Xmas Eve 2016

Our Christmas Eve tradition of having my parents join us for mass and then soup supper continued another year. Shecklet #2 and I went to the church early enough to get enough pew space for us to sit in this year. (He selected our spot and sat on the end so he could see 🙂.)

After mass, we were able to get a few family photos, which are always so fun to look back on.


Tomorrow afternoon we will head to my parents’ house to celebrate with Tony and Kristin and their kids. It will be fun to have all of the Cimperman cousins together.

Thanksgiving visitors 2016

Thanks to the crazy contagious/illness fall we had, our KS friends stopped to visit a couple of times during their trip to MN in lieu of staying with us. We always pick right back up where we left off – not something every friendship is able to do. This crazy bunch of kids (plus one from another friend’s family) just keeps growing! Love how they all enjoy one another’s company – just like their parents do.


And of course, here is Shecklet #4 with her godparents.

Time with Aunt Kari

Nana asked Shecklet #1 to join her and Aunt Kari at the stable today. They groomed Rio and Kid before saddling up and riding.

Happy 6th birthday sweet #3!

Every year we watch you grow into a more inquisitive, creative, loving daughter/sister/friend. We are very proud of the young girl you have become.  Keep being the bright-eyed kid who is such a joy to be around and has a natural ability to draw others to you.  We love you SO much!!

2016 Vacation – Day 5

All good things must come to an end, isn’t that how the saying goes? We packed a ton of fun-ness into a few short days and made a ton of fantastic memories. One final one was a visit to the Cathedral Basilica, complete with a tour given by our friend. We had been in the Cathedral before, but this time we had a chance to take in the beauty and detail of this amazing church.

2016 Vacation – Day 4

We had mass as a family in a very special chapel this morning, with our friend presiding. The boys read the readings and assisted as servers. As a mom, it was an awesome experience to watch. And I hope they realize just how special it was for them to be part of it.


After mass, we ate breakfast and went to what I can only describe as one of the craziest places I have ever been – the City Museum. We had been told wearing pants was smarter than wearing shorts and that you could spend an entire day at the place. Both statements are true. We spent all afternoon there (again  closing the place down) and still didn’t see it all. The photos we took don’t do the place justice, but they do give you an idea as to how unreal it is.


After one final side, we headed to the house of our friend’s friends, on The Hill. There was a bike race going on and they were hosting a pig roast. They kindly invited us to join them. Afterward, we went out for frown custard at Ted Drewes. Yummy stuff!  (The boys played “Statue of Liberty” with the dry ice that was keeping the custard cold.)

Quotables from #4

We had an opportunity to ride a few elevators, (or as #4 calls them,”elegators”) during our trip to STL. 🙂 Fast ones, slow ones, business ones and one in a house!

On our way back to the Sisters’ residence, we stopped at a grocery store for breakfast groceries. I said we were shopping at a local store and supporting “the little guy” instead of the big box store. #4 chimed in saying “support the little girl!”

2016 Vacation- Day 3

Today, after a hardy breakfast of yogurt, eggs, sausage and bacon, we embarked on a trip to Six Flags.

Before we left, we made sure to get a group photo (smiling faces and silly faces, of course!)


We all had a great time, but Shecklet #2 probably had the best. He is a roller coaster maniac after experiencing his first rides earlier in the summer at Valleyfair. He and our friend rode all the coasters they could in the time we were there and even got drenched midway through the day. We closed the place down – riding rides until they no longer took passengers! Three of the four Shecklets fell asleep in the car on our way back to the convent 💤💤💤

2016 Vacation – Day 2, Part 2

We hit Missouri on Friday afternoon and about an hour from our destination, I took the wheel. Apparently I take driving very seriously. (And Jake documented how empty the roads were AFTER we had passed a crash on the interstate.😜)


We finally reunited with our dear friend about 5:30 in the afternoon. We stayed in the visitor’s apartment at Mount Grace Convent. It was so kind of the sisters to allow us to stay!

After getting situated, we went out to dinner at Kemoll’s and had the most amazing view of the Arch from the 40th floor.