Lately

I just realized this post is not going to contain any pictures of Nate. He was successful in dodging all my picture taking efforts this past week. Bravo, Nate. Bravo. 

Lila & I attended a birthday party on Saturday for a friend that goes to her pre-school. It was at the Wabash Frisco Pacific Railroad and we loved it! They take you on this little train through the woods by the Meramec River. We saw deer and lots of squirrels along the way - the kids loved it! 

The railroad sits in the middle of the Meramec Greenway and we will definitely be going back to hike the trails soon now that I know they are there. I often joke that if I have to travel more than 5-10 miles away from my house, I have to pack a bag. We are most definitely addicted to city living, where most everything we do is within 5 minutes of our house. The railroad was about 35 minutes from our house and it felt like a day trip. I can't believe I used to drive 40-50 minutes to work every.day when we lived in Atlanta!

Lila started soccer on Monday night! She is our first experience in organized team sports and we'll all learn a lot, I'm sure:)  She's also the tallest on her team of 4 year olds. I'm crossing my fingers that she is going to be very tall!

On Tuesday, Lila & I planned to go to Rocket Park for a bit before we ran a few errands. Melt.my.heart.

We had been there a little over an hour and were getting ready to leave, when I looked up and saw this sweet girl. I said, "Sonia??" She looked a little confused, then said, "Hi Lila!" and they ran off to play.  I went over to find out where she had come from and of course found Evan:)

The girls played and played in the sand volleyball court with sand toys...and we forgot all about our errands and stayed until lunch time. Cousins are such a gift. Evan and I had a wonderful talk. What unexpected loveliness on our Tuesday. We could not have planned it better if we had tried!

Lila Goes to PRE-K

Nate & Lila each got their own first day of school this year (for the last time, wahhh). They are in the same school district but Nate is at the Elementary School and Lila is at the Early Childhood Center. They start the pre-school kids a week later, which I think makes a lot of sense. This meant Lila got an extra week with Mom & Dad. She loved it, of course. 

I had to be out of town on Monday and flew back in early Tuesday morning. It was her last day of summer vacation so we loaded up and went to Forest Park for a picnic lunch. My sweet one, she's growing up every minute. 

On Wednesday morning, she woke up with lots of excitement and to her personalized pancakes. We had already discussed what she wanted them to say - I had to negotiate down from actually spelling out PRE-SCHOOL. She settled on ECC and I was ever so thankful.

Oh my. She's the cutest Pre-K girl that I know.

Love them. I pray this school year is the best one yet!

The Flip Flop Story, and Other Tidbits

Last weekend was very low key for us, which is just what we needed. Well, it was low key if you don't count the excitement Lila and I encountered at Target on Saturday. Nate & Scott went to Forest Park so that Nate could practice with his bow & arrow. Lila was a little sad that she wasn't invited to come along. I needed to go to Target so I told her if she would come with me that I would make it fun (AKA, let her pick something out from the dollar bin). 

She still wasn't super excited to be with me, but we walked into Target and straight to the dollar bins. She has been wanting some "flip flops with no backs." Because she's 4 going on 14, ya know. And she felt flip flops with a back were just beneath her. 

So whaddya know, there was a pair of flip flops with no back in the dollar bin for $1. Sold. She was SO excited about these flip flops. Like over the top. 

So we went on about our business in Target, it took us a while. I had to search for a couple of things that took quite a bit of effort. When we were done, we stopped by the pharmacy to pick up some medicine and that's when I figured out my wallet was not in my purse. I wasn't too worried, because I knew I had put it in the console of my van the night before when we went swimming. So we pushed our cart over to guest services and went to the car to retrieve the wallet. 

Well. It wasn't there. And we had to leave the flip flops at the store. Y'all, she was heartbroken. Over these $1 flip flops. The only pair on the dollar aisle that we would surely never be able to find again. It was totally secondary to the fact that I COULDN'T FIND MY WALLET. 

