Long Time, No Write!

Wow, it’s been a while! Last time I wrote was all about Memorial Day Weekend.

Last time I wrote I had posted about something special going on Saturday evening (5/30) but wasn’t able to elaborate more on it, because it was a surprise! My BFF’s husband and I pulled off a surpripse b-day party for her. It was a great time. We started off with dinner at her favorite restaurant, 54th Street Grill. Then we moved to our “stompin’ grounds”, Jerzey’s. We all had a great time, especially her! She had a few lot of alcoholic beverages, and just had a great time! She hadn’t been out, except for one time, in about 6 years, as she was having babies (three of the cutest kids I know), nursing babies, etc., and just got done with that on 3/30. So, it was time for her to PAR-TAY!
Here are a few pictures.
Here is the b-day girl (my BFF) and I.

Getting ready to do a shot with Katie.

Here is Robbie and I (the two planners). Our AWESOME self-portrait. ha

And here is the b-day girl and her hubby. They’re WAY too cute for words!

Brent, the awesome bartender with Colleen and I.
The obligatory Brent photo. (We have to get this before the bar gets crowded.)

LOVE his face in this one. ha

SHOOOOOOOOOO-TIME!
(This is the only “drink” I had all night.)
We did a “chocolate cake” shot. . .I don’t remember what it was, but afterwards you have to “eat” some sugar and a lemon. It tastes just like chocolate cake.
IT’S SO WEIRD!!! JUST REALLY WEEEEEEEEEEIRD!
(Right Colleen?! hehehehe)

Brent being silly.

Aimers and I.

The b-day girl and I with Shawn.

B-day girl getting down with Sis’ boyfriend. haha
(Can you believe that is the body of a woman who has had THREE babies?! I’m SOOO jealous – she is sooo skinny!)

I love the expression in this pic.

Being silly.

BFFs =D

SWITTTTCHHHHHHHH

She LOVES me!

This is Jessica. Sis used to work with her at a restaurant a few years ago, and then I ended up working with her at the law firm about a year ago. Small world. We ran into her at Jerzey’s, so we had to take a picture with her.

Colleen with Leah and Mike (kissing her eye – it looks like). ha

BFF, Sis and I

We had a GREAT time. . .and closed the bar down!! =D





The rest of that weekend was pretty relaxful. I had a photo shoot the next day (5/31). I found my new love for New Towne, St. Charles during this photo shoot!
Here are just a few photos from that.
Meet Chase. I photographed his first b-day party a few months ago.
(I also photographed him before he came into this world!)

Chase and his family.

I love these. . .just some cute pictures of the grown ups.

Cute!

Family time.






That next week started Ric’s Summer vacation. (Since he is a teacher, and gets off for close to three months for the Summer – which is awesome. And yes, I’m jealous! haha)

He sure did start the Summer vacation off with a bang!
Some friends of ours were visiting from North Dakota.
Sara, Scott, Becca and Kaige arrived 6/1.

Long story, short. . .When Ric was in the first few years of college, his parents were stationed back to VA. Instead of Ric going with them, he stayed here to finish up. While he was here he lived with a family of a friend of his. Sara’s brother was Ric’s friend, the family that he lived with, so Sara and Ric have always been like brother and Sister. She lives up in North Dakota now, so we rarely see them. The first time I met them was when Sara and Becca came down back in 2001. Sara had a family function, so Ric and I spent the entire weekend with Becca, and we had a GREAT time! She was only 2-years-old then. My has she grown since the last time we saw her!!!! I was sad that I didn’t get to spend near as much time as Ric did with them, but the time was well spent and we had a great time.

On 6/2 Ric went with them to Six Flags. They had a great time at the park, as well as the water park.

