a wedding for Alec & Laura

a (belated) birthday to Leah Milan

 

Happy birthday to Leah! Leah is a truly incredible person and she happened to be the first friend I made at the Brown School. I miss her SO much since she left St. Louis this summer! Very excited to have a visit at the end of the week!

one year with Brody

We have now had Brody for a full year! It seems like we simultaneously just brought him home yesterday, and that we have had him forever. We celebrated with a few of his favorite things: a run in the morning; a home-made banana muffin with peanut butter; a walk in the park; and a new Carrot toy! So happy to have this big dog in our lives.

family in St. Louis

One of the very best things about moving to St. Louis has been the chance to get to know extended family. Karen and Craig have been so welcoming and I always enjoy spending time with them and their sons! Stephen was home from medical school, so we captured a few photos during the busy morning when all of the extended family, neighbors and friends came over for brunch and swimming!

an evening with Nora & Robin

   

Nora and Robin picked us up for dinner at Pizzeria Tivoli in South St. Louis. The outdoor patio had misters, which made it surprisingly cooler than inside (the air was broken). It was great trying a new place, and the pizza was thin-crust and really good. Back at the Shutler home, we enjoyed home-made brandy slushies while petting Gertie and watching lightning and storms threaten outside. Enjoying summer nights with friends in St. Louis!

a tumbuk2 bag

 Chloe gave me a fantastic Timbuk2 camera bag for the holidays, which has been perfect both for the camera and everyday items. When we were traveling, all of the pockets were perfect for squirreling stuff away and it is comfortable to carry. I saw this polka dotted version and loved the red dots...so fun!

Kusama's Obliteration Room

Amazing installation...this is what happens when you give thousands of stickers to thousands of kids

the short-lived toy

Brody has a favorite toy that we call the Carrot. I bought a variation on this carrot.....and it took him less than 45 minutes to completely disembowel it. It is great watching him though...and he is the most content dog afterward. The heat here has wiped us out....Nick caught the last photo during my pre-bed nap.

an art hill breakfast picnic

Marianne is leaving for Chicago, so we met for a breakfast picnic / catch up session of iced coffee and bagels. In the heat, the park was pretty empty, but we were fine under the shade....until the sprinklers came on and we scrambled to grab everything and run.

Obamacare

So relieved that the Affordable Care Act has been upheld....health coverage for millions! Thank you Supreme Court! "No illness or accident should lead to any families financial ruin." -President Obama

a day trip with Mary

 Mary will be moving to DC next week, so we spent time together exploring the Cahokia Mounds in Illinois and trying the new Local Harvest Cafe in downtown St. Louis! The mounds are the largest prehistoric Native American site north of Mexico, and is now a World Heritage Site. We watched the documentary on the site, visited the museum, and then went on Roger's hour long tour of the largest mound, which had a pretty good view to downtown. On our way back to Mary's to do some packing, we stopped to try the new Local Harvest and it was in a great building and lots of fun. Mary, I will miss exploring and living in the same city, but know that DC is lucky to have you and I'll see you out east.

my dad

It was amazing having the chance to travel together for a couple of weeks this month! I am so grateful every single day that this man is my father. Enjoy the rest of your trip, Dad! Love you like blazes and missing you already. xoxo

coming home!

We missed him! It is great to be home!

the last few days

If I had a vespa, it would be this color!

 

 

The cemetery in Montmartre was closed when we went, but we were able to take some photos from the street....I loved the moss and the colors.

 

Nick spotted this red polka dotted bike!

Parc de la Villette...I visited this park with my family when I was 12 and remember it being AMAZING...we thought it was the most magical park.

 

Our favorite Boulangerie right down the street from the second apartment

 

 

London St. Pancras - ready for the Olympics next month