I told her we would run home and see if we could find my wallet and that we would cross our fingers the flip flops (and our cart) would still be there. We rushed home (we only live about 5 minutes away) and my heart is beating pretty hard about these flip flops. And the whereabouts of my wallet of course. 

I ran in the house and checked the swim bag first. THANKFULLY,  it was there. I grabbed it and pretended I was running a marathon (ok, a 5K, maybe) and bolted back to the car. We drove within all the speed limits to get back to the store. An lo and behold, the flip flops (and the cart) were still there. I was saved. Now I totally could've asked the Target people to hold it for me. But why would I want to think logically during a crisis?? 

On Sunday morning, we all headed to church and Nate was so excited for me to take a picture of him. Can't you tell?

I know this is hard to see. It was Rally Sunday and there was a special presentation during Sunday School that involved a science experiment. Nate & Lila are on the front row and Lila is holding her ears because she thinks something is going to blow up. And Nate is totally comforting her. I love that they are nice to each other when they think we aren't looking. 

Nate received his Bible during the service and of course, Lila had to stand right beside him. It was precious. He is so proud of this Bible and has slept with it every night since. Makes my heart happy. 

We went to eat Mexican on Sunday night and this picture depicts life with my people. :)

Nate Goes to FOURTH Grade

The start of school really snuck up on us this year. It was truly here before we knew it! I asked Nate what he wanted for his first day breakfast and pancakes it was! I'm totally proud of my pancake making skills, in case you were wondering. 

My handsome 4th grader. Love him so much. Here's to a fantastic year!

Visitors from Switzerland

Thank you for all of the concern and well wishes for my baby brother. I'm happy to say that he is recovering very well from his snake bite and is still very hilarious. (He was ready for the rodeo here.) 

At the end of last week, Nate, Lila & I went down to Charleston to soak up all the time we could with Emily, Ben, Bluet & Ilona. And yes, somebody always has their clothes off. 

We took a golf cart ride one day and ended up in Hamil's yard. I can't get enough. We are very lucky.

On this day, Lila decided she wanted to get into the pond. I grew up swimming in there, but wouldn't do it now. She even wore a puddle jumper (she can swim) so that she wouldn't touch the bottom at first (it's very muddy). Well. She loved it and quickly shed the flotation device. Nate and Bluet quickly joined her. Thane wandered down from his house to get in with them, but before he could, wasps started coming out of a nest on the dock. After searching for something to spray on them, Hamil brought "something" down to try (not wasp spray, maybe some type of oil:)).

Here is my Dad trying to kill the wasps. Notice everyone else in on the other side of the dock.

It was too much for Nate about 30 seconds later, off he went. :)

So we re-located to Hamil & Sarah's driveway for some pool and crazy coupe fun. Let me tell you what, this boy was SO good with Ilona. He pushed her, swung her, slid with her, played hide and seek with her...you name it. I'm so proud of him for stepping up to play with her.

On Saturday, we had a birthday party for Emily (it's not until September, but we celebrated early). She's turning one of the big ones, but doesn't look a day over 16 to me.

They are the best. I'm so thankful that they make this big trip to come see us. I know it's not easy to do with 2 little kids. We love having them here for so long and I was not ready to see them go.

I guess I was busy talking because I don't have any more pictures from the party. Just this one of Lila finishing her cupcake!

Before they left, Emily, Ben, Scott & I got to go to a ballgame. Heaven, of course.

We also visited our park, where I asked Bluet for a cheese face. She obliged.

Ilona is a thrill seeker like Lila...

Just swingin at Aba's park (I LOVE Aba by the way).

Ugh, tears. Love them. Back to Switzerland they go!

End of Summer Fun

I can't believe we already wrapped up summer. But we had some fun doing it. 

