Cookies, Marshmallows, & Beer

Mary & Kevin came to visit us this weekend. It was very cold outside, but we managed to have some inside fun. Nate has been asking to make gingerbread cookies for weeks, so on Friday afternoon we started our holiday baking.


On Saturday, we headed to the Anheuser Busch brewery for a visit. The tour was great and the free beer afterwards made it all worthwhile! And if anyone is wondering, we boycotted the Stella Artois that was being served in pretty glasses. Inside the Brew House...

On Saturday night, Scott made a fire in our new fire pit and Nate roasted marshmellows.

Mimi was brave and bundled up to join the crowd outside. I on the other hand only stepped out to take a few pictures, then headed back in. I've never been much for being cold.

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Current Events

It seems I have been on a short blogging break - no real reason, just consumed by all of the other events that happen this time of year!

Last Saturday, it was extemely yucky weather in St. Louis. Scott needed to work on the basement and I was scrounging for ideas for Nate. I had the great idea to drive to Cape to meet my mom and Aunt Mil for lunch. We also visited with my aunts Lee & Kathy and are always glad to see family. We had a great time and it certainly gave us something to do on a dreary day.

Nate packed a large paper bag with the items he wanted for the trip - I didn't know what was actually in the bag, until I turned around on the way home to see he had brought his entire bed with him. He was cozy.

I was doing a little cleaning in the office one night this week and Nate made the most of it by pretending one of the couch pillows was a horse. He had lots of fun playing "giddy up."

And last but not least, my handy husband has finished the bathroom in the basement. We are so excited! Some finishing touches and decorating still have to be completed, but it is 100% functional. Next project is the bedroom that is connected to the bathroom - something is always under construction at the Boyle house - which is not a bad thing!

Relaxing Weekend

We have had a relaxing weekend so far...no plans besides watching football and inserting a few kid friendly activities for Nate.

Yesterday, we made edible play doh. I figured that since Nate puts everything in his mouth anyway, it might as well actually be edible for once. He loved it and it was so easy to do...for moms out there that haven't done this and that share in my quest to find edible activities for my child, here is the recipe.

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
1 cup powdered milk

Mix together well. It seems like it will be really sticky, but once it is mixed, it actually doesn't stick to your hands at all.

Notice that Nate sticks his tongue out when he is concentrating...just like his mother.

Today, the three of us went to the Science Center. It was actually the first time we had been there since we moved to STL because I was afraid it might be too old for Nate. He did great today and although he didn't understand everything, he loved pushing buttons and trying it all out.

In the Illusion room...kind of like on Charlie & the Chocolate Factory.

Moving circles from tower to tower...

They had a large exhibit on space shuttles today and he has a new found fascination with rocket ships and astronauts. Here he is in the elevator they converted into a space shuttle command center. When he got up from his nap today, he said flying the space shuttle was his favorite part of the Science Center.

The Pet Store

Nate and I were in the car today on the way to our most favorite place - Target - when Nate called to my attention the fact that we were passing the pet store. I said yes it was the pet store where he and Dad go to get Kitty Paus's food. He responded with "Alsolly (a mix of also and usually), when my fish and snails get dead, we go there to get new ones."

Yes, we do - great observation.

Weekend Visitors

We had a GREAT visit with Mimi, Amanda, and Noah this weekend. We couldn't have asked for better weather and we really enjoyed their visit (except the part where Georgia lost terribly to Florida on Saturday!)

We took them to Cooper Ella on Friday morning, to the Library Park on Friday for a picnic lunch, a Halloween party at the Peach's on Friday night, and then to the zoo and a picnic on Saturday. We were busy!

Halloween

The monkey and the Tiger...


We didn't get around to carving our pumpkins until after Halloween...

I couldn't get a lot of smiles out of Nate in his monkey costume, but Sarah promised a surprise if he would take a picture first...he gave us a half smile.

Snow White (Megan Peach), The Witch (Avery Peach), The Lion, and The Monkey...

Mimi the Cat came to play with us!

Mimi and her zoo animals...

Our Halloween trip to the zoo...

Mizzou Homecoming

We had a great weekend - traveling first to Linn, MO to stay with our good friends Robyn and Kurt - and their little ones Myra and Reid. On Saturday morning, we got up bright and early and went to the Homecoming parade in Columbia. Nate finally realized that you can actually EAT the candy they throw at parades. We struggled through being good parents and letting him gorge himself on candy!


Nate was dressed more for a Georgia Bulldog game than a Missouri one...but I promise he had on a Missouri shirt underneath the red fleece!

Sweet little boy but really just smiling so I would give him more candy.

Robyn & Reid - he is such a content baby and takes everything in stride.

Myra, Nate, me, and Reid...at the Heidelberg! It was a fabulous sunny day on the deck and I am so happy that I've gotten to be there twice this football season!