Monday Picture

Yay for rental car upgrades that allow everyone to fit in one car!

More Random Cell Phone Pictures

This box was left after our BBQ last weekend. Mike spent a good 30 minutes on Sunday morning pushing it around, putting things in it and playing in it.  Kids and boxes.



Last Friday we stopped at Sonic on the way home from shopping to indulge in a little frosty deliciousness.  My boys were practicing drumming on the table while we waited.



A few weeks ago I had to get some work done on  my car (I drive a Toyota...inevitably it was recalled).  While we waited at the dealership, Mike decided this baby looked hungry.

Mike enjoying his frozen "fruit" bar at dinner.

At the playground last weekend.

Mike "cleaning" out the tupperware cabinet.

Welcome to the world baby Landon!

Last week a friend announced she and her husband were adopting a baby.  Landon William was born on Monday May 23.  I decided that a baby shower was in order and threw one together in 1 week.  We decided that Wednesday evening would be the best time to have the party (yes - 2 days after Landon was born...yay for busy busy schedules) and since we scheduled it for Wednesday evening I decided I needed to serve dinner.  It was a hectic week, but I'm pretty happy with the results.  We moved in an extra table (to the play room) to accommodate everyone and ensure that everyone had a place to sit to eat.  We decorated the dining room, play room, kitchen and living room.  I cooked stuffed shells, and served them with french bread and salad.  We made a few appetizers and then ordered cupcakes from Sam's club.  Tuesday night Brad and I were up fairly late, cooking, cleaning and decorating.  He was a huge help!  But in the end every minute of effort and stress were well worth it.  Maegen (the new mom) seemed really happy with everything!



The living room prior to the guests arriving.  I strung up a "clothes line" of Mike's newborn items that made the perfect back drop.  We brought down the rocking chair from Mike's room to serve at Maegen's chair and I draped Mike's baby blanket over the coffee table to serve as a gift table.  I made a diaper cake for Maegen to serve as the center piece for the gift table.



Baby Landon resting comfortably in Jean's arms during dinner.

The ever lovely Brooke taking her turn at snuggling the little one.

Matt (the new dad) helping keep Mike occupied during the shower games.

The proud new parents!

Guests at the party (from the left Lara, Donna, Jean and Jess).

Maegen being a good sport during the games.

Opening presents

Jean and Jess

The diaper cake I made for them

The happy little family!

Matt, Maegen, Landon and the new grandparents, Donna and Rich!

Congratulations again, we couldn't be happier for you guys!

It was hot and humid last weekend here in Saint Louis.  Guess we were getting a little preview of summer.  As Mike got sweatier and sweatier we decided to get out his swimming pool.  Take a blue plastic pool add water and rubber duckies and you are in for an afternoon of fun.  We perfected our scissor kicks and practiced squirting each other with the rubber duckies.  Mike LOVED every minute of it.

Tender Greens

Straight out of the garden

Monday Picture

Summer Fun!

Last Sunday was Corporate day at the zoo.  Since Peabody is a sponsor we were able to enjoy all the zoo has to offer for free!  We started at Stingray cove and spent some time petting and feeding the stingrays and sharks.  Mike started out very excited about it.  We laid him on the corner on his belly (per the zoo volunteer's suggestion) and he started dipping his little hands in the water.  Within seconds stingrays were swimming by and brushing against his hands.  He became more and more concerned to the point where he was done.  No more water, no more belly, no more stingrays.  Luckily Brad and I were a little less squeamish and tried our hand at feeding the rays.



Brad giving me a lesson on how to hold the fish to feed the stingrays

Brad feeding the stingrays

Riding the train

Mike riding the carousel

Mike walking back to the car after our busy day at the zoo



BBQ...something like that anyway

Last Saturday we hosted a BBQ.  Well...it was supposed to be a BBQ.  The weather had been beautiful all week.  Nice and sunny, highs in the 80s and 90s.  Of course when Saturday rolled around it was cold, dreary and drizzling ALL.DAY.LONG.  Guests were asking left and right if we were still planning on having our "BBQ," we assured them we were and set to work getting everything ready.  At 2pm the first guests arrived, a steady stream of people filled our house from 2pm-11pm that night.  The afternoon and evening was spent with good friends having a good time over good food and good drinks.   When all was said and done we welcomed over 30 people into our house for the festivities. Can't ask for a much better day than that!  Here is hoping the next one is a little bit warmer, and dryer!

Monday Picture

The whole wide world

Who would have thought I could hold my whole world in my arms?

Summer

While technically it is not summer yet there have been some sure signs of summer around St. Louis lately.  Aside from the obvious of heat and humidity there have been a few more less obvious signs such as:

Popsicles:

Spending all of our free time outside:

Watering cans, new plants and flowers:

Bubbles, tank tops:

and of course...flip flops:

Monday Picture

Boy Stuff

Last weekend Brad was fiddling around with his truck while Mike and I were jumping the curb in his cozy coupe (more on that in a later post) after our 5 billionth trip down the driveway in the little red and yellow car Mike decided he should probably check on daddy to make sure he didn't need any help.

you're right dad, that is a real head scratcher

let me see if I can get a better look

just a little to the left...

Spring Break: Part II

Hi!  It's Mike again.  Sorry it has taken me so long to get around to part 2 of my spring break adventures, but what can I say? I'm a busy guy.  In between playing, throwing tantrums and eating there really isn't much time for anything else.  Anyway, to continue the story...

On Friday morning we went to Mastodon State Historic Site.  It was only a little ways from our house and we got to see an entire mastodon skeleton!  It was really cool. Maybe next time I'll pay better attention so I can tell you what a mastodon actually is. All I know is they are really big and kind of look like elephants. 

Me showing grandpa the way to the museum.  I didn't want him to get lost or anything

Me and the mastodon skeleton.  See I told you it was REALLY big.

 After we looked at all the neat stuff in the museum we took a hike down to the Kimmswick bone bed.  We didn't see any bones because the bone bed had been covered up, but it was still lots of fun. 

After the museum and our hike we stopped at the playground so grandma could play a little bit.  I was really nice and showed her how to use the swings.

Grandma swinging...look at what a good job she is doing!  I must be a great teacher.

After our mastodon adventure I took a nice long nap.  All of that learning, hiking and playing must have really worn me out.  When I woke up from my nap we took the dogs to Fabick lake to let them run around a bit.  I really liked playing in the water and throwing rocks and mud.

Grandma and grandpa liked sitting a safe distance away and watching me throw rocks and mud.

Watching Sammy swim

That night it started to rain really hard again and those siren things were making lots of noise so mom and dad made us all go into the basement.  They tried to get me to sleep down there but I was not having it so I stayed up extra late (all the way until 9:30)!  Well, that just about covers it!