Life Lately

I feel like we are finally getting back into the swing of things after winter break, and it's hard to believe that the kids have already been in school 100 days! Lila's teacher planned a super fun day for the kids and Lila was all about it. First up was to dress like you were 100 years old. She wore pearls and glasses, then we put her hair in a bun and sprinkled baby powder on it to make it look white. She ate it up. She of course doesn't look 100 here but she does look so much older to me! She's starting to look way more like a young girl than a little kid. Sad and happy about that! 

Her teacher took all the kids pictures then used an app to age them 100 years. Oh my word. We thought this was SO funny! I told her she will be a very cute and stylish 100 year old woman. Ha!

This past Saturday was so gorgeous. So gorgeous that we are begging for Spring to come early this year! It was 70 degrees so we soaked up some vitamin D all day long.  

We played in our yard and went to 2 different parks. Nate brought along his briefcase with his necessities. Because of course:)

In the winter, I become obsessed with the extended forecast. If it is above freezing and no snow for all 15 days when I look, I am so excited and relieved. Because every day we get through without it being bitter cold is a day closer to Spring! It's the little things in the winter:)

Ruel is ONE!

Ruel turned the BIG ONE a couple of weeks ago! Sweet sweet baby right here...it's hard to believe it has been a year! We all headed down to SE MO the night before his party...amidst an ice storm...because let's face it, we were not missing it! I don't think Lila would have ever forgiven me! 

Sarah and Hamil had his party at the Discovery Play House in Cape and my kids thought it was the bomb. Here is Wayne trying to do a little dental work on Lila. Ha!

Many local businesses are represented and kids love to work a bank, supermarket, dentist, daycare and farm!

Upstairs they have a plane and air traffic control. Nate could have stayed here all day!

The birthday boy! He is intrigued at first...

even smiling...

 but then he tried to get away...

so reinforcements came to help!

Lila loves her some Ruel...

 even though he doesn't sit quietly when she holds him anymore!

But he sure does look cute in her headband...she thought this was so funny!

We were so happy to get to celebrate Ruel's big first birthday! And we made it safely back to STL before the second wave of the ice storm hit...although it was more of a media event most of the time. But isn't it almost always?!?!

It's Gonna Be a New Year!

We had special visitors for New Year's this year! Emily & Ben went on the New Year's Eve Float Trip so we had Bluet & Ilona at our house for the weekend. So special. Also, so special was that Mimi & Paka flew in for the weekend too! I managed not to take any pictures of them (shame on me!) but they were here and we had a wonderful weekend with them too. 

The girls were in the house approximately 2.2 seconds before they had a costume on their bodies. And pretty much stayed that way the entire weekend. 

They would change multiple times a day and eventually Lila joined in too. She has sadly lost the desire to dress up all the time so I was happy to see her get excited about it again.

What did you do to ring in the New Year?? Well, I changed girls in and out of costumes and made a lot of peanut butter sandwiches. I wouldn't have had it any other way!

I was in bed well before midnight on New Year's Eve. Shocker.

2017, here you come, whether we are ready or not. I pray and hope for peace in our world, especially in our country, for this next year. Let's all take the time to love one another better, celebrate each other's differences, and remember that Jesus came for everyone. No ifs ands or buts. Everyone.

Happy 2017!

Christmas 2016

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to help round out 2016. We are so grateful for our many blessings including our amazing family and friends! 

On Christmas Eve, Scott had to work the evening shift, so the kids and I walked over to church for the candlelight service. The poinsettias looked beautiful and I took this picture to send to Scott because we gave one in memory of his sweet Grandma. I love that our church does this, it's nice to remember special people on this magical night. 

Since Scott wasn't going to be home, I scheduled Domino's to arrive with pizza when we got home from church. Maybe it's a new tradition?!?!

The next morning, I had dreams of getting downstairs before the kids so I could capture them coming down the stairs for the first time in our new home on Christmas morning. Alas, that was not to be. Instead I was chasing them down the stairs and this is all I got. That's a dream versus reality of parenthood, right??

