the st. louis arch

Next stop after the zoo on that super hot day was the Arch.

 

Kevin is so small... can you see him? 

Did you know that the Arch is as wide at the base as it is tall?  Pretty cool.

We went all the way up to the top.  Getting up there isn't exactly comfortable and not for anyone who is at all claustrophobic!  You sit in a little egg that barely fits 5 people and take a bumpy ride up to the top... very slowly.  Apparently people got stuck in there a couple weeks before we went - thank goodness that didn't happen to us!  Oh look it's the Cardinals! 

the st. louis zoo

I have been asking to go to the St. Louis zoo ever since Kevin and I were in STL almost 3 years ago so when we made our trip in late July the zoo was at the top of my list of things to do. Of course the weekend we decide to head to STL it happens to be nearly 100 degrees every day but I wasn't going to let that stop our adventure.  Anyone who knows me well knows how much I LOVE zoos and aquariums.
 

Awww snuggling:)

Did you know that the STL zoo is the largest free zoo in the country? Isn't that awesome?  It did feel kinda weird walking into the zoo without buying a ticket.

The scariest bird we have ever seen.

Since it was soooooo HOT some of the animals were hiding... particularly the big cats.  We definitely got to see enough animals to make the trip totally worth it though.

On our little zoo adventure I realized I can zoom in even closer then I thought I could... extreme close-up!

I cannot wait to go back next time we are in St. Louis!

my bridal shower

Originally I thought I wasn't going to have a bridal shower... I don't know it just didn't really seem like my thing and honestly I dread opening presents in front of other people. When Cyndi (my MIL) told me her friends wanted to throw me a bridal shower in St. Louis I was excited but a little nervous.  What was it going to be like having a shower with a bunch of women I had never met before... was it going to be awkward opening the presents?  I really shouldn't have worried at all because the bridal shower was so much fun and so beautifully done.

I honestly cannot thank Donna and Sharron enough for throwing the perfect shower.  Every detail was just so sweet.  Oh, the cakes... ummm the cakes were delicious!!!

I got so many amazing things off our registry... so many fun items for the kitchen.  The funniest/funnest present was definitely the "panty poem" from Kevin's cousin Lauren.  I had to read a poem and pull out a pair of panties to go with each line... every panty was attached to a long string that we passed around the room... too funny!

I felt so blessed to be surrounded by so many women (most of whom I had never met) who were so genuinely happy and excited for me.  It was such a great experience.

stl meets nyc (named by kevin)

Every year in early September Kevin's friend Derek comes to visit from St. Louis.  Now I am not one who always enjoys house guests (I mean seriously I love you guys but only for a couple days...) but Derek really out does himself.  He is the most courteous and thoughtful house guest ever.  It is always a treat to have him come visit.

This year he brought his girlfriend Meredith (LOVED her).  It was her first time in New York, how exciting!  We had dinner with them Wednesday (mexican at Maz, yay margaritas) and on Thursday we took Derek out for his first real venture into sushi (thank God he liked it cuz a bad sushi experience would be no fun). 

On Saturday we met Derek and Meredith at.... wait for it... DYLANS CANDY BAR!!!  Ummmmm only like heaven on earth for me.  Please don't take me to a candy store because I go kinda crazy, ahhhh I love candy. 

 Even Kevin got candy which is so unlike him!

After the candy bar we headed down to explore Little Italy and Chinatown.  We had an amazing lunch in Little Italy... yay for pizza (smoked mozzarella, arugula and shaved parmesan, yes please).

 Then we traveled a block over to Chinatown, such a change of pace.  

(ahhh scary fish teeth!!!)

We ended their visit with a BBQ on our roof.  Too bad I didn't get any pictures.  Oops.  I seriously hope I don't have to wait another year to hang out with Derek and Meredith!