Summer travel

Now that school has started again, I am finally posting pictures from our busy summer. Sorry for the long delay. I'll compress all of Summer 2009 into three posts; this one covers our summer vacations.
Big Cedar Lodge (6/6-6/8)
Trip to St. Louis (7/3-7/5)
Family Reunion (8/7-8/9)

Big Cedar Lodge (6/6-6/8)
We went to Big Cedar Lodge near Branson, MO with Lolo and Lola because Lola was giving lectures at a conference one weekend. The resort was a beautiful place to explore, play, and relax.

Bella by the pool


Walking with Lola and Lolo


Caught by a fish


Picking flowers


Waterfall view


Lazy river


Ready to swim


Waving the flag


Relaxing on the boat


Tubing!


Driving the boat


Pony ride


New cowboy hat


Checking out the horses
St. Louis (7/3-7/5)
Over the 4th of July, we drove to St. Louis to visit Michael's aunt, who is a cloistered nun at the Mount Grace Convent. That weekend was also the Celebrate St. Louis festival with free concerts. Lolo and Lola kindly watched the girls at the hotel so Michael and I could have a date night watching the Counting Crows under the Arch with fireworks following.


Date night in downtown St. Louis


Sleepy baby at the convent


Visiting the nuns


Kiss goodbye


Posing at the cathedral


Cathedral garden


Mommy and Bella outside the cathedral
Family Reunion (8/7-8/9)
We drove to Texas for my annual family reunion and had a blast with tons of cousins, as always.


Swimming with cousins


Water fight!


Horseshoe with Grampa


Defending the goal


Card games


Talent show


Gabi with cousin Bryn
New cousin!
Two-week-old Cade was too young to hang around all the people at the reunion, but Michael and I stopped by his house to visit on our way out of town.


Meeting baby Cade