SWIMMING!

The Missouri Kreidlers enjoyed Kirkwood's Recreation Station for the first time this summer. It was a tad cold (in the 80's) but the sun was nice and hot! We both spent time with Em going down the 3 story slides as well as riding in the lazy river with both kids, swimming and diving in the lap pool (including watching Paul and Em go off the diving boards and Adam jump off the sides (this kid needs a lifejacket! He's not afraid of the water at all!)), and watching Adam go down the little kids slide.

We all had a great time! We'll be spending loads of time there this summer!

It's been awhile...

...since I posted a picture of our friend Emmy! Isn't she adorable?

Emily's Letter

This is pretty self explanatory:

Adam and his new friend

Bill, the regular crossing guard, is on vacation this week. So, on the walk to school today Adam made a new friend.

Last Day!

Today is Emily's last day of 2nd Grade! It's hard to believe our little girl is going to be in 3rd grade. Where did the years go?

Emily had a great year due in large part to her wonderful teacher, Mrs. Diane Heinicke. Emily sobbed like her heart was breaking last night because school ended today. She was never tearful when her school years at Vachel Lindsay ended. I think Paul and I will miss Diane as well.

One additional note about Emily's second grade year at NG. She missed ZERO days ALL year! She had perfect attendance! One day while we were in Costa Rica she didn't feel well, but she persevered and stayed at school. (The students "mission statement" at NG is "As a learner at North Glendale, I will be cooperative, respectful, responsible, honest, and I WILL persevere!")

Annie, Hailey and Emily

Making the last walk of the 2007-2008 year!

Outside of NG

Emily and Mrs. Heinicke

Mario Kart

The kids are still enjoying Mario Kart! Look at the concentration on both of their faces!

Peonies

I love this time of the year! Peonies are probably one of my favorite plants! There seem to be a ton of these around Glendale. I snapped this picture in a neighbors yard on our way home from school one day.

Family Togetherness

In a bid to conserve gas (although gas here in MO is just $3.75/gallon), the Missouri Kreidlers decided to use our "old" car when possible rather than the big, gas-guzzling Ford Expedition. Using this car sure makes our family feel "cozy" and "together" since it is much smaller than the Exped! Luckily, the kids get along great since it would be so easy for them to pick on each other while sitting so much closer. I snapped the following pictures this past weekend while on our trip to Bee Tree Park. (And, no, the first picture was not staged. Paul and I both noticed that they were sitting in the back seat like that!)

Adam and Mommy's Day out!

Adam has been asking to go to the zoo, so yesterday after watching Emily participate in Field Day, we went!

As we pulled into the parking lot, Adam said "YEAY!!! We're at the ZOO!!!!" I haven't seen him that excited about going to the zoo in a long time! We had our lunch over by the giraffes and to entice him to sit in the stroller while I pushed him over to see the Hippos and Dinosaurs, he had a yummy cold treat!

Emily was quite dissappointed though that she didn't get to go, so I think the first available day we have this summer, we'll be at the zoo!

North Glendale Field Day!

Emily's school today had Field Day! Since Adam is my constant companion most days, I was unable to volunteer, but we walked over and scoped out Emily and her "Family Group" to see how they were doing! (North Glendale Elementary establishes Family Groups in the beginning of the year. It's with a teacher and a group of kids from all grades. They get together at least once a month to talk.) Em's Group wore Red today so it wasn't too hard to find where Emily was on the field. Emily looked like she was having a good time! Here's pics!

Emily and Mrs. Swalina (her Family Group teacher!)

Bee Tree Park

Today we decided to check out Bee Tree Park in southern St. Louis County. The land that is now Bee Tree County Park was previously owned by Southwestern Bell Telephone Company founder, Eugene Nims, who built a mansion in 1929 and used it as a weekend retreat. The house, designed by the foremost St. Louis architectural firm at the time, Maritz & Young, is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. It was Nims who established the extensive gardens.

The park is located on the banks of the Mississippi River, so our plan was to walk to the scenic overlook and then go to the playground for an hour or so, but we decided to hike the trail and by the time we got to the playground it was raining. I was expecting some pouty kids, but they didn't seem to mind - in fact they liked the walk through the woods.

Hoops!

Finally! We (or should I say - Paul) got the hole dug for our hoop (with Adam's help)! Next week at this time we'll be out shooting the rock!

Dad and his helper

He's in the hole!
FYI: Paul missed good old Central Illinois farm soil while digging today. Missouri (at least where we live) seems to have clay and rock filled soil which makes digging an adventure!

Rain Rain, GO AWAY!

Ugh...more rain. Emily and Hailey enjoyed it though!

Saturday's

A great Saturday in Kirkwood means...

A trip to the Farmer's Market

Kettle Corn

Lunch outside at Bar Louie (tater tots....yum)

and a trip to OK Hatchery!

Glendale Jazz Fest

Madison, Emily, Hailey, Isabel

Gumbohead was great!(notice the St. Louis County Park Department's band wagon)

Emily and a few classmates with her teacher, Mrs. Heinicke and her daughter (who stops by class now and then)


Tonight was Glendale's annual Jazz Fest, which was surprisingly fun. There was food from a local caterer, 3 bands, and a few thousand people enjoying the music at city hall on a beautiful night.

Metro Air Support

The weather and my schedule finally cooperated and I did a ride-along with the Metro Air Support Unit, which is a joint venture between the St. Louis County Police, St. Louis City Police, and St. Charles County Police. The officers took me up and showed me what a typical day is like for them, patroling various infrastructure sites and assisting with calls when possible. Seeing their equipment and what their job entails helps my office to understand their budget requests better each year. It was certainly an interesting flight.