Swimming 2012

It's always difficult to get back into blogging after I accidentally took a TWO month break!  So I'll just jump in...


Kara is in her 2nd session of swimming lessons this summer (her third time in Level 3).  She's doing great and more importantly, she LOVES it!  I can attach anything to..."Do you want to be on time to swimming lessons?" like finishing her reading or cleaning her room.  Works like a charm.

 Micah started a "Tots" class and it's mainly just getting used to the water.  Mom or Dad is always with him.  He likes to splash!!

  Both Micah and Kara have friends in their classes which makes going to swimming all that more fun!

American Girl comes to St. Louis

Kara has been diligently saving every penny she got for birthday, Christmas and chores to buy a "real" American Girl doll.  She received an "Our Generation" doll from Target (an 18" knock-off doll) for Christmas 2010 and quickly realized she wanted the real thing.

After lots of saving and hard work she had the moolah saved (gulp...it's a lot!)  And wonders of wonders, a new store opened up not far from us.  Here are some pics of the excursion to get "Ruthie" (Kit's best friend for those who speak Amercian Girl) and have a nice tea with her new doll.

 Micah and Aunt Michelle joined us!

 Kara pays for her own purchase!

Drinking tea (hot cocoa) and Ruthie has her own chair and cup!

 Micah, a little out of place with all the pink around but still a happy boy :)

 Her afternoon tea included lots of yummy sandwiches, fruit and desserts.

 Aunt Shell chose the "picnic platter."

All in all, a GREAT day!  And we have "Ruthie" the newest member of our family!

New Talent!

Kara learned how to ride her bike without training wheels.  There were tears (mostly just thinking about it) but once she got going....she really got going.

 Micah especially likes this pic of Kara!  It shows her personality!

 She already rode her bike to the park and Adam's Brothers for a smoothie!

Papa and Grandpa

 Kara and Micah are blessed children indeed.  They have MANY aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, great-grandparents and countless others to dote on them!  This post is dedicated to a very special Papa  
 and a very special Grandpa.

Both are great and loved by Kara and Micah!

Ballard Nature Center

For our homeschooling field trip, we went to the Ballard Nature Center in Altamont. When I originally planned the trip, the temps had been in the upper 70s. Then they dropped and thunderstorms were forecasted. We decided to go anyway and were rewarded with a chilly, cloudy, but rain free day!We traveled on some of the many trails and found docks and overlook areas.And then we explored the exhibit room. Like bug tic-tac-toe:And a couple of cool trees:

And bird watching (with one way glass so the birds weren't scared off by us!)

We used a brush to uncover and identify different animals' tracks.
And looked at other interesting wildlife!Kara didn't like that bear but Micah sure did!
Micah just kinda hung out all day :)
The kids had lunch at a kid sized table. Then we visited a fun park. Sorry, no pics :(...but it was an awesome old school park with a merry-go-round and huge slide that would make any mom nervous.

Sorry if there are any grammar errors or typos. Cranky 8 month old is on my lap!

Nashville 2012

We visited our good friends in Nashville, TN for Easter weekend. Over the course of the weekend, we visited 3 parks....

a conservation area....

and a waterfall...

We ate delicious (mostly home cooked) food including Sweet Cici's frozen yogurt...

Where's mine, Mom?Mostly we just spent really good time together and realized that our lives have changed a lot since college with our combined 5 kids :)Sorry about the blurry camera phone pic. When all 5 kids are looking cute and happy and in basically one direction, you take the picture with is whatever technology is available!