I Know, You Just Can't Make Me Happy

As most of you know, I live in St. Louis.  St. Louis, really the Midwest, is notorious for the ever-changing weather.  The old joke of if you don't like the weather just wait a few minutes and it will change is very true.

This past winter was long, cold, and harsh.  Everyone in town was complaining about how cold it was and how the snow just kept coming and coming.

Well, now we have hit the summer and today it was 99 degrees, 107 heat index and over 50% humidity. 

In other words, it was stay inside, do not go outside, do not move, do not open the door, do not let the dog out H-O-T!

I love the summer and bbq's and baseball games but this weather is ridiculous. 

I am a sweaty, hot mess and I officially want it to cool off just a teeny bit.

I told you that you can't make me happy.  Just wait about 4 months and I will be complaining about how I miss the heat.

101 in 1001 Month 6 Update

This month's 101 in 1001 goals met were:

#9 Read another book.  My total is up to 7 out of 50

#18 Blog about met goals. 

#37 Walk in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.  You can read about it HERE



Big Jungle Adventure VBS

Last week the kids had Vacation Bible School.  The theme was

Big Jungle Adventure.

GracieAnn wasn't very excited about going to VBS.  While she can be very outgoing she also has a shy side to her.  Since she didn't know any of the kids or the teacher she had a rough first day.  After the first day, though, I didn't have too many problems sending her back. 

Kanin, on the otherhand, loved it.  He said he wished VBS was 8 hours a day everyday!

If you know Gracie then it won't surprise you that she loved this crown and has been wearing it all through the house.

Here is Kanin's class at the end of the week performance.

Here's GracieAnn not performing her song.  Do you see her all of the way to the left?

Even though she wasn't as excited about VBS as Kanin, this week was really good for Gracie.  She was able to learn about Jesus and socialize with other kids her age.  It was good for me, too.  I got a few hours each day with just Caleb.

Here she is with her teachers.

 Kanin with his teacher.

My favorite song of this whole week was Jesus Rose.  My favorite verse:

Caleb and GracieAnn's Birthday Party

This past weekend we had GracieAnn's 4th and Caleb's 2nd Birthday party.  Both kids are both still so young that it just doesn't make sense to have separate parties.  Plus, so far all of our parties have been family parties and I wouldn't want to ask them all to come over on 2 different days.

If you've followed my blog for a while then you know that I like to coordinate family outfits on holidays.  I also like for each kid to get a birthday shirt.  Yes, I realize that they are just going to get it dirty and usually end up taking it off sometime during the party but they look so cute for pictures.  LOL

Scott's mom used to make cakes as a side job.  I guess Scott picked up some of her tricks along the way because he has made all of the cakes for the kids the last few years.  He even makes his own icing from scratch and then pipes the entire cake.  He worked really had on the cakes this year and it took him several hours to get them done.

This year Caleb got a chocolate Spongebob cake.

GracieAnn had a yellow Diego cake.

We gave Gracie and Caleb a combined present this year, a water table.  They loved it and played with all Friday night (Gracie's actual birthday).  I sat it out during the party, too, and the kids have fun with it.

Each kid also got a can of silly string and a water gun in their goody bag.  It ended up that the little ones couldn't really press the button down to get the string out so Kanin and his friend, Blake, had a good time having a "war" with it.

A few weeks ago our big waterslide (the one in the back) got a huge hole in it.  I was worried about it because I knew the kids would want to use it for the party.  I sewed it up with some embroidery thread and then slapped some good ole' duct tape on it and it worked great for the party.  Our neighbor also had a smaller slide and it was perfect having both of them out.  Caleb could climb up the little one with no help and the babies loved hanging out in the bottom of the slide where all of the water gathered.

Of course, it was the hottest day of the year so I was a little worried about everyone being outside but, for the most part, that is where we all stayed.  Gaga pulled the dj equipment around back and we had a covered tent for a little shade.

Even though it was extremely hot and sweaty, we had a great time and the kids loved all of the toys they received.  The best part, though, was just getting to spend a little extra time with family and great friends!

Oh, by the way, here are a couple of links to some of the food I served:

Slow Cooker Texas Pulled Pork

Braised BBQ Beef Sandwich

"No Baked Potato" Potato Salad

Caleb is 2!

So much has changed since this day last year.

You went on your first airplane ride on your first vacation.

You met Mickey Mouse for the first time.

Your personality really started to show.  

You began to play a lot more especially with your brother and sister.

You went trick-or-treating for the first time.

You started feeding yourself with a fork like a big boy.

You learned "all done" and were always anxious to tell us that you were finished eating.

You were big enough to get out of the stroller at the zoo to look at the animals.



You found some markers and wrote all over yourself and then got mad because the marks wouldn't come off.

You loved the St. Patty's Day Parade this year and thought you were one of the "big kids".

You were a doll in your Easter outfit and you couldn't figure out why your sister always seemed to be crying.

You took our 1st boat ride.

You always loved to go to the park (you still do) and you loved to follow Kanin and Gracie around.

You got to milk a cow after you cried and cried because Kanin and Gracie got to do it.  You think you are so big.

You even let Mommy take some last pics of you as a 1 year old.

Just this past week you got your hair 1st haircut.  You went from looking like a baby

 to looking like a little boy.

One thing that will never, ever change, though, is how much I love you.  You are the best "surprise" that I have ever received and I cherish each and every moment that I spend with you.  You are sweet, funny, sensitive, easy-going, and you love your Mama.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Boo Boo (aka Sweet Baby Caleb, Bubby, the Booder)!

My Gracie Girl

When I was pregnant and after we decided that we would name our baby Gracie, I heard this song by Ben Folds and played it for Scott.  It has become a special song for us and one day I'm sure Scott will be dancing with Gracie to it at her wedding.  

There are not enough adjectives to describe GracieAnn.  Her mood can change in a split second from sweet to sassy.  She has a quick sense of humor, a mean streak, and a smile to melt your heart.   

You can't fool me, I saw you when you came out.
You got your momma's taste but you got my mouth.
you will always have a part of me,
Nobody else is ever going to see Gracie girl .

Minutes after GracieAnn Elaine was born.

Kanin meeting his sister for the first time.

In her take home dress.

With your cards to your chest walking on your toes.
What you got in the box only Gracie knows.
And I would never make you try to be
Anything you didn't really want to be
Gracie Girl

1st Halloween

1st Christmas

Meeting the Blues

1st Cardinal game

Life flies by in seconds

You're not a baby Gracie, you're my friend.
You'll be a lady soon but until then
You gotta do what I say.

1st Birthday

2nd Easter

Becoming a Big Sister

2nd Birthday

You nodded off in my arms watching TV

I won't move you an inch even though my arm's asleep.

2nd Halloween

3rd Birthday

One day you're gonna want to go

I hope we taught you everything you need to know
Gracie girl.

Princess Makeover

Disney World '10

And there will always be a part of me
Nobody else is ever gonna see but you and me

My little girl.

My Gracie girl

 
4th Christmas

1st Zoo Trip of 2011

Last week at Purina Farms.

Happy 4th Birthday to my little BFF, my Mini-Me!  You make life more fun each and everyday and I can't wait to see what you become.  I love you more than words could ever say.