Meet Our Newest...

Nephew! But only by 5 days...:)

Thane Aurelius Corse was born on June 26th!

This picture makes me cry.

The Baby Boy has a baby boy.

I was so glad to get to meet Thane in person so soon. It is such a special time right after babies are born.

And I am so lucky to get to become an aunt again TWICE in one week! Levi & Thane, I love you so much.

And because this trifecta is sure not to happen again, a big shout-out to my dear friend Tasha who also delivered her 4th child, 3rd girl this week too!

The Girls

I was thrilled when my sister told me that we would get to see them again before they headed back to NYC. Emily, Ben & Bluet did a 2nd STL tour this weekend. I love having them here, I mean really love having them here. I was sad when they left but am glad we will get to see them again this summer.

The girls were glad to see each other again too, although having to have the same toy has not yet passed. Let's just say Elmo is super popular at our house.

Before they left, I wanted to get a picture of the 2 of them. Nate was already off on his weekend adventure or it would have been a great "last time there were 3 cousins" picture.

Turns out they were both a little under the weather, which I'm sure accounted for their stillness for all these pictures. I couldn't pick just one, so brace yourselves.



 

Meet Our Newest...

Meet our newest nephew, Levi David Odom!

Born June 21, 2012

We love him already and can't wait to see him in a few short weeks! 

Meet Me in St. Louis

Emily, Ben & Bluet paid us a visit this weekend. It was so so nice to have them here! Bluet is adorable and she and Lila sort of play together. They mainly just pine after the same toy - so typical for this age!



Nate enjoyed having them here too. Even though it is so apparent that he is so much older than them. I mean of course it's apparent, but I know he feels it's hard to get a word in edgewise with the "babies" around.

Our attempt to get a picture of the 3 of them. It was somewhat successful. We were headed off to the ball game, or at least some of us were. Scott kept the little girls at home. Thankfully.

We went to Sundeckers to eat lunch before the game. And Nate lost his first tooth while we were there! So exciting! It had been dangling for a while but he wouldn't let us pull it. It started bleeding at lunch (I know, so gross) and Scott told him it was time. He said loudly, "I will pull it myself!" Of course you will. Because that's what you do. And he did!

Love these peeps!

At the game eating Cherry Garcia ice cream...he is so grown up. Truly.

Nate & I stayed for about half of the game. Then we walked around the stadium and got on the train to go home. He didn't ask to go home, but instead I suggested it. I didn't think riding the train with hundreds of other people when it was 100 degrees with a tired 6 year old was going to be much fun! We had a good tour of the stadium and a cool, quiet ride home.

Love Actually

Some of latest loves. And an actually.

I tend to go a little overboard with liquid detergent. I try to make myself follow the markings on the pre-measured cup. But I just can't. If a little concentrated detergent is good, then more has to be better, right? Not really. It doesn't really work like that. And I just end up going through the detergent faster. Because we all know I love me some laundry.

When I first saw these type of pacs come out, I was so excited. I decided if All Free & Clear came out with them, then it was surely fate. Well they did. And they sell them at Sam's in big buckets. Just what I need to satisfy the laundry craving without going overboard.

I'm not much of a lunch eater. I drank Slim Fast for years because it was better than not eating. Or so Scott has told me no less than 5,382 times. Well the love affair with Slim Fast wore off, as things tend to do when you drink them every week day for say 10 years. Scott brought these home one day (he loves a Shop N Save sale) and they are now a staple. Pizza, in just the right portion and only 200 calories. Score!

 Scott got me a Coupon Pro binder for Christmas. I love it. I love to cut coupons, sort coupons, and use coupons. The binder just helps me keep it organized and not miss out on expired deals. I feel a bit like a nerd, but it's saving me money, so I just deal with that part. And in case you were wondering, I do not use the shoulder strap. That would make me a super nerd.  

Well here's the actually part. Actually, I never take the binder to the store. I go through my routine of sorting out deals and collecting coupons prior to going to the store. And I put the coupons in a smaller sorter that fits in my purse. But last Friday, I had to go to Wal-Mart (which I never do) and I had not had time to sort coupons since I had been out of town, so I took the binder with me (which I never do). I wasn't feeling well and Lila was running me ragged through the store. While checking out, I placed the binder on the under side of the cart. You know where I'm going with this. Big mistake.

