"The little insect was just... waiting for that diaper to fall off."

 So a few people wanted to see pictures of the nursery and instead of texting a lot of pictures I, meaning Holly, (Devin seemed a little hesitant to let me post, but here I am) just posted them on the  blog instead. Enjoy!

 We figured a pack 'n play would be a lot easier to take a part and move in the next year than a crib.

 So I feel in love with the grey cubby baskets more for the inside which is a really cute yellow and cream plaid, wish the outside looked like that.

Devin walks into the nursery and sees those round things and says, "what are those suppose to be?" Only a true man would stare at them oddly as I explained with a self-explanatory tone that of course they are tissue paper pom-poms, how could you not know what they are. Oh to not be in the world of pinterest.

 Had to show the hidden touch of yellow in the changing table. because it seems like the room is more gray and beige than grey and yellow. Anyways, here's little west's new "crib". (I think I'm having a girl so the decor might be slightly leaning toward the feminine side and the fact that mostly females have had input into the room hasn't helped, so I guess we'll see in a month  and a week if I'm right....)

"Many of these trees were my friends. Creatures I had known from nut or acorn... A wizard should know better!"

Springtime in Saint Louis is one of the times of year when you really, really want to be outside. It's gorgeous. We try to go camping at least twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. Springtime for us was a little different this year.

School ends early for second-year students so that we have ample time to study for the USMLE Step 1 board exam ("the boards"). I had from May 4th till July 9th to study, take the test, and whatever was left over was vacation. Some people took the test right away and didn't agonize over studying a lot, but no... that's not my style. I have to make sure I've gone over everything twice... or three times... maybe four... I got some great encouragement from our neighbors though... (sound it out...)

We didn't skip out on camping because of my studies though. We went camping and did a canoe float trip down the Meramec River. It was awesome! Part of the awesomeness was due to our playing late-night Dominion (no it's no Magic cards even though it looks like it). I love the game, Holly not so much even though she's pretty good. We went with two families from our ward.

Besides camping we did manage to do a few other cool things. Holly's longtime roommate and good friend, Aubri, got married in San Diego, California. Holly got to fly out for it and met her mom there. 

All in all, we had a great Spring and were really looking forward to spending summer with family. I was looking forward to getting past Step 1 and on to the start of 3rd year. The quote is from Lord of the Rings: Two Towers which Holly and I recently watched again. Treebeard sees the destruction Saruman has wrought upon the land, and finally decides to lead the Ents against Isengard. Great movie.

"I have an army!... We have a Hulk!"

Hey I found some more pictures from Christmas here in Saint Louis prior to going to my parents' house and also some miscellaneous winter activities... including Holly's eloping with Jack Sparrow... ahem... excuse me... CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow. And me getting really angry... like really.... really angry. See below.

Ah, the proverbial ugly sweater party. I don't even know where I got mine, but it was by far the best. Not ever too ugly... just a little small. Also below are pictures of us at the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert.

Saint Louis has a wax museum! And thanks to Groupon, we got two for one. We got to see a few very famous people there. It was a really cold night, and Holly and I were the only ones there. It got kinda creepy a couple times. They actually have a haunted part of the museum, but Holly wouldn't let us go. I kinda wanted to, but the creepiness scale was a little high because of how alone we were in the place. Kinda sad, but apparently it's not too popular an attraction. With a little financial support, it could probably do a lot better.

Quote is from the Avengers movie when Loki is threatening Tony Stark. Awesome flick. That would be a great next Christmas present to us for anyone who read this far down the page! **wink wink** Anyway, so those were a few of our adventures in Saint Louis in the Fall and Winter just before Christmas break. Now on to Spring!