Quite a Fish Tale

Yep! That is one happy boy! Barely 3:00 and he was so satisfied with his day!

It's been quite a weekend! First the football game party. Then we woke up the next day to church and fishing for Nicolas. After church, Papaw Jerry took Nicolas on his first fishing trip. Sadly no pictures to share. But I do have a picture of Nicolas telling us all about the fish he caught. Yep... started out about this size but true to fisherman form it grew and grew as the story went on. He apparently caught 20 fish! (we'll check our senior fisherman to verify that soon). He also apparently caught Papaw a couple times! Right in his "favorite pants." Nicolas had quite a good time.

This is the most chatty we've seen in a long time when you ask him "how was your day!" He told us everything! Falling in the pond, Jerry saw two frogs but Nicolas didn't see them, got to ride in the convertible and eat at Arby's. Even told us how he got to drink Pepsi (hmmmm???) and laughed as it came out his nose. What a day.

After a little nap, Nicolas and Lexi started playing super hero. It was so cute! Lexi ran around the house with her cape flying. Laughing all the way! Not sure what super hero giggles like that. Look out! It's a Bird! It's a plane! It's Laughing Lexi!

Um... "I am cool and manly enough to be able to wear a pink cape!"

We finished off Sunday (after Shawn played golf and I got some girl time with Lexi) with ice cream at Bobby's. It was the last night of the season for bands to play up there on the weekend. Fun way to end an evening. Kind of kicked off the end of summer for us. Sad to see this end!

An evening at Bobby's has everything we need! Ice cream, music and family! Kai, Lexi and Nicolas had a great time with it all. And with the bowling set we seem to bring every time.

Ended with a little brotherly love!

Go Illini!

2008 Illini football would not be kicked off right without a Vetter BBQ for family and friends. With everyone (yep everyone) in blue and orange we had a great time!


We played outside with the kids until kickoff at 7:30. The kids played on the swing set, in the sandbox and got in a game of washers or two.

Nicolas loved to play football just like the big guys!


The food was yummy that everyone brought. And of course it wouldn't be a Vetter BBQ without Shawn's famous marinaded pork steaks. Yum! Kai and Lexi dug in willingly... especially when there was a Cocoa Krispy football (bottom right corner of photo) waiting for them to sink their teeth into after dinner!

Then the game started and everyone headed downstairs (where more food awaited for them). Nicolas was mesmerized for at least half of the game. He watched it with the big guys. It was intense... and ultimately disheartening. Alas we lost this year. But the fun was what made us a winning team! We'll get em next year!

First Day of School

First day of school for my two little ones. Nicolas and Lexi were ready to go back. Nicolas started preschool today! Oh my gosh. Where has the time with my little baby boy gone? He is now there three days a week, for five hours with no nap!


Watch out world, here he comes!
Peeked in on him playing in the playground when I was there picking up Lexi (she comes home to nap earlier then he does). Looks like he is having fun.

And so is Lexi! She loves being the big girl! And ready for her hug and nap when I come to pick her up.

A family that swims together...

Make a Smilebox photobook

Sprinkler Time

Lexi and Nicolas get a good run in the sprinklers. Boy the weather hasn't been up for that lately. But today it was and Lexi took part. She hasn't liked sprinklers up until now. Nicolas was the same way but this time Lexi followed his brave lead and followed him into the water.



Around and around they went!

Leave it to Nicolas to decide to run around the sprinkler and jump hard into the cold (thanks to the weather) pool.

No he wasn't trying to strangle her or pull her into the water! That would be another moment for another day, I'm sure. But today, Nicolas was the sweet and carrying big brother who is here making sure his little sister is okay from a slip and fall in the wet grass. I think I'm getting choked up!

St. Louis Botanical Gardens

We went to the St. Louis Botanical Gardens one nice day with Grandma. Thank you Grandma for going with us. Not somewhere I dare to venture totally on my own. And it was fun! Once the kids got over the idea that they were allowed to climb on some of the Nikki sculptures, they got into it. We ran to see new sculptures, check out the signs with directions of what we are allowed to do (climb, touch, sit) and then really examine the rocks and materials it was made of. Very tactile of an art experience. And very fun to photograph! We loved it.

Then finished with time in the kid playground. Not enough time. Tired we found the final three sculptures we had on our list to see. What were they? Can you guess? Basketball Guy, Baseball Guy and Golf Guy!

Check out our little scrapbook of photos. If you click on the photos they tell you more.

Make a Smilebox photobook

Just Another Evening

This is our new favorite pastime. We spend the evening (after the mosquito's come out so bad we can't be in the backyard) playing chalk and racing cars down our driveway. This slanted driveway has actually turned out to be quite entertaining. It is great to race cars. It is a great place to play with a very big bouncy ball (I roll or hit it up to them at the top and chase it when they hit it back down). And you know the front yard is super for playing baseball since the hill makes Nicolas' swing at the same height.

