St. Louis Summer

Summer at its best. Quality time with the cousins "from Wisconsin, Tyler doesn't like cheese"-Boyd. Over the last four years the Bolz's have made the trek from Wisconsin to St. Louis for vacation. This year was bittersweet as it may be their last visit to St. Louis. The boys may be happy that they will not have to sit through the long boring state of Illinois on the drive, but we are all sad that the distance will now be even greater. Each year we have ventured to local attractions to see what the Show Me state has to offer. There were two spots left to cover, so this year we visited the Missouri Botanical Gardens and The Science Center. We have come a long way from the first year when I was pregnant with Boyd and Tyler convinced me to climb up to the airplane at the City Museum. The boys love one another and I sure love them. I am tearing up just thinking about the memories we have created through the past few years and the stories we will never forget.

Pictured: The boys in one of the Treehouses.

Boyd with his infamous "littlest tree ever"

Look real close and you'll see Boyd and Andrew way ahead.

Sometimes we all need a helping hand.

Up in the trees.

Cooling off in the fountains. Looks like Boyd sprayed Andrew.

Kings of the Mountain showing their muscles.

Music.

Hey hey we're the monkeys.

The "eyes only" Great Grandma Ramsey stance and lesson while watching the coins roll.

Banana tree.

Watch out below. I have never seen Boyd hit the brakes so fast when running.

Boyd's favorite part of the science center- the bridge and cars.

Getting in the building spirit.

Boyd looks like he is being helpful but don't be fooled. He knocked at least 3 Arch's down during his visit.

Interested in Mimi's headband during a "cheer"ful dinner. The Bolz's are Brewer fans, the Ramsey-Burla's are Cardinals fans. Andrew is trying to convert Boyd. Last year Andrew taught Boyd to say no to everything. This year he taught him to say "stinky Cardinals". Boyd is obviously on the fence as he rotated saying "Go Cards go, go dogs go" and "Stinky cardinals" throughout dinner to a very rowdy crowd. Jenny, Tyler, Andrew and I did make it to the Cards Vs. Brewers game at Busch Stadium with the outcome in their favor. The boys also received baseballs and had a hat signed by a player. I came home with a t-shirt from Fredbird.

Boyd remembered doing this in the past using lotion to stick.

Mom and Dad had to try and be fun after all that great company so it was time for Boyd's first game of mini golf. "Get in the hole". I guess this is Boyd's excited face before he tee'd off.

This is how he played. Place ball next to hole, "wack it in, take it out" Then repeat.

He loved it!

Boyd took matters into his own hands following the 18th hole. Boyd said the hole ate it in the lost thing and proceeded to dart into the club house, walk up to the girl at the counter and ask, "I need a new ball please." He victoriously walked out with a new ball. Mr. Self sufficient.





Living each day to the fullest!

Chesterfield Fire House 1

Yesterday on our way to Great Grandma Ramsey's we passed the firehouse and Boyd asked to go there. Seeing that it was already 6:30 and we still needed to visit grandma, eat, and go home to bed, I promised Boyd we'd go today. So, this morning we slept in (I love these mornings because you never know what Boyd is going to say right after he wakes up), had breakfast, got dressed (Boyd in his firetruck shirt), and headed to the station. Tommy greeted us and Boyd quickly charmed his way into the drivers seat. Boyd took his job very seriously and asked Tommy, "Who needs help?" Boyd convinced Tommy to shut the doors and I had flashes of Boyd turning the keys and driving away. We left the windows open so Boyd would understand he was still under our watch. Midway through our visit they were ready to hire Boyd. Then Boyd discovered he didn't have his seat belt on and when he did put it on, he was to far away from the wheel to drive and thus, to little. Boyd did get to take a turn holding the hose! After the firehouse we went to the store and as we pulled into the checkout lane Boyd decided, "I need flowers". He ran away and returned with a pot of flowers. When I asked who they were for he replied, "Me, I take them home and smell them." What a fine example of treating ones self to the beauty in life. Love this guy.

My mom has pointed out to me that Boyd usually has a messy face in his pictures. The next thing people will start pointing out is the fact that Boyd rarely has shorts on in his pictures-but let's face it, in this heat, who can blame him. So Boyd, get away with underwear as an outer garment being acceptable for as long as you can. Our outdoor adventures have been few and far between as of late, but Boyd is starting to explore more and more. With one more month let as a Missourian we are going to have to try and soak up as many of our favorite spots and people as we can.

Adam and I love this swing picture- pure JOY!

Boyd loves his cars and trucks. Lots of pretend play with these. I forgot what the blocks were.

Boyd trying to climb the beams in front of our house and sliding down.

Realizing that "this cement is warm, come feel it mom."

Sticks!


Playing a game with his stick. Kind of like hockey but the objective is to flip the cars into the house.

Another funny Boyd story as told by Mike (PaPa). He and Boyd were at Target where Boyd noticed someone had littered an apple with a missing bite. My knows no stranger Boyd proceeded to tell a woman "that's a poisoned apple". She apparently asked him how he knew. He replied, "because I know about apples."