It is FINALLY warm out!

Can you believe this summer? Where is my sun? Where is my heat? My skin craves it like a smoker needs cigarettes? Like a poet needs rhymes. Like a child wants her blankie!

So any day we get it I am ready to jump! And so are the kids!



Lexi is a bit timid yet with sprinklers. But she did find her groove.

Nicolas used to be really nervous with sprinklers but not anymore!

I keep predicting we will have to pull these out in September as a heat wave FINALLY hits but... wondering now if my prediction will come true.

Lets hope!

Smile!

It is that time of year again! Time for our teeth to be checked.


Lexi loves her sunglasses!

Dr. Rodriguez counts her teeth. And then gives her a special wand for giving up her paci's so quickly.

Nicolas has a bit harder time. He has strong tongue that seems to get in the way a lot. But he did really well! Now if we could just get that darn tooth to fall out. I cannot believe how it hangs on!

Then we were off to a special playdate at the Y gymnastics room with lots and lots of friends. Good summer times!

Let's Try Out The Playground

Kindergarten is a huge deal to a little child. So the goal is to make it as easy as possible... on all of us! So my mom came by one day and we took the kids for a picnic lunch at Glen Carbon Elementary School.


Lexi tries out the blue slides that she too will play on in just two years time! Oh my gosh!

Lexi and Nicolas enjoy their sub sandwiches, mango's, chips and milk at the school. I guess this is Nicolas' first time "taking" his lunch to school.

My little boy is getting big!

Stop to Smell the Flowers

Wow, what a crazy busy summer... or was it summer really? The weather was deceiving but the growth of my two babies was not.

We had a great summer as a family. We stopped to smell the flowers.


Play with friends, see the sites. In fact it was one of those stops... or family vacation to Indiana ... that caused my one month blog break. There are so many cute photos from that that takes time to blog... so will get to those a bit out of order. I am going to update with all the rest tonight! Happy reading and may some of these photos bring you smiles too!

And remember to stop to smell the flowers. Think about all the gifts God has given us. Whether our financial situation is grim or glorious, we are blessed in so many ways! Stop and count those ways each day. I love the challenge. I was doing it for a while on Facebook... ending each day with my most blessed moment of the day. But with the rush of the summer I forgot that. I hope to be back on track now.

And treasure each day... use it and not let it slip by once more!

Jack Jack Turns Three!

We really enjoyed the morning at Edwardsville Children's Museum for Jack's third birthday.

Lexi plays store with Addison. She felt the need to wear a pink tutu and glitter tennis shoes to Jacks birthday party.

Nicolas builds a great structure.

Lexi and Nicolas are ready to do crafts and eat cake. Lexi, in her tutu and doggie head piece, is especially ready!

I felt so great to be asked to make Jack's birthday cupcakes. They were so cute with the trays Holly got from Sonic and the cups for the red "icing" ketchup. I think I could eat these cupcake/brownie hamburgers over and over. And ... oh... don't get me started on the sugar cookie "fries."Lexi takes a big bite of sweet, savory hamburger!

Transportation Museum with Friends

We took advantage of the good weather to hit the St. Louis Transportation Museum with friends. I can't believe how the summer has flown by and so many things we haven't seen yet. Excited we did this with friends.


Lexi takes a chance to balance her way on the train tracks. That is a bigger chance for Lexi. Can her poor little knees take anymore of her bravery and balance?

Ding Dong! Nicolas uses all his might and five year old power to ring the train bell.

A ride around the park. The kids loved it. Okay, I admit... I don't get the attraction. Couldn't we have done something else with that cost? But five years ago it stopped being about what I thought was logical or fun. And now I find way my enjoyment in seeing their eyes light up, watching their smiles, hearing their laughter and comments. Someday I won't be there to watch this and I know I will wish that I could be this "bored" and "frustrated" again (laughing).

(left to right) Nicolas, Gavin, Sydni, Julia, Erica, Ryan, Aidan, Chrissy, Trina, Lexi

Last T-Ball Game

Our little guy had a great time his first year of t-ball. A great team of boys. Can you believe he is this big already? I often wondered if five year old's should be starting team sports already. Soon they seem to overtake so many things. But how do you look into their eyes and tell them "no" when sports is something they love so much? What I am thankful for is to have a team, a coach and other parents who are really just in this for fun right now.

Finally a day of warm sun to greet us for the last t-ball game.

Nicolas hits the ball thrown by his daddy, the pitcher.

Lexi plays duck duck goose with Jack, Sydni and Chase.

Game is over. The boys say "good game" to the other team.