On 6/3 Ric went with them to tour the Anheiser Busch brewery, as well as go up in The Arch. That evening Becca came home with Ric and the three of us had a “slumber party.” I got home from the gym, we had dinner at Subway, and then tried to go putt-putt golfing, but it was kind of an icky evening, so they were closed. Instead we went and had some ice cream at COLDSTONE! After that we went home and watched Paul Blart: Mall Cop (which was recommended by Becca) and had a good time. After that movie I went to bed and Ric and Becca stayed up to watch Space Chimps.

On 6/4 I was able to take off work and all of us went to the St. Louis Zoo. I know I might be a little biased, but I think that we have one of the most awesomest Zoos in the US! I even think it is a little better than the San Diego Zoo (yes, I have been there). . .I think that Zoo is overrated. Plus, ours is free!!! What more could you ask for?! It was a GORGEOUS day and all the animals were out playing (especially the tigers, which I loved!)!!
Of course I have pictures!

Becca and Uncle Ricky Joe.

Kaige, Sara, Becca and Scott in front of the penguin house.

Love this.

Monkey Love

This reminds me of ET for some reason. ha

That sure is my husband. ha

Becca and I.

Have you ever seen a baby peacock? You can barely see it here, next to Momma.

Kaige, the little poser.

Becca was posing people. ha

Uncle Ricky Joe with Kaige and Becca.

This was after a little girl almost got her fingers bit off by this little creature. She put her finger out there, and the little guy nipped it. Scared her to death. So then Becca and Ric wanted to mess with it too.

It had some awesome eyes though.

Time to go watch the Tigers play.
I could have stood there all day to watch them play!

Action shot.

Bath time.

Kaige checking out the tigers.

Kinda looks like a zebra with three heads.

“Look over there Daddy.”

Lazy camels.

I could have stayed and took pictures of the Giraffes all day long too.
This is a little baby. Isn’t it cute?!

This ostrich was pestering this poor little giraffe. AWwww. . .

Giraffe Love.

Could you PLEASE let us have a moment alone lady?! ha

My kind of girl . . . picture taker.

Who needs legs when Uncle Ricky is around?!

Piggy back ride from Mommy.

SUCH a cutie!

A ride on the carousel with Uncle Ricky. He wanted to ride on the frog.

She HAD to ride on the polar bear.

The end of the day. . .time to go home.




That evening the kids went back to Gma’s to stay with her and the adults went out to dinner and to have some drinks on The Landing. We had dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory and then stopped by The Big Bang (but we weren’t too excited about paying $5.00 per beer) and Heartbreakers (I think that one might be fairly new). Then we decided to go back to IL, to Jerzey’s, since it was just a little cheaper. haha It was a late night, but we had a great time!
Us at the Big Bang.

On 6/5 Ric went with them to Grant’s Farm and then to do a little shopping at South County Mall. That evening we all met for dinner and to say good-bye. . .they were going to start their drive home that evening, after dinner.

Can’t wait until their next visit!




The next weekend, 6/6 – I second shot another wedding with Sara of SJ Macky Photo. It was a TON of fun!! Will post some of those pictures later.
On 6/7 BFF’s daughter was in the Lit.tle Miss Horse.radish contest in Collin.sville, IL
Out of 18 other adorable little girls, she got 2nd Runner Up.
I was SOOO proud of her!!!
Here she is with her trophy, her medal and her flowers.

Isn’t she GORGEOUS?!?!

This past weekend we didn’t do much. Went to my hometown’s festivities, “Schweitzerfest” with Mom and Dad on Saturday and went to the hospital to visit Grandma on Sunday. (She was back in the hospital because of a fall.)





Tonight I’m SUPER excited to be getting to go to the Muny to see 42nd Street with Angie and Randall. I miss having season tickets, but I’m just so excited that we’re getting to go to the first show. Hopefully I’ll be able to make most of the shows this year.

And just for fun, here are some pictures from when I danced to the song 42nd Street when I was a little girl. (We got many awards for this dance!)
Just one from practices.

And now in our awesome costumes.
A fuzzy picture with our dance teacher.