Hope our neighbors aren't too embarrassed with our graffiti covered driveway. Each time it rains it brings momentary relief from the chaos. But it won't be long until we are back out there making a mess again! All in good fun!

What a beautiful Day!

We went to the park yesterday with our friends! Beau and Carmen are four and used to go to school with Nicolas. Lexi adores Carmen and loves the idea of playing dolls with her. It was nice to talk to Mommy Christina for a while. It was a very nice day. Not too terribly hot. Of course I was a bit over protective of Lexi today but she dealt with it. Probably will be for a while. They napped super afterwards and that worked for me!

Isn't He Beautiful!

Nothing to say here... just catching a sweet boy with a sweet smile! God blessed us for sure!

Anyone Down There?

"Hello! Anyone there? Lexi? Are you playing trains downstairs?"

Yep, here they are! Lexi and Nicolas have discovered that if you yell down the air vent in the living room then the person in the basement playing beneath them can hear every word... if you say it LOUD enough that is. They had a blast talking, yelling, telling each other what to do next. Good distraction for our little girls boo boo head.

"Nicolas... can you hear me?"

"Mom! Did you hear that? Nicolas is down there.... he heard me"

Our Lexi's Big Fall!

It has been quite a day! Lexi got up this morning (Mommy left the crib side down to test out some freedom for her) and played with her brother in her bedroom like she likes to do some mornings. Well... something was very inviting on the top of the changing table apparently. I heard a BANG and a scream and went running to find her curled on the floor. I grabbed her and tried to cuddle her only to hear Nicolas' little frantic voice saying... "she's bleeding mommy." What? I couldn't get her to look at me... and then saw it. Gash in her forehead. What? She fell from the drawer pulls of the changing table and hit the side of the door which apparently they were playing with and was half closed. Oh my gosh!

After a frantic time of calling on our pediatrician, insurance, two plastic surgeon offices (which were both on vacation at the same time) and then back to the pediatrician on the phone it was decided to go in there. We did... bloody shirts and all. Thanks to Erica for watching Nicolas for me!!! Lexi's new pediatrician, Dr. Hulsen, looked at it, measured it and then said we needed to go Children's Hospital for stitches. Stitches! On my beautiful princesses face. She assured me it would heal well and be okay without plastic surgery. Trust her....

We went home, got her blankie, snacks, distractions toys and books and headed to St. Louis. Daddy met us there.

After MANY hours waiting in our little room and trying to keep our little princess happy when she wasn't allowed to eat or drink and was missing her nap.... we got her put back together again. She really was a trooper. She was in much better spirits then Shawn or I were, for sure! She rarely whined even though she was so thirsty, hungry and tired. God protect her! Even with blood dripping this little one won't stop playing and climbing.

Then Lexi shows off her new look. Guess we'll be having to find band-aids to match every outfit! Do they make leopard print?

Singing in the Rain!

Sadly the boys weren't quite as photogenic for our little rain day as the girls were. But here they are. We went to the park with some lunch and tried to beat the rain. It was a rainy week so we were squeezing in any time we had left. With mud safe shoes (crocs) and all we went to play. Got a few minutes and then let them play in the sprinkles until that got a little much for the mommies. Then out came some umbrellas so they could sing in the rain a little more. Beautiful flowers need water to grow!

Click on the photo below and take a look at our Peach Picking photos. A lot more choices here then there were for blueberries. It was a HOT day! A VERY hot day. The kids like picking the peaches for ... a few minutes. But then they were ready and sweaty to go! They loved playing with the cars for sale in the gift shop. Geez... we could have stayed home and played at Once Upon a Toy (smile). Peaches anyone? We have a ton!

Peach Picking with Mom & Me

It's A Library and Not a Den or Office!

Well, all the toys are moved (except for a small bin for each child in the coat closet)! It is all in the basement so that they can play with what their heart desires and we don't have to move floors as the need for a new toys arises. Albeit, that also means keeping the main floor where people see coming in the front door is MUCH easier to appear clean. The empty room also meant we could make it look a little more grown up and usable by... low and behold... grown ups! So a desk and bookcase was ordered. We thought we had reclaimed the space until... I heard voices. I heard little sweet voices. Where were they coming from? I couldn't find anyone on the first floor...

The voices were getting louder as I walked towards my new desk...
What's this?



Nicolas and Lexi were playing "library" in there under the desk. They both had books. Here they are together. I need to remember to show them these sweet times in photos when they are at each others throats later.

Oh... they do have kids books here in this photo but later I learned that they do not have to be kids books apparently for them to play library? NO! Our books off the bookcase. They check them out to each other from the library and now leave them all over the room. So much for keeping that first floor clean with no toys! They make their own fun no matter where they go!