A Stop in the Gateway to the West!

       It would only be fitting for Roberta and Mike to stop in St. Louis on their journey westward considering the significance of St. Louis in the Lewis and Clark expedition. After all St. Louis was the starting point in the exploration of the west. But more than it's historical significance I call St. Louis home and I was dying to see Roberta!
        Roberta and Mike arrived Friday afternoon and we were soon enjoying a walk around the city where everyone admired Simon and we embraced the beautiful weather. Later in the evening we went to the Central West End a favorite hot spot for St. Louisans to eat, drink, and be merry! After some delicious Sushi (Ok they had the Sushi I had Chicken- what?! I'm a Mid-West girl now) we drove through the city in desperate need of some dessert. We were heartbroken to see a line at a fabulous little after dinner dessert and drink bar and headed home (I couldn't handle waiting- I'm getting old now)!
        On Saturday we enjoyed a variety of St. Louis to do's. Roberta has already mentioned a few but my personal favorites include:

• Nearly running out of gas in Forest Park (Mike and Matt would have hated to push the car to the gas station)
• Having the car alarm go off when Mike and Matt went in to grab lunch. Roberta, Simon and I subsequently hid under coats so the people walking by couldn't see our faces. Roberta ran in to grab the keys and the guys walked out the other door with food and keys in hand. Mike spent the next 5 minutes looking for Roberta- HILARIOUS SCENARIO
• Eating a picnic below the Arch
• Watching a group of juvenile detention kids get to play frisbee/soccer below the arch for good behavior (for the record they were not from juvie- I don't want people judging St. Louis that way)
• Guessing what instruments the kids from juvie played (Drums obviously)
• Counting wedding parties throughout the day (a total of 13)
• Laying on the bed with Berta when the boys when to pick up dinner and catching up on life
• Cheering on strangers at the Rock n' Roll Marathon and Half Marathon
• Left over pizza and Ted Drew's at the kitchen counter (This was bitter sweet though- knowing they would soon be leaving)

I spent the entire weekend trying to convince Berta and Mike that San Diego sounds exactly like St. Louis and that they would be very happy continuing to sleep on our air mattress. They didn't buy it and left Sunday afternoon. I can't begin to describe how much I LOVED seeing Roberta and Mike and getting to spend so much time together. I feel so lucky and grateful that they made St. Louis a stop on their voyage west. And they didn't even get mugged!

We miss you three already and know you will find tons of sunshine, happiness, success, and laughter in San Diego (but just in case you always have a home in St. Louis)!