A Magical Trip to The Magic House!

We finally went and saw what all the fuss was about!  Everyone here talks about The Magic House, St. Louis' version of the awe-inspiring Houston Children's Museum, and it definitely did not disappoint!  We had a wonderful time, as the pictures will attest.  We went kind of late in the day and got an AWESOME discount because of it, I might add! ;)  So we probably only got through about half of what the museum has to offer, but, with two little ones, it was more than enough excitement for one day!  We plan to go back sometime and finish exploring the rest of it.  I think it will be a lot more fun when Ella is just a bit older and can enjoy it more.  Here are the pics and a video of one of Neil's favorite areas we visited.

The Magic House is featuring a Bob the Builder exhibit until May.  A couple of years ago, Neil would have been thrilled about this, but, sadly, he has pretty much outgrown the Bob the Builder stage and was eager to move on to the next thing.  He did, however, amuse his mommy by pretending to drive a few of the characters before we left the exhibit, so I could get some pics.  Doesn't he look excited?! ;)  I can't believe how much my little boy is growing up!

Our little princess has taken her position in her favorite place in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD!

A piano that makes bubbles to the music...Neil was in awe!

Neil learning how to work a pulley to lift himself up.

Playing in the water.

Finally, a place for Ella to play!

She LOVED the balls!

Of course, Neil had to check out the automotive repair shop!

Daddy teaching Neil about conductors and insulators...yes, I got that off the sign in the pic! ;)  It has something to do with batteries and light bulbs and that's about all I know.  Bobby, on the other hand, loves this kind of stuff and had a great time showing Neil how it all works.

Neil flipping switches to see what happens.

The bubble room was COOL!!!  Can you see the giant bubble Neil and Bobby are making???!!

This is a 3-story winding slide and Neil ran the stairs to do it 3 times.  He loved it so much!  I SO wanted to try it, but grown-ups aren't allowed.  I SERIOUSLY think they need to rethink that rule! ;)

The model train room!

Neil checking out the awesome model train!

Don't really know what to call this...you can climb it from one floor to another. 

Neil spinning the wheel to make music!

We truly had a phenomenal time and look forward to going back soon, maybe in the summer sometime.  And now for the video I mentioned above, so you can see a snippet of the action!

A Large Feat for Our Little Guy!

I am about a month late in posting this exciting news, but here goes anyway!  Back in January, our little Neil started riding his bike without training wheels!  It was such an exciting day!  Here is a video I took of him after about half an hour of practicing.  I just LOVE the little dance he does at the end!  He was so very proud of himself.  It's childhood at it's best!  ENJOY!!!!!

Another Snowy Day and a Visit to Daddy's Work!

Here are the pics that will REALLY give you a good idea of the crazy amount of snow we have gotten here this winter!  The kids and I went up to the business one day, so I could help Bobby clean.  We had some yummy pizza for lunch and, luckily, I had packed the kids' snow bibs and other warm snow gear, so they could play in the snow for a while before we left.  It was such a blast!

Here we are at Daddy's work!

Time to play in the snow!  Poor sister could barely stand in it it was so high!

WOW!  That's one BIG pile of snow!!!!!

Neil showing Ella how to make a snowball!

After playing in the snow, we headed in for some warm, gooey pizza!  YUM!!!

Sister is ready for some grub!

Ella taking a bite of pizza.

LOVE the pizza sauce on her face in this pic!

Here is our Neil trying to give his best "Mr. Attitude" look for the camera.

Again with the look...can anyone say ornery?!!!

Zipping up to go back out in the snow!

We had such a great time and the office floors got a much needed cleaning with all the yucky snow, sand and salt being tracked in each day!  The kids have really enjoyed all the snow we have had.  In fact, we are thinking of getting them sleds for next year.  There is a great sledding spot just up the street from our apartment complex that we really want to check out!  We always see it packed with people after each snow...SO FUN!!

Snow, Snow and MORE Snow!!!!!

Well, it seems that God wanted us to adapt to the cold weather really quickly, since He moved us here for one of the worst winters St. Louis has had in years.  The snowfall is already DOUBLE the total from last year with 2 more snow months to go (Supposedly March is usually their biggest month for snowfall...go figure!  Happy birthday to me!).  I guess this means that next winter will seem like nothing, right?!!!  Twice now, it has snowed 10+ inches in our area of St. Louis.  CRAZY!!!!!  However, it is beautiful when it first falls and Neil has had a blast in it, as you will see from the pics below.  A little different from Houston, Texas, to say the least!

This was from the first time it snowed about a foot!  It is hard to tell here, but it was still coming down when I took this from our balcony.

Now you can see it coming down hard in the field in the distance.

CRAZY!!!!!

When the snow stopped, I took Neil out to play in it for just a little while.  We couldn't stay long because they were warning that it was so cold that one could get frostbite after only 30 minutes.  YIKES!!!  Here are the pics I got of Neil making snow angels and some of Ella dressing in my winter gear.  I decided not to take her out in it this time because of the extreme temperatures.

Posing.

Trying to escape the camera!

Daring me to catch her!

 One thing is for sure!  So far, living here has definitely been nothing less than the greatest adventure of our lives!  I could never have imagined it even a year ago today.  It is so crazy to think that this time last year, we still had no idea we would be living in St. Louis playing in the snow the very next winter!  God is so amazing!  I am beginning to love it here, snow and all!

More Christmas Celebrations in St. Louis!

When we returned to St. Louis, we still had more excitement to look forward to with a visit from Lito and Grandma!  They arrived New Years Day and stayed for a week.  We had SUCH a blast celebrating a belated Christmas, Lito's belated birthday and the New Year with them!  It was so nice to show them around our new home.  They got to see our apartment, our business, Neil's preschool and even some of the surrounding areas where we have been doing a little casual house hunting.  It was a wonderful visit and we were sad to see them leave, but they are already planning to come back in the summer, so we are greatly looking forward to it!  Here are some pics from our visit with them!

First, we opened Christmas presents!

Neil showing off his remote controlled fighter jets!

Ella decided she would make a GREAT present!

Then the kids couldn't wait to try out their new gifts from Lito and Grandma!

Neil with his jets!

Sister getting in on the action, too!

A new bath toy for Ella!

A baby doll!  YEY!

To go with her new stroller!  Oops!  The baby fell out!

Now she's got it!

Ella decided she wanted to ride in the stroller and Neil had fun "flying" his jets over her head as she went by.

Of course, it was Daddy who sat her in it and pushed her around! ;)

I have learned to identify from this face that little sis is definitely up to something and is quite proud of herself for whatever it is...

...and now you know why!  Don't you just LOVE her sense of fashion?!  Who can resist this sweet little face?!  Please start praying for us now!  We are going to need it!!!!! ;)

Bow...check!  Tutu...check!  Baby doll...check!  Stroller...check!  Both socks...oh well, one will have to do!  But don't I look cute?!

Here is a pic Grandma took of Ella "helping" her clean.  Gotta love the cookie in her mouth!  A girl after my own heart! ;)

Brother zooming past on his scooter!

Lito and Spiderman building a puzzle!

Cutie!

One of the days we had lunch at Olive Garden and Ella decided to try on my hat and scarf.  Lito got a picture of our little fashionista...too cute!

Bobby and his mom outside the business!

  It was SUCH a great visit and a wonderful time with Lito and Grandma!  We can't wait for them to come again!  It was yet another incredible reminder of all the things we have to be grateful for and for our family who loves us so dearly!  Thanks Lito and Grandma for coming all this way to visit us!  We love you!