Going Home

i think Home is where you come from, where you live, and where  you come back to.

this week i experienced home.

 we love to go home in oct. i have been home the past 3 out of 4 octobers! the weather is perfect and i get to experience fall for a short time. the pumpkins, the mums, the scarves, the hot chocolate and the

leaves! we were a little earlier this year so the leaves weren't as turned but just enough to feel like fall.

the weather was perfection!

we went with matt's parents, tim and kathy down to kirkwood to the farmers market. it was such a beautiful day!

  

                                       the train going by

                               fruits and vegetables and every other thing you can imagine.
we walked around and went in shops and looked at art and then went to the sugar shack for a chocolate soda~ my st. louis tradition. Love It! somehow though i keep missing my other st. louis tradition- a turtle sunday at fritz's. next time it's the first stop!

 my mom was out of town for a couple days so we went over and walked her dog, paikea. she has an issue with men but matt was determined to make friends with her so he layed down so he wasn't above her and she warmed right up! we took her to her favorite park and had a beautiful walk.

          you have to stop and see the horses at the park!

 then i went with my mom and proceeded to hit every store in st. Louis. we had to make a stop at lion's choice for their awesome dip cones. i got these with my kids all the time and called them baby cones, perfect size! i got to hang out with my family, eat and shop and see my sister! our time was short since we were going to chicago but we managed to fit in a lot!

 we got to see kim and mark and the boys. it was sad not to have tim and richelle there with the kids but matt says we're going to see them in brazil! Eli has grown up so much and is a swimmer and a water  polo player, he was determined to beat matt in arm wrestling.

 he gave it a good shot!      

 sorry Eli, i'm sure in a few years you'll have him! it was really fun hanging out with just cole and eli since the girls are gone at college. they are really fun boys!
i can't believe i don't have more pictures of people which is why we really go back. it's fun to see our family and spend some quick, fun time with them!
matt had meetings in chicago, he went a little ahead of me and i came over and met him. it was much colder there and when you are walking everywhere it's even colder but i brought gloves, jackets and scarves!

 we took the boat ride you see in a lot of movies like best friends wedding. it was cool but sunny and really fun. they tell you all about chicago and it was really interesting!

 navy pier. we learned all about the architecture and the buildings.
on sat. matt did an urbanathlon. 10 miles of running and obstacles. cabs, busses, and running up and down the stairs of the stadium where the chicago bears play!

 i couldn't really get to anywhere unless i took a cab because i would have to walk and of course matt would get there before me so i just took  pictures of the obstacles at the finish. you had to climb over these cabs,up this cargo net

                                     under this wire

                                           and over this wall

 that was just what was at the start/finish. he said it was a lot of fun but the obstacles got very backed up.
the things he'll do to race!

  one of kiley's favorite things as a little girl was american girl dolls. we were very into the dolls, books, magazine and clothes. we took her to the american girl store in chicago when she was young.
it was funny matt was talking to a friend he grew up with at church and they were talking about ellie and ryan said you'll have to take her to  the american girl store, their bringing one to st. louis! so cute when dad's know what little girls love and to just see old "guy" friends talking about girl things!
so we went in the american girl store in chicago and what did we see!!
                                               
 this is kanani, she is the doll of the year and is from hawaii! the doll of the year only stays for one year and she is gone the end of Dec. it took a lot not to buy her and take her home!!! i still have a few months to decide!

 most likely we will buy ellie a bitty baby first when she is just a little older. i hope we can have some of the same fun traditions we did with her mom!! we've already found lots of clothes and books for her that have lots of memories from kiley as a baby!

 my friend julia lives in indiana and she drove 4 hours to come and meet me in chicago. she had to leave late fri. night so she stayed in a hotel half way then got up sat. morning and drove the rest of the way into downtown chicago where it was super frustrating driving on one way streets and not getting where you need to! i am so grateful for her friendship and willingness to come see us. we went to ikea and had lunch, shopped a little, went to dinner and caught up! we were best friends in high school and have stayed friends through all the changes in our life. love her!

 then there's ellie! she did not come with us but i asked ki to please send pics to my phone and she was so good about it, even got a video. when matt and i got these pictures on our phone on about the 9th day gone i started to cry, i missed her so much! i didn't want to miss one smile or funny face!

 we were so happy to get home and see ellie and come in on the plane to this~

we love visiting home! we love our home! and we love coming home!