End of the Summer Fun!

Wow summer has gone fast!  Today starts First Grade for the big guy and it seems that just yesterday we were finishing up kindergarten.

Over the past week or so, we've had some fun times....let's recap!

The boys love soccer and we just so happened to have a huge "friendly" soccer match come to St. Louis two weekends ago.  Real Madrid (from Spain) played against Inter Milan (from Italy) in the Edward Jones Dome.  We found the boys some cheap uni's online so that they'd be lookin' good for the game.

Ethan has the Real Madrid and Aidan the Inter jersey....they were ready for some soccer!!

Everyone in the stands came to see one of the best soccer players in the world, Christiano Ronaldo.  He's #7.  He's known as an international playboy so even the guys think he's pretty cool.

Popcorn and soccer, is anything better?

The teams take the field.

You can definitely tell its an international team...the boys laughed when they announced Kaka and Nacho on Real Madrid.

Another shot of Mr. Ronaldo.

In the center, Ronaldo goes for a bicycle kick but misses.

Our seats were pretty good...had a great view of the field.

Ronaldo ended up scoring one goal and the crowd went nuts!

Ethan was rockin' some awesome hair.

Soccer dudes!

All in all they really enjoyed the game.  Great experience for us here in little St. Louis to see two very famous international teams play. 

They put grass in the dome just for the game....I think it held up pretty well and was surprised that none of the players had issues with the seams.

Also last week, we took the munchkins to their second movie in the theater, Planes.  They loved it and so did Daddy and Mommy too.  I thought it was fun and clever, kinda a rehash of the Cars movies, but still neat with all the planes. 

Complete with the Planes shirts too...these guys have style!

Wednesday Night last week was Open House at Aidan's school and he got the opportunity to meet his new teacher, Mrs. Haarmann in first grade.  We also got to see his locker and desk....they are ready for him to learn!

REAL Lockers!!

 And REAL desk!!

Thursday morning, Grandpa Johnny Bingo came into town for a weekend of fun!  First up, a day game a Busch Stadium.  The weather was perfect, we were in the shade and although we didn't see a victory (the Cardinals won in extra innings after we left)....it was exciting!!

Did I say it was beautiful....It. was. beautiful!!

Cardinal fans next to a giant Piggybank!

We finished up the game a little before dinner, so we made a pit stop at the Science Center

Cool jet....

Whoa!  Dinosaurs!!!  A T-Rex and Triceratops!

THATS A BIG DINO!

Mookie Mooks taking a ride....

Dino Bros.

Daddy had to work on Friday, but that didn't stop Mommy and the boys from going out and having fun!

They were planning on the zoo, but weirdly the zoo was very busy.  So they headed to the Boathouse for some paddle boating in Forest Park.  We had never done it before and Mommy and the boys (and Grandpa John) loved it!

Loungers waiting for some boats....

A family of ducks followed their boat around the lake :)

Sailor #1

Sailor #2

Captain Johnny Bingo and his swashbucklin' crew.

Fountain time on the lake....

Even caught a shot of a turtle looking for fun....

Up next Mommy took them to Faust Park for some afternoon playground fun...

Serious Excitement there!

Gotta love the purple dino....

Action shots...

Too wiped out for play time?  What?

They then hit up the carousel ....Faust Park is a pretty cool place I must say?

Saturday was another great day in St. Louis and we headed out to an old favorite, Castlewood State Park for some hiking and picnicin'. 

This is Lincoln Beach, former playground of the rich and famous of St. Louis (in the 1920s)...the boys did a little beach running...

Hiking family!

On the banks of the Meremac River!

And from the top of the bluffs after a bit of an aggressive hike!

After our picnic lunch we headed out to Lone Elk State Park...and sure enough...we found the lone elk!  He's huge!! Actually there many elk in the park...but this guy was cool to see for sure.

That's all for now, thanks J Bingo for coming over to see us and hang out with the boys.

Have a great night!

Ty, Emmy, Aidan and Ethan