Saturday, October 24, 2009

Hello, Dear Friends....

I can't believe I've been away for a week. I have missed you! I wont' be able to stop by for a visit for a little bit longer, but I did want to say hello.

If the past weeks have been wonderfully, crazily full (see last post), then this weekend is overstuffed. Cram-packed with goodness. Just look:

Thursday night - Sloane took me to a local production of Alice in Wonderland. The tickets were my birthday present. It was just wonderful! The costumes were the kind to set you dreaming. Then, we talked and laughed and sang all the way home.

Friday night - Jeffrey took me to our university's production of Because I Love You. The tickets were part of my birthday present. Do you see a pattern here? My favorite part of the musical was the last song. The lyrics said, "It would be easy to say, 'I love you anyway.' But, the truth is, 'I love you because.'" And, really, isn't that the truth? Real love is seeing someone quirk's, faults, and foibles. And loving them for it.

Today - The three of us are off in just a few minutes for St. Louis, which is about a four hour drive. We've got a bag full of snacks, an iPod full of tunes, a book or two for family read aloud, and a book or five for each of us. Not to mention a huge pile of magazines for me and drawing materials for Sloane. Yeah, we're ready for our mini-road trip. We're going to the zoo first. If you can ever make it to St. Louis, you should visit just for the zoo. It's the best I've ever been to. After the zoo, we'll go to our hotel and clean up. Then it's off to a nice dinner and YoYoMa. I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!

Sunday - We got a hotel with an indoor pool. We'll play and swim all morning. After a great brunch, we'll enjoy SLAM (St. Louis Art Museum) before we head home.

Doesn't that sound fantastic?




The delighted girl above was drawn by Brett Helquist for a wonderful book called
Milly and the Macy's Parade by Shana Corey.

36 comments:

Patti said...

Oh that sounds so wonderful!! All your favorite things and people all rolled into one fantastic outing and week! Enjoy, my friend!!!

Deanna Bland Hiott PhD, MSN, RN said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Deanna Bland Hiott PhD, MSN, RN said...

That sounds like the best week EVER!!!! HELLO???? Did you say road trip??? I'm ready and a bit jealous. Have a fun full to the top weekend! :D

Jeanne said...

Have a fabulous trip
I love you
Jeanne

Sue said...

You are getting close to me on this trip. If the weather is nice and you read this, take a stroll through the Missouri Botanical Garden. It is beautiful, we go often. I love the zoo, we still go even without kids and the Art Museum...love it. I'm having a birthday in a few days myself. My treat...Michigan. Oh, I left you a little something on my blog a few days ago. Maybe you can see it when you get home.

Sue

Anonymous said...

Have a fantastic weekend Relyn!

d smith kaich jones said...

Oh my! Did I miss your birthday? Happy happy weekend and enjoy that pool! And PS - my word verification is fun-ster. Just what you are! :)

xoxo
Debi

Andrea said...

Sounds wonderful. Hope you have a blessed time.
andrea

Anonymous said...

Sounds great! Enjoy!!!

Marilyn Miller said...

What a totally lovely weekend. I love it all. Have great fun! Then come home to us and share. Soak in every single minute of it all.

beth said...

I wish I would have known you were leaving...I would have made sure that you went to the city museum which is out of this world fabulous....

have a great time....
xo

Kirsten Steen said...

Happy Birthday Relyn! Wishing you a fabulous weekend on your well-deserved trip with the fam!
Hope you return with lots of photos!
Kirsten

spread your wings said...

happy birthday my friend. sounds like your family is treating you just as special as you deserve. have FUN!!

Dutchbaby said...

That sounds like perfection! Happy birthday and take lots of photos!

Gigi Thibodeau said...

Sound like the perfect weekend! The zoo, art, and Yo-Yo Ma! I got to see him perform live years ago when my cousin was graduating from Bard College. The graduation was outside, and Yo-Yo Ma flew in over us on a helicopter, landed nearby and then strolled over to the stage. Talk about dramatic! It was a thrill to hear him. I hope you're having a wonderful time!
xoxo Gigi

Char said...

it all sounds like an amazing time - have fun!

Gayle said...

Wow! That does sound fantastic! Have a great time!

susanna said...

Oh man, that ALL sounds so GREAT, Relyn! You truly are enjoying life with your family. I heard the St.Louis Zoo is a must=see. And you'll have to describe what your YoYo Man night was like for us.

Dandy said...

Oh thats right... have a great time at the concert!

I'm off to go watch Meet Me in St. Louis. Its one of my favortie movies :)

Jessica said...

I've been listening to Yo Yo all weekend (secretly I'm pretending I'm at the concert!). It sounds like you have been up to some wonderful, lovely things lately. Perfect days! My best to you!!

Tricia said...

happy birthday! surrounded by family and on an adventure-what could be better! have fun!

{{hugs}}

ELK said...

sounds as if it has been a "dramatic" birthday!

PixieDust said...

What a whirlwind! Yay for you!

:-D

(((hugs))),
love,
me

Delena said...

Sounds like a Birthday to remember!

Rita said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful weekend. Those weekends are rare and oh so needed at times. I love you, Grammy!

margie said...

everything should be what you expected. and no less.

Unknown said...

Hi Relyn,

Hope everything went swimmingly and you all had a great time!

karey m. said...

it DOES sound fantastic! take me.

i mean it.

Alicia @ boylerpf said...

What a romantic and fun filled weekend you must have had! Great birthday gifts that all say I love you!

Jeanie said...

You are SO having a great life! Yo Yo Ma -- WOW. And the other musicals sound so wonderful! I read this and I think "This is a woman who is having/spending her life exactly as she wants it -- and isn't that cool!"

dulcy said...

We were also in St. Louis to see Phantom of the Opera. We stayed downtown, went to West End, and just had a wonderful time! Wasn't the weather great?! Can't wait to see you and visit. I'll be there tomorrow and rest of week.

xo

TheChicGeek said...

Hello Relyn and Happy Birthday to You! What a wonderful week! I like to stretch my birthdays out the entire month! LOL

Enjoy your time away!
Love and Hugs,
Kelly

Yoli said...

You were sorely missed but I am glad you are having a great time!

SE'LAH... said...

Family time is so essential. Never thought of the hotel with indoor pool but that will be on my list this winter.

Jaime said...

As I read your posts backwards, I won't tell you to have a good time...instead I will say to you, I am so glad you had such a wonderful time!!! Black giraffes and stinky penguins and all! (they do smell something awful, don't they?)

hee hee...my word verification word is prizes.

Elyse said...

Oh, lovely! That would be splendid. I love St. Louis. It's a beautiful city in its own way.

Oldies, but Goodies