Short little vacation

We had tried to plan a trip for this week to St. Louis with Aunt Kate and her family, Aunt Andrea and her family, and Aunt Teryn to celebrate Andrea's, Teryn's, and my 30th birthday party.  Given all our personal circumstances it just didn't pan out.  Thank goodness it didn't since it was triple digit temperatures in St. Louis this week and 99 degrees even after the sun went down!  We went to Sandi's and Mike's cottage instead to meet up with Aunt Kate and her family.  This was the first time Aunt Kate would meet Stella.  We left early Tuesday morning.

Emma
You were really excited to make s'mores and swim.  As soon as we got there, you and Spencer began playing.  You guys were really good together.  We got you set up with Chutes and Ladders and Play Doh real quick.  You guys also began jumping on your mattress on the floor soon too.  Spencer wanted to marry you.  You stood in the front room in front of Aunt Kate and I, he held your left hand, kissed it, hugged you, and said, "We're married now.  Want to go be married back there?" pointing to the bedroom because he wanted to jump on the bed again.

After everyone was dressed and ready, we went down to the park to burn off some energy from you guys.  You splashed and swam in the water with everyone.  Stella stayed up with Sandi, Mike, and Mike in the shade playing cards.  Afterwards we went out on the boat.  Mike let you drive which you loved.  We anchored the boat and you wanted to jump in the water and swim a bit.  Unfortunately Spencer cut his finger on the ladder when he went to get in the water so we had to go back in.  We went back out after that but since he couldn't swim we just did another lap around the lake.  You were getting a bit tired on the second boat trip so you laid down on the floor of the boat.  Spencer laid down next to you.  James decided to lay on top of you.

Looking at snails with Spencer and Uncle Nate

More snails with Aunt Kate

Splash wars.  Emma abstained.  Spencer beat Dad.

James taking Stella's car seat 

During the second trip, you realized you really had to pee.  After docking, we had to walk back to the house and you were very distressed.  You said you peed in your bathing suit a few times (which I don't think you actually did.)  I was carrying Stella and trying to get you to walk as fast as you could.  Spencer saw your distress and said, "I'll hold your hand, Emma."  You took it and told him, "Thank you for holding my hand, Spencer."  It was adorable!  Luckily Dad was right with us with the camera so he hung back and got some photos.

That night we kept you up later to sit around the fire and make s'mores.  You are the only kid I know who felt it was too messy ("Mama, I need a napkin!") and wanted to eat it deconstructed.  You ate the graham crackers from the first one, but didn't want the chocolate and marshmallow melted together.  You ate crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate separately though.  You were much happier with that.

You hung out with Uncle Nate a lot.  Wednesday morning you helped him make pancakes. After that you went with him, Dad, Mike, and Spencer fishing.  Apparently you did a great job casting the line.  You would pet the fish but you didn't want to throw it back or touch the worms to bait the hook.  Daddy's superstition is to kiss the fish before you throw it back so it doesn't tell the other fish you're there.  You had no desire to do that either.  (Apparently you take after me in my fishing ways.)  Dad didn't have the chance to get the camera out so I'm waiting on Uncle Nate to send me the ones he took with his phone. I'll get those up when I get them.  

After you got back, Aunt Kate, Uncle Nate, Spencer, and James had to leave to go visit Uncle Nate's parents.  You were sad to see everyone go.  Afterwards we got a boat ride in and then took a nap when we got back.  We had a camp fire again and again you ate deconstructed s'mores.  We had some storms that night.  We moved you to a different bedroom just in case since tornadoes were spotted not too far from us.  You ended up waking up from the thunder so you sat on my lap as Dad, Mike, Sandi and I played Euchre.  We wanted to stay awake until the storms were done.  Even though we kept you up later and you were up in the middle of the night for a while, you still woke up at 7 am the next morning.  You take after me in that regards.  We left Thursday afternoon around 1:30.  About 5 minutes into the ride you were out though.  You got some bites on your legs.  I think they're spider bites.  They itch you and you freak out over them when you remember they're there.  Usually this happens when you go pee and you break down into hysterical crying.  That's been the only non-fun part to the whole vacation.

Stella
Everyone LOVED you!  You are so much more social than Emma was.  You go to everyone and smile and laugh at them.  You were enamored with Mike.  Anytime he was near you were watching him.  You got your first boat ride.  You were tired and wanted to sleep.  Even with the rocking of the boat, I still had to rock you to sleep.  While I was holding you, James noticed your car seat was up for grabs and decided to take a rest in that while he ate.  It was really funny.