The kids were very lucky kids on Christmas morning. They were also very thankful, which makes my heart thankful.

Nate put many books on his list this year, so of course Santa had to make good on that one. Because books instead of toys? All day long.

Lila got a new baby...because of course...this one's name is Avery.

Scott got the kids (and himself) nerf pistols. AKA Say goodbye to your nice things, Abatha.

After we exchanged gifts and had breakfast, we headed down to the cabin to see my parents, and the Corse-Collins peeps. A Ranger ride to see the new calves was in order.

Ilona really does have a knack for fashion. Sometimes it agrees with the weather, sometimes it doesn't. This day, it agreed. Thankfully.

Sweet and precious Bluet...

I had to include this picture. Some time between Christmas and New Year's, I was working in the kitchen. I turned around to see this and it made me laugh. Yes, Truman, just sit there. I'll do all the work.

 

 We hope you had a wonderful holiday celebrating with your people! Bring on 2017!

Siesta Key 2016

On December 17th, we did a little "leaving on a jet plane" (y'all remember that song, right??"). I was so excited because Mother Nature decided it needed to be 20 degrees in December and I was very saddened by it. So we traded our 20 degree Missouri weather for some 80 degree Florida weather! 

To top off our excitement, we were scheduled to meet Nana, Wayne, Hamil, Sarah, Thane, Ruel, Emily, Ben, Bluet & Ilona at the beach! Woohoo! An amazing feat to get all of us together, let alone at the beach!

Getting ready to take-off...doesn't Nate look like a teenager here?!?! The kids and I checked all of our luggage in while Scott parked the car. I was a sweaty mess at 4:30 AM. It was worth it. 

Lila had to bring Lea of course! She was dressed in her travel outfit and even had her own neck pillow. I think I will cry the day she is not into dolls anymore.

Touch Down! We were thrilled to see the sunny skies and the blue water! We flew into Tampa and had about an hour drive to Sarasota - we stayed in Siesta Key.

The house we rented had a pool and the kids were immediately in it!

We waited a couple of hours before our other Missouri peeps arrived. Then we went out to dinner and sat outside. So glorious since we had just left the Artic north!

We had a rough night that first night. Lila had said her throat hurt a few times the day before we left, but it was late and I just figured she was getting a cold. Well. She was up a good part of that first night because her throat hurt so bad she didn't want to swallow. Soooo...we hit up the Urgent Care the next morning and yes, she had strep throat. We loaded her up with antibiotics and she was on the beach in no time!

The cousins had so much fun at the beach. Building sand castles, playing the waves, and running around. We had the best weather. The best. And I was so thankful.

Even the littlest one was playing in the waves!

Scott was once again a sport and let the kids bury him in the sand. A tradition.

There was plenty of chilling out at night because apparently beach parties and endless swimming make one tired.

On Sunday night, Emily, Ben, Bluet and Ilona arrived from Switzerland!

Ruel loved the water - he wanted to be a big kid too:)

The pool had what was supposed to be a hot tub but it was pretty much the same temperature as the big pool. The kids still loved it and especially loved it when Wayne would get in with them.

Bluet loved the waves! I loved her squeal of excitement.

Happiness...beach days are our very favorite days.

Be still my heart. Love. That's my Dad and two of his granddaughters.

I left this picture out of Nate's birthday post. My sad attempt to continue the tradition of making the age pancakes. But I can say we have not skipped a year yet!

While Nate, Scott & Ben went to the movie on his birthday, we went to a nearby state park. Where I was worried the alligators would get to close. Ha!

Jumping over a log. Everything is so much more fun when your cousins are around.

Eating spaghetti for Nate's birthday dinner. Because of course.

Does it get any better than this!?!? Christmas tree on the beach? I think not.

Too bad we have no personality in our family. None at all.

The last night, Nana & Wayne carried on a tradition of doing a skit with the kids. It was hilarious. I hate that my pictures were not any better. But they all had on reindeer ears and acted out / sang /danced Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Lila was Rudolph.

It was an amazing trip. With so many people and schedules, it's hard to get everyone together. I am so thankful we all made it work!