by Sarah | Apr 25, 2012 | All About Erik, All About Marriage, All About Me
[flickr id=”7114409929″ thumbnail=”small_320″ overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”] From the time I knew we were going to St. Louis I knew i had to do a brewery tour. In my head I had the images of Laverne & Shirley on the line and I wanted to see that in person. I wanted to abuse my camera and get loots of pictures.
The day I went to sign up Erik & I for the tour I saw the price – $25 a person. I gasped, choked, and hit ‘pay’. I sort of hated that I was paying that much money when I don’t even like beer.
It was the best money spent the whole weekend (Star Trek Exhibit aside). Worth every penny.
The tour is amazing. If you ever go, skip the free tour. In advance shell out the money for the Beermaster Tour. It is worth every penny if you do – and worth every penny if you don’t – like beer. The campus of Anheuser-Busch is amazingly beautiful. The buildings are lovely and well maintained. Just stunning. The tour guides are well informed, friendly and didn’t sound practiced/scripted.
With the beermaster tour you actually go out on the bottling floor, walk among the machines. Up close and personal. I really felt like Laverne (or Shirley) out on that floor.
Oh, and at the end of the tour you’re left in the suite with an open fridge of many flavors of beer and told to sample what you want. (For the record, my husband ‘sampled’ four of them LOL).
now without further ado – I give you pictures. Because words alone can’t pinpoint all the fun that was had.
[flickrset id=”72157629519577434″ thumbnail=”small” photos=”” overlay=”false” size=”small”]
by Sarah | Apr 23, 2012 | 45 before 45, All About Erik, All About Marriage, All About Me, Random
[flickr id=”6960802096″ thumbnail=”small_320″ overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]Erik and I have returned from our mini-vacation in St. Louis.
As you can see one of our favorite stops was the Anheuser-Busch Tour. Erik enjoyed it immensely – and even I did (and I don’t like beer as a general rule).
So much happened on our trip and I learned so much at Bloggy Boot Camp – and we met so many wonderful people…
My head is still spinning. My 45X45 list is calling out to be updated. My photo editor is overflowing with pictures to be edited (85% of which were on the BeerMaster Tour).
We have declared today our vacation from our vacation day.
Tomorrow I’ll be responding to a ‘tag-you’re-it’ post from a friend to give me an extra day for thought-processing and photo-editing, and then I hope to be back to posting as usual.
So I’ll keep it short and say – awesome weekend. Awesome people. Awesome learning. Awesome town (we really did thoroughly enjoy STL and its people).
Now we go back to bed.
~zzz
by Sarah | Apr 21, 2012 | All About Kennedy
[flickr id=”6936507159″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”]
A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer ~Author Unknown
Our silly monkey. The one that hid herself until near the end of the pregnancy, and then became so impatient once we knew you made your escape a month early. You screamed your way into the world and our hearts.
You look every challenge in the eye and scream or laugh it away. You’ve overcome every obstacle the world has put in your path in your own unique way.
You are at turns beautiful and funny and smart – and then weird, quirky, and goofy. A Kewpie doll voice, a smile that melts the angriest heart into a puddle of goo.
We have been blessed to know you, to see you grow. So tied to your big sister – but so much your own person.
Happy Birthday to my littlest angel.
[flickr id=”6936627216″ thumbnail=”small_320″ overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”6936587190″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”6936589540″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”7082660401″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”7082662875″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”6936587076″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”6936590242″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”7082668411″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”6936601172″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”7082673295″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”7082670323″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”5888951604″ thumbnail=”small_320″ overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”]
by Sarah | Apr 20, 2012 | All About Denver, The Teenager, Track
[flickr id=”6083043811″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]Last year Denver begrudgingly signed up for Track. Cross Country only runs in the fall, and this gave him a spring sport. He ended up on all of the longer runs, but struggled with the shorter runs compared to XC.
This year?
The kid is killing it. Beating all of his best times regularly and placing in a good portion of the races he’s in!!
The best part? Seeing him proud of his accomplishments – the improving times at every race. His most important race is against his own time.
We’re proud of him, too. Never thought I’d raise a runner – but he’s one heck of one!!!
by Sarah | Apr 19, 2012 | All About Molly
[flickr id=”6408223047″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”center”]
To a father growing older nothing is dearer than a daughter. ~Euripides
You started life as you live it. On the side – coming in so easy that the doctor wasn’t even prepared. Blue, but your instant cries brought tears to your Daddy’s eyes.
Despite your desire to sleep nowhere but on someone’s heartbeat, or in your carseat, you were so easy when you were tiny. A blessing to fill our house even more.
Even as you grew and your struggles began, you continued to touch our hearts. Through your struggles that we made our own, our love for you grew and grew. Even as you frustrate us, we cherish your unique heart and soul. Your unique spirit helps us treasure each and every genuine smile.
We love you, Molly…and are so happy and proud to see you become such an incredibly smart and beautiful girl. A big girl at 7 years old.
Happy Birthday baby!
[flickr id=”6943024260″ thumbnail=”small_320″ overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”6943024224″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”7089094861″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”6943025214″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”6943024972″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”6943025068″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”6943024112″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”6943024062″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”7089095535″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”7089099343″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”7089097145″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”7089095457″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”6943025322″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”6943025402″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”6943025544″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”7089103379″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”] [flickr id=”5888952266″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”none”]
by Sarah | Apr 17, 2012 | All About Me, Story of Me
[flickr id=”7034055449″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]On December 9th, 2006 I had a full hysterectomy of my remaining reproductive organs. This happened 7 years after a right ooferectomy (let’s loosely call it an ooferectomy as technically there wasn’t any ovary left).
This was not voluntary. It was classified ’emergency’ – and happened just 10 days after the ultrasound revealed what I suspected, I had another non-functioning cyst. It had happened before – to my right ovary. A non functioning cyst that had been discovered in April of 1997 grew into a 5lb mass that completely obliterated my ovary. So when this cyst first appeared we treated for it, but instead of shrinking it grew. The emergency hysterectomy was scheduled.
By that point I had my 3 children. All that I ever wanted. I was ready to stop being surprised by pregnancies – and to stop that other regular hassle that all women have. My regular visitor had always been a painful mess, even when in peak health. I sure wouldn’t miss that (or the expense of it).
I was fine with it. Menopause? Pshaw. I’m ready. Sign me up for that surgery.
I’m still okay with it.
I have random bouts of hating menopause. What it’s done to my body. The hot flashes, oh the hot flashes.
Still, I’m good with it.
But every once in a while.
On the days when I see how big my girls are now. On the days when I see how removed my teen has become. On days when I see a tiny baby, so small and sweet. Or I remember the feeling of being pregnant.
Then, in the quiet moments – that is when I mourn.
Not because we could have had more (we couldn’t – not financially feasible at all). Not because I wanted more.
Because the choice is gone. The days are passed. I miss the days when the possibility was there. I miss the wonder, the joy.
We are set, our family is complete. We’ve known it all along.
Yet in small, almost infinitesimal doses, I mourn.
