city museum

My mom and I took Huntleigh to the City Museum on probably its busiest day of the year. I think every school in Saint Louis had a group of children there while we were there. It's a huge place, but it was just full of kids running around. I think Huntleigh was a bit overwhelmed, but she enjoyed a few things where there was no one else around. It's not really a place for little kiddos like her. I would not recommend going until your children are five or older. There was just so much that was lost on her and it's too pricey to not be able to enjoy the creativity of it all. This was one of those things she seemed to enjoy (because no one else was around) and we watched shoelaces being woven together for awhile.

musik

Sorry for the long absence. I need to catch up a bit. At the end of May we finished our KinderMusik class that we went to every Wednesday. At first, I wasn't sure what to think of the class, but we ended up really enjoying it and Huntleigh loved going. I find it fascinating how children easily connect with music. So many seem to enjoy it so much. If you're interested in these sort of classes for your children, check this out.

Memorial Day

We spent Memorial Day at the farm and had a sleepover with the siblings. It was so relaxing. Huntleigh and Abby had some good time together playing outside while the boys did their boy thing and shot some stuff. Hunts wasn't quite sure what to make of the trampoline, at first, but she got into it after a few jumps.

congrats alex!

Alex is one of those people who has been in my life since I moved to Saint Louis...the first time. I was 11 when he was born and when I moved away, I think he was still calling me "Ra-Ra." Here we are celebrating his graduation from high school and he will soon be on his way to Covenant College. (Yea!) His family was my holiday and everything else family when I was at Covenant College. I spent a lot of time driving to Saint Louis to be with them for Easter, Thanksgiving, and any random weekend to do my laundry and to be with people who loved me so well. It's a good thing Molly is still around, because it would be too much if they all moved away at the same time! Congratulations, old friend! We're so excited for you!

jam it.

I am really proud of the product of our strawberry picking. 11 pounds of strawberries and 26 jars of jelly. I remember every summer when I was little, my mom would take Scott and me to pick strawberries. She would wear a red bandana and we would go out early in the morning and when we got home, we spent the rest of the day making this same jelly. It's so simple. It just requires a ton of sugar. Huntleigh kept herself pretty well occupied while I was in the kitchen. When it got really quiet, I did find her blowing her nose in the bathroom--with Dora cheering her on approvingly.

strawberry morning

This morning we took a trip to Eckerts with Shannon, Alyssa, Kristen, Mary Ellen and all the kiddos. We were a big, sticky mess at the end and it was worth it. Thanks to Mary Ellen for saving us from taking 255 South all the way around Saint Louis!

Margarita Mondays

I decided that it would be a good idea to have margaritas together as moms. Let's be honest: we all know there are days when we can't wait to put our kids down for the night and then just sit and have a beer...or a shot...depending on the day! And the warmer weather just calls for sitting outside with an alcoholic beverage of some sort in hand. So I thought my friends should be able to come over with their kiddos and enjoy our new deck with said beverage in hand. We get together on Mondays at 4. It's kind of crazy, and the kids run around and interrupt us a lot, and sometimes you go inside and discover a piece of poop on the floor (you just had to be there...really), but we manage to relax together and eat chips & guacamole and laugh really loud and it's a great excuse to get take-out for dinner. If you're a mom and you have a bunch of mom friends who might enjoy the same kind of fellowship, you should start your own Margarita Mondays. You will not regret it. Here are Lucy and the Hunts and little Belle in the background.

we are the bowlers

...the crazy bowlers. Apparently, without consulting each other, Josh and Scott had the same idea of crazy.

celebratory bowling

To celebrate the graduates, we went out for sushi and then some bowling at the Moolah Lounge. Abby made us do these poses (notice: she is not in a single picture) and I'm so glad she did because they are HILARIOUS. (Hannah, Zach, Me, Scott, Josh, Josh throwing me, and Beka & Zach.)

graduates

Congratulations Zach and Hannah! We are so proud of you and we love you!

good daddy and mommy time

"Flying" on a new Dora bike from Poppa and B.

oof, oof!

This is what Huntleigh does every single time she either sees or hears a dog. Her dog noise is "Oof! Oof!" (silent "w.") I just love those fat little lips!

18 1/2 months

Scott, Abby, and the Hunts

Josh got me a canon rebel xti for mother's day this year and I am learning how to use it. I must say, I love the fact that I can take as many pictures as I want to and not have to feel guilty about it. I was always a bit more careful with film, because I was never sure what image I was going to get. I love these pictures.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was a lot of fun this year and I am more in love with Huntleigh than ever before. She continues to amaze me everyday with the many facets of her personality. She is a child who is full of joy.


There were no good pictures of me and Huntleigh this year, so this is the best we could do. I love Huntleigh's nonchalant look with Josh here.


With my sisters-in-law, Hannah and Abby.

carousel ride

little friends

My friend Julianne came to St. Louis with her two kiddos in tow for a few days. It seems like now that they live in IOWA we will see them more often! Our kids get along great and it is just fun to live life alongside each other. It rained the whole time they were here, so we spent a lot of time indoors at fun shops.

puzzle peril

For those of you who think that my house is perfect and always orderly, please take comfort in this picture. I know that I am a perfectionist, but it is this messy little one who is helping me let go of such tendencies. My house more often looks like this than not. The only problem with the loose puzzle pieces underfoot is the expletives that fly when one might step on them without looking. They really hurt!!

the culprit

here is my stealthy little imp.

the joy of huntleigh

I took this picture because I found it pretty funny that my 1 1/2 year old stacked all these rings on my head without my even realizing she was doing it. I must have been totally in my blog zone.

some good sound

If you like Bluegrass, you should check out this band. He's Josh's cousin.

bubs

I really loved this picture of my sister-in-law, Abby. Abby, I hope you like it, too. Huntleigh has learned to ask for bubbles by saying "Bubs? Bubs?". She loves it.

a room for playing