What a busy weekend!

We loaded up Fred and left for St Louis on Thursday afternoon, arriving somewhere around dawn on Friday. Ok, just kidding, it only felt like that long. It was probably 10:30PM Eastern time on Thursday. Then Friday it was off to Royale Orleans to confirm a cake selection. And the winner is 203. Of course, because 204 would have been too over the top, as Becky & Chris said. Ok, the picture is sort of here. After a bit of consultation with Chris, we've done away with the pillars to the top layer. Then the important details: The top (8")layer which we get to keep is chocolate. (Chris & Christine, you can discuss chocolate fetishes in December!) The next layer down (9") is white cake. The layer below that (don't know the dimensions from here) is white with strawberry filling, and the bottom layer is chocolate (so the masses will have some!). Mmmmmmm.

Anyway Friday evening Chris did the first race in the Gateway Cup. This one was in Lafayette Square in St Louis, an area I haven't driven through in 10 years. When I went through, it was a lock-your-doors kind of place where about 3 or 4 hardy souls had fixed up some grand old houses and probably kept dobermans to make sure the neighbors didn't break in. Now it's a fantastic, gorgeous place. Mom & Dad went and had a chance to learn all there is to know about night criteriums. Mom became the queen of the cowbell, earning a blister in the process. That's some cowbell dedication there!

Saturday, Mom's side of the family threw me a surprise shower. Mom did a fantastic job of making me think it would be in the afternoon. It was great, and when it was all said and done, we got some fabulous things. We now have a china place setting, one setting of our silverware, two of our crystal water goblets and two of our crystal champagne flutes. So I'm all set for a good meal, I wonder what Chris is going to eat off of! :) It was cool to see some cousins again, and my aunts. We had a good time playing "rob your neighbor" and chatting. Everytime the crowd of us gets together for any reason, we say "We need to do this more!" Alas time has a way of slipping away.

And while I was being showered with presents Chris went racing in the second Gateway cup race and Dad went bike riding. Hmmm, while Mom & I were stuffing our faces, the men-folk were working out. And then that evening was a big tasty dinner at Zia's on the hill. Mmmmm. We also went by Rose on the Hill, which is where we're having the rehearsal dinner. Mmmmmmm.....

Sunday we headed to the Hill for the last of the Gateway Cup races that Chris was participating in. It was a toasty day, near 90, but Mom, Dad and I found a nice place to hang out in the shade with our coolers and chairs. We had a good time cheering, and Chris seemed to enjoy the race! After all was said and done, we folded up camp and went to Ted Drewes for the world's best frozen custard. We had a quick visit with my Grandma that evening and we left early on Monday. It was a very full weekend! Freddy's weekend was almost as full with some serious squirrel chasing (his new favorite sport), and running up and down the fence with the neighbor's dog, Sunny. Fred slept the entire way back to Pittsburgh, with the occasional awakening to move his head out of the sun.

If anyone needs me I'll be the one drooling on my keyboard.


- posted by cam @ 6:45 AM