Scott took both kids to the Muny and I'll post those pictures when I remember to get them from him (which let's face it, might be never). Nate saw Beauty & the Beast and Lila saw Oklahoma! We would have preferred the shows be reversed but Oklahoma was the night before Nate's school started and Beauty & the Beast was the only other kid friendly one. But I think they both enjoyed it very much. 

While Nate & Scott were at the Muny, Lila and I went to the mall to get her some new tennis shoes for school. Y'all. The child is now wearing a size 12. I don't think Nate was in a 12 until maybe 1st grade. I hope this means she is going to be very tall! (It may just mean she's going to have really big feet. Sorry Lou). We stopped by Bread Co after and she was very happy with her cookie and water:)

During the last week of Summer, our friend Olivia and her mom asked us to go the Magic House. The kids had just won free passes in the library's summer reading program, so we were happy to use them!

They had a special exhibit on China. One of the areas was a restaurant, where the kids could cook and serve food to the "diners." Nate & Lila could have stayed here all day!

I'm not sure what you call this contraption, but you load a scarf into this big tube and it shoots it out somewhere different. They love it.

We got to go on one of the roof top gardens that I had never seen before. Sweet Lila:)

The Hot Cardinal Game

To my 3 readers out there, my apologies (especially you, Penny Lou). Turns out it's hard to squeeze in computer time when your children are home for the summer! 

The day Mimi & Paka left, we took the kids to the ballgame because it was Run the Bases day. Scott and I knew it was going to be hot, so we studied the best place for us to buy tickets. Well. All you need to know is that we miscalculated. And it was hotter than hot. But we still managed to have a good time! It's the Cardinals after all.  

Before venturing into the sauna. I mean, truly. Why does he look 15 already?

They gave away Kolten Wong jerseys to the kids (or Kody Wong as we call him round our house, thanks Hamil). Lila put hers on right away.

In the sauna. It was 1:30 PM, 96 degrees with 3 measly clouds in the sky, and no breeze.

I do believe it was the hottest I've ever been in my life. We were all drenched.

Lila was very drenched because she kept begging Scott to pour water on her. I think she was the smartest of the family.

At one point Nate was so hot, he said "I DON'T EVEN LIKE BASEBALL!!!!!" Oh, hurt my heart:)

We left our seats in the middle of the 7th inning to go line up for run the bases. They were much happier then.

And a little delirious.

It was all worth it though when they got on the field. It brings tears to my eyes that I grew up going to Cardinal baseball games and now here I am with my own kids.

My hot sweethearts...

and the obligatory out-take.

Mimi's Week with Us

After Nate & Lila spent a week in Georgia, we met Mimi & Paka to get them back in Nashville. We were lucky enough to bring Mimi back to St. Louis with us too! She stayed the week with us while Kevin went back home, and then he joined us on Wednesday so he, Scott & the kids could go on a canoe trip on Thursday (which meant Mimi & I got to have a shopping extravaganza while they were gone!!) 

While Mimi was here, she and Nate worked puzzles in the mornings...

and we made a trip to the Science Center, which was surprisingly fantastic (sometimes the Science Center is hit or miss, but it's free, so I'm not complaining).

Oh my, they are total messes. In their own ways!

When I ask them to learn at home, or read, or anything that might have to do with something school-like, they are all like BLARGH. But at the Science Center, it's all so interesting to them.

Seeing how many kilowatts / hour they can generate.

This was the biggest win of the Science Center. You made a sailboat and then raced against an opponent. Nate made several and won every time and even beat the fastest record of the day! They both enjoyed doing this so much that I think we'll have to go back to do it again.

On Wednesday, we went to an old St. Louis establishment that surprisingly we've not had the pleasure of seeing. Crown Candy Kitchen is in Old North St. Louis and is like stepping into a time warp. It was opened in 1917 and is still run by the same family. Amazing. We had yummy sandwiches, malts & shakes! Nate especially loved the old juke boxes that were at each table.

When we got in the car to go home, I looked back and saw this. She's a trip.

And so is he, but I'm SO glad they are mine!