A quick Best. Day. Ever.

Russ and I had set up a day to head to St. Louis and were over the top when Rachel said maybe they would tag along. We missed Zach and John, but a glorious day of who could be with us was a gift.

First stop was this amazing Irish Pub called “O’Connell’s”, which Jack said is an institution. I noted that at only 50 years old, it is a baby…but age is in the eye of the beholder.

The interior was as authentic as I believe you can get in the middle of the Midwest, and the food was soooo good.

After lunch we headed to Tower Grove Park for some birding…

where we successfully, thanks to Jack, found an owl that tolerated our whooping and hollering and such.

We were delighted to find a patch of the first flowers of spring for any of us…

the girls found on their plant apps and discovered they are Woodland Crocus. Sigh.

Then it was off to the playground…

where the young at heart kept Lola calling out to be careful..

which of course they weren’t.

We had a great time just being the girls club…

until our time was growing to an end and we found the boys on the basketball court.

Rachel may have fouled out of her one on one with Graham.

and then it was time to bid farewell and climb back in the van to head north.

all in all…

we thank the Lord for yet another best. day. ever. <3