May 2012

Well, May 27, 2012 was your parents' 5th wedding anniversary... and we celebrated not with a cruise or European jaunt, but with what any sane person would want:  a trip to Missouri and southern Indiana.  We began, of course, in St. Louis....

You were greeted by all your cousins, especially doting Lucy and Annie, who were very excited to see you.

 Grandma Peggy hardly let go of you in our time...except to cook you up great food, especially "poached eggs on toast."

One of your highlights was the trip to "the Grant's Farm" where we saw animal shows, and you helped Aunt Colleen feed milk to the goats, though she was more into it than you!

 For the second time in your young life, Aunt Christine took you riding on the horse carousel. You were less scared than last time!

 After St. Louis, we went to Indiana and saw the famous Benedictine Archabbey of St. Meinrad... or as you called it, "St. Meyer."  Here we all are in front of the huge mosaic of St. Benedict.
 

And here is the young monk in one of the actual choir stalls where the Benedictines pray seven times a day!

 We were at St. Meinrad partly because we were visiting the family of Cyndi and Kyle Kramer.  They have a family farm where we stayed and Kyle works at St. Meinrad.

You really hit it off with the Kramer children.  Here is Clare, you, Eva and Eli.  You loved playing with them and are asking to go back and visit them often!

After our stay with the Kramers, you were pooped!  This is like 14 seconds into our car ride north.

Our final destination in southern Indiana was Brown County State Park.  We did a hike around Ogle Lake.  Here is the trail.  You had a great view in dada's special backpack, which was pretty heavy for him, and you were able to point out natural features, like "the tree that looks like a lizard."

I wish we also had a picture of the Brown County Inn, where we stayed.  Make sure to look it up, if it still exists.  It should show you what the best little hotel of the 1970's looks like!  After Brown County, we visited our friend Bomani and then headed home to South Bend, where we were greeted by a very happy GRANDMA, who had also prepared for us a great welcome home meal!  We are so glad you joined us on our 5th anniversary victory tour!!!!