a really long time.  Given that our school do not start August 31 we had plenty of time to enjoy some destinations during the off-season. School year has been new too- new middle school building, a freshman in high school, new routines at school.  Here are some favorite memories from summer 2015:

  • Pole Position with cousin Patrick.  I think he had more fun than the kids.  Good luck to him as he moves to Chicago to start college at DePaul after 4 years and numeous deployments in the USMC
  • SkyZone.  Love this place.  Just wish it were closer or that we had an option like it in the City of St. Louis. 
  • Grant's Farm.  Goats still terrorizing children.  Beer still free.
  • Many cardinals games
  • Mimi got to go to Six flags!
  • Kay went to Wildwood Lodge and Audrey went to Carillon Beach in Florida with friends
  • First ever Mizzou football game for kids
  • Our cousins moved from Wildwood to Eureka.  Love their new pool and set up.  I swear my sister in law made her house look awesome in 2 weeks.  It's been 13 years for me and I'm still working on it.
  • Two summer birthdays - Audrey whose birthday is very close to Labor Day and Mimi whose birthday is close to the 4th of July.
  • Things we missed- the kids missed not being able to go to lake with grandma and grandpaTom and missed fireworks this year. Looking forward to the return of lake outings and downtown fireworks in 2016. 
  • Mimi spent night at zoo. Nice polar bear photo bomb. 
Gus and John went on many hikes out at Shaw Nature Reserve, part of MIssouri Botanical Garden.  They enjoyed very much.

Any graduate of the Mizzou Journalism school knows the importance of these lions.

Loved Laumeier Sculpture Park.  Here is Audrey's girl scout troop. 



We moved rooms around in the house.  This used to be a bedroom.  Now it's John's first floor office. Otto likes it too. 
In said office John designed cups for the first annual St. Margaret of Scotland Back to School parents house party.  Five couples hosted a house party- kegs, jello shots, party punch, band, etc.  We raised a lot of money for the school! Look for us again at 2017 auction.

How many parochial schools have their own house band made up of parents?  Special thanks to RM who let us use his Soulard space for the party and to the Occasionals (because they only play occasionally).  Special guest drummer for the Occasionals was CL who was one of the top guys in my law school class!

It's another party at the Lafayette Square Bath and Tennis.  We had 8 tennis rackets - boys vs. girls.