Back to The Lou

Chad and I took a trip back to St. Louis recently to visit family.  We kept this trip on the DL, because we knew we wouldn't have time to see very many people.  We were literally booked every moment we weren't sleeping.  I hated not seeing any of my friends this trip.  Guess that just means that we'll have to plan a trip home in Fall!

With Smokey being sick this Spring, we hadn't been home since Christmas.  We had a busy but very lovely visit.  Our itinerary went something like this:

• Friday night:  Dinner with Mom, John and Grandparents
• Saturday midday:  Visit with Kristina & Tinsley
• Saturday evening:  Dinner with Dad & Mary Sue
• Sunday morning:  Breakfast with the Maminos
• Sunday midday:  Visit with Jerod, Kerry and my new, beautiful niece, Hanna.

Phew!  

I was really looking forward to Friday dinner - not only because I hadn't seen my grandparents in over 6 months, but also because I had asked my grandfather to make BBQ pork steaks.  LOL!  Sounds crazy, I know!  If you're from the Midwest, you've grown up eating them...and boy, did I miss them!  I basically gorged myself on them that night...AND he sent some home with me.  Yahoo!  They were awesome!  Reminds me of my childhood.

Saturday afternoon we visited with my cousin, Kristina, and her daughter, Tinsley (or T).  They've recently moved back home from St. Thomas, and I'm so excited to have them closer!  I must say that I loved that them living in STT gave Chad and I the opportunity to visit that gorgeous island (and the others surrounding it), but it just doesn't compare to having them closer and seeing them more often!  I failed to take very many pics, but here's a few.  (I even had to steal one off of Kris's FB page, since i didn't get one of her.)

Saturday evening we had a nice, but quick, dinner with my dad and Mary Sue - sans pics.  :(  They're coming out to visit us soon, so I'll have to make sure I take pics then!

Sunday morning we headed out to the Happy Cow in Caseyville - a total Midwest dive - but the Mamino's LOVE it!  LOL!  They have breakfast there every Sunday, and whoever can make it comes.  I haven't seen most of the fam in a year or two, so it was great to catch up!

Sunday afternoon, we stopped by to see my newest niece, Hanna, on our way out of town.  What again...a cutie!  This was our first visit, and I know she just can't wait to see her Aunt Lisa...or maybe it's the other way around. :)

Phew!  What an awesome whirlwind trip!  Can't wait to do it again!  Cheers!