On Saturday morning, when I was going to do my normal routine of cutting and sorting coupons, I realized I had left it. I cried. Scott went to the Wal-Mart to see if someone returned it. They hadn't. I cried some more. I couldn't look at a coupon for the rest of the weekend without being sad. 

So actually, I'm anxiously awaiting Coupon Pro Binder #2 to arrive in my mailbox.  



Sweet Summer & New Neighbors

This past weekend, we enjoyed summer time in our very own backyard. I've always loved our back yard in the summer. Everything is so green that it hides the parts I'd rather not look at in the winter:) 

Nate's Art & Nature Camp is going swimmingly. He loves all the art. And nature. I told him he didn't have to go on Fridays since I am home, but he quickly told me that he didn't want to miss any projects! 

He went on a field trip to a Community Garden last Friday and came home with a tomato plant. The sun was in his eyes, but he was so proud of that plant. 

And sweet Lila, eatin her Cheerios. That's her new survival technique. Just eat Cheerios. I guess there are worse things. Notice the mark on her head? Yes, she fell over in a chair on Friday and had the bonk of all bonks. It immediately turned blue and puffed up like a golf ball. I don't remember much first aid, but I do remember if it goes out and not in, it's all ok. It is now a nice shade of purple yellow. Glad I didn't have any family pictures planned. And if you're wondering if it phased her? Only for about 2.5 minutes. 

The biggest news of the summer is that we have new neighbors!! The Peach Family moved to Maplewood! We are so excited to have them here. It's so nice to have friends that are like family right around the corner. Nate & Megan will go to school together in the fall and Avery will be right down the street at the elementary school. Welcome to the Maple-Hood!



Nate & Megan play so well together and Lila often tries to join them. Although Avery is her favorite. She says Avery Avery over and over again when she is not here. So sweet.

Nothing scares Lila but her climbing of the deck rails was really scaring Jason. I just go with it. Hey guys! I think I'll join you.

 I just need to get up a little farther to see what they are looking at...

 Oh that's good. What are we looking at?? Don't worry, I did make her get down since this is so not safe.

 They played with this wooden snake all.night.long.

To end the evening, we had to play a little soccer. Since Jason & Scott are obsessed. I don't get the fascination, but whatever floats your boat!

First Weekend of Summer

Ahhhh, the first week of summer. It was supposed to be relaxing. But. It wasn't. See, Nate's art camp didn't start until yesterday, so he had a week to hang out at home. We decided not to secure any care for him because A) I work at home and B) Scott can be flexible. We did great, considering. It just wasn't that relaxing shuffling all day with an almost 6.5 year old with no routine. He needs him some routine. Just like his mother. But we made it. And we were all glad when they opened the doors at art camp yesterday:)

We had a low key weekend and our major accomplishment was to get this boy a new room. As you may remember, Nate moved down to the basement room before Lila was born. He has loved it down there but decided a few months ago that he wanted to switch his room with my office upstairs. We can all use a change, so I agreed. It took us a while to get going, but over the weekend, we transformed the office into a big boy room, and the basement room into my office. I have to say it's a win for both parties. He loves his room and I love being more "away" from the rest of my house to work.

Here's the big boy on the first night in his new room. I have some more decorating to do before I post pictures - anyone know where I can find a metal, low-profile headboard for him????? Message me if you do.

Nate's reading has really taken off, although I wouldn't say the "spark" has necessarily arrived yet. He doesn't act like he likes to read, but once he gets going, he does so well. You have to pick your times, just like everything else around here...but he usually will always sit down with Lila to read. She plops right in his lap and listens. For 20 seconds. At least.

On Saturday, we went to Forest Park so that Nate could practice riding his bike without training wheels. There are no pictures of him doing this because it would have just made him nervous. So next time. We didn't push him to get rid of the training wheels. As with most things, Nate usually knows when it is time. Or he saw a bigger kid with a bigger bike and we informed him that they don't make big bikes with training wheels. Yep, that coulda done it.

So while Nate & Scott were perfecting this skill, Lila and I strolled around the park. She smelled flowers. And rocks.

We watched a wedding - so fun to wander upon a small wedding by a lake at the back of the park! She quacked at the ducks and made friends.

Great weekend, if you don't count the frustrations due to lack of routine. That's life I guess. Keepin it real! The photo quality is terrible on these pictures. Promise I'm going to get the camera out of the bag soon. It's lonely I know.