Happy Halloween!

Claire was boiling over with excitement on her first Halloween (thanks to Adam for the super cheesy intro). Happy Halloween everyone!

Dinner before trick or treating

Very tired lobster

Claire and Linda--the only stop on her first night of trick or treating! Thanks for the cupcakes, flash light, and banana Linda!

Brad and Nichole's wedding weekend

Congratulations to Nichole and Brad! Such a beautiful weekend, we are very happy for you two!! We had a great time in Savannah, arriving on Thursday night. Our home for the weekend was a townhouse on E. Perry Street, close to shopping, restaurants, downtown Savannah, etc. On Friday after the rehearsal we went to Lady and Sons for the rehearsal dinner followed by drinks at Nichole's parents beach house for the week at Tybee Island. Claire's first time to the beach. It was too dark out for her to really get a sense of it, so we will have to visit again soon. We got back to Perry Street on Friday night to watch the Cardinals WIN the World Series. Still cannot believe they won! The rest of the weekend was just as exciting...photo overload:

Outside the house on E. Perry Street

The flower girl at the rehearsal. Thanks for the adorable dress, Dr. Bachman!

Brad and Nichole at the rehearsal dinner

Claire with Mrs. Sharon--our wonderful Mom next door in Marietta

Claire introducing herself to Mrs. Deen. Ella, I don't know what we will do when she is too big for the Bjorn.

Watching the Cardinals WIN game 7 of the World Series

Relaxing with Aunt Mary on Saturday morning

WEDDING

Flower girl

 

RECEPTION

Reaction after the surprise pacifier toss: Adam and Claire were standing on the 2nd floor balcony  and Claire flung her pacifier down below, landing in Granny's drink. Oops! Very funny moment.

Claire and Aunt Lyle

Stache bash--we brought our own costumes

Not loving the extra hair 

Aunt Elizabeth's new unibrow

Weekend

Exhausting weekend but oh so fun! On Friday night we went to dinner to celebrate Adam's 31st birthday. On Saturday morning we headed east on I-70 to visit the sweetest twin girls (Brook and Sam) and of course their parents (Christine and Justin) and grandmother too (Linda). It was so good to see the Bruegs, the girls are precious! Next, we headed to Kirkwood to spend the night with Uncle Ray and Aunt Lyle and watch the Cardinals and Albert Pujols put on an offensive show, beating the Rangers 16-7. Early on Sunday morning Uncle Ray dropped Aunt Mary and I off at the MetroLink station to head downtown. We finished the inaugural St. Louis Rock n Roll full marathon on a beautiful day on a beautiful course winding all over St. Louis. Finish time 6:08:05. 

Claire and the birthday boy

  

Adam holding Samantha, Christine holding Brooklyn

Adam, Uncle Ray and Claire in awe of Albert Pujols' performance 

Claire and her cousins: Peter, Stuart, and Eleanor

Getting closer to the starting line

So proud of Aunt Mary! Her first full marathon seemed easy for her!! All of our training tapering paid off!

Claire fueling up post race with Nani and  Dad

Happy Birthday, Adam/Dad!!

You are the best husband/friend/dad/dancer any girl could ask for. We love you and hope you have a wonderful birthday! We are so glad you were born on this day. Love, your girls

Weekend

Another fun fall weekend! This weekend Mizzou celebrated 100 years of Homecoming. On Friday night we went to campus house decs in Greek Town (Greek pairings decorate and pomp large backdrops as a stage for their skits to entertain the entire MU and Columbia community – students, faculty, alumni, and families. It was fun!) On Saturday morning Claire and I walked to the parade on campus while Adam worked. Then we packed our bags and our cooler and headed back to campus for the shortest tailgate party ever. We needed to hit the road to get to St. Louis! There we got to visit Kate, Chris, and precious baby Thomas. After a great visit with the P family Claire and I went to an awesome birthday party for Alex (5) and Avery (3). The theme was cars and cupcakes and I don't have a picture of the incredible cakes made by Erin's mom but WOW! Claire loved it and I enjoyed visiting with Erin the A family. On Sunday we hung out with Peter, Eleanor and Stuart and went on a long walk with Aunt Mary. We called it a "training" walk in preparation for the marathon next weekend that neither of us are ready for. Yikes! Finally on Sunday night we were exhausted but SO excited to watch the Cardinals beat the Brewers and clinch their spot in the 2011 World Series! I love October!! Next weekend: Adam's birthday, Aunt Lyle and Uncle Ray, the Bruegs family, and 26.2 miles of St. Louis.

Claire enjoying the parade on Saturday morning

Claire tailgating with Julie

Kate and baby Thomas. Claire mad that I won't let her touch Thomas

The birthday girl, Avery, and Aunt Erin

Playing with cousin Peter and his dog Duke on Sunday morning

GO CARDINALS!

Claire was excited to wake up and learn that the Cardinals beat the Brewers in Game 3 of the NL championship series!

Claire goes to college

Who had a great weekend? We did! We went to Kirksville on Saturday to meet our friends Corey and Lauren. They live in Washington DC now but we met them at Truman State University in 1999. Corey and Lauren were being honored as Young Alumni of the Year during Truman's Homecoming weekend. We are so glad we made the short drive to Kirksville to cheer them on and celebrate with them. Stops included: campus, Dukum Inn (bar), Stokes Stadium (Bulldogs lost), and of course the Sig Ep house. We took Claire inside the house but promise she did not touch anything (still filthy).

Hanging out with friends Lauren and Corey

On the quad

Frat party w/ Lauren

Outside Dad's fraternity house

Going to college is exhausting (taken on Sunday during her afternoon nap--she is actually sleeping like this)

9 month stats

Patiently waiting for her pediatrician...Claire was very sweet and only cried when she got her flu shot. 

Height: 29 inches (95%)
Weight: 18 lbs. 14 oz. (50%)
Head circumference:  (80%)

Cousins and October birthdays

On Monday we got to see the Watkins (Adam's cousin Lee, his wife Laura, and their adorable kids Casey, Abby, and Emma) family from St. Louis and soak up more time with Uncle Ben. We all met at Shakespeare's Pizza, ordered too much food, and enjoyed the nice evening together. Thanks for coming to visit! Laura, hope you are enjoying your birthday today! To my cousin, Andrew- HAPPY 18th birthday tomorrow! And to Aunt Lyle- HAPPY (will not disclose) birthday on Friday. Love to all!

The spread.

Laura reading to Claire

Weekend

Another great weekend full of family and football! But before the weekend started we got to see these two on Thursday night:

 Aunt Chelsie and Uncle Ben were in town from Austin. We were so excited to see them but wish that their visit was under happier circumstances (Chelsie's grandmother passed away). On Saturday morning we drove to KC for the Northwest Missouri State vs. Pittsburgh State game at Arrowhead. It was a beautiful fall day and we had a great time cheering on Blake and NWMSU. Blake (Aunt Meredith's boyfriend and QB for NWMSU) had an awesome game despite the loss and concussion (hope your head is better now and good luck next week against Central Missouri, Blake).

Nana entertaining the little Bearcat as she got restless at the Northwest game on Saturday

Cheering on the Bearcats

On Sunday we went back to Arrowhead for a little family tailgate action before the Chiefs game. We had so much fun and witnessed the first Chiefs WIN of the season. Hope to make this an annual tradition.

Tailgating

Too much tomahawk chop