First week with Lilli in June

We are going to take this slow as to not overwhelm with the oodles of pictures. 

On Sunday, the third week of June , we got to pick up Lilli to come stay for a while. The kids look so bored waiting because they are. The St Louis airport is only so big despite being an international airport. We do laps and ride escalators and walk stairs, ride elevators, watch people, play something we can find to play and still have time to wait. We all like to go pick up Lilli but Cody has to be there early to check in and walk to her gate with time to spare to get her from the plane. We know the St Louis airport like the back of our hands. But it's always worth it. 

Lilli jumped in immediately to our way of life....one of the first things she did once we got home was hold our 2 week old goat. They really are just fun to pick up when they are so small. We put her in a hip hop dance class this year while she was here. It part of the same time Baylee had dance team practice so it gave her a little something to do while waiting on Baylee's class to end. She seemed to have a blast and worked really hard at learning the moves. 

The next day, we had a space suit show at the library to attend. It was presented by an employee of the Planetarium and he brought along his fully authentic space suit. It was a little boring for Tanner and Zoey but Baylee, Lilli and I loved it. We then moved the party to the park for a picnic and playtime on the playground and in the fountain. 

Wednesday of that week was our infamous fashion show. The girls were hysterical with this event. Lilli did their makeup. I gave them access to my closet and my shoes. They put together their secret outfits while Tanner and I set up an audience and a runway. The videos are definitely a treasure. I had to announce but had no idea what was coming out. I was trying not to laugh and be stunned by what would come down the runway. It was a great time. They talked about for weeks. They then had a fashion show for their Barbies. And later that afternoon mud painted the shed and played with a toad. From fashion to frogs, they have it all covered. 

Thursday, we had a stay at home and chill day. The pool had to be cleaned and Tanner helped with the wagon. With all of the crazy, it was nice to have a relaxing day at home. (Fashion show required some recouping) 

Friday we all loaded up and hit the road with Hannah and Izzy for some garage sales. I love to shop other people's trash. I always find great things for very little money. The kids always find cheap toys or something that makes them happy as well. We ended with an suv full to the point of a new beanbag was hanging over the girls head in the back row. We had a little of everything in there. It was a blast. The kids even had a great time and were excited for their finds. Lilli over her Justin Beiber book specifically and Baylee loves her some boots. Tanner got a big super loud talking moving fire truck that launches nerf balls that scared the daylights out of us all when it started talking. We just thought it rolled, great deal, had no idea it could do all of that. That little boy's eyes told me he had won the lottery! That night we had the furry friends sleepover at the library where they drop off their animal for a sleepover party and have treats and then go back the next day and see the pictures of the trouble they have gotten into. They find it entertaining. 

Saturday started out being a nice day. We had some incredible thunderstorms move in that flooded our yard and the fields all around us. Out by where our driveway meets the road, the water was up to my knees. It was all trying to rush into the waterway and in the process started washing out the sides of the waterway. It was by far the most water at once that we have gotten yet. Luckily it just flooded the yard and didn't make it up the slight hill the house sits on. It would be the first of 2 of these we got this summer. 

It was a busy week. We are go go go in the summer and if we aren't on the go, you can find us outside if it's a decent day. Love me some summer time! (As I write this wrapped in a blanket mid November) Happy summery thoughts!

First half of June

From strawberry picking and ice cream, puppet show and a fiesta at the library, a Pinocchio play and party with lots of friends over to simple fun in the sun, we started the summer off with a bang. Pictures tell best these days.

We also discovered Zoey's love for playing in and eating dirt. Baylee conquered riding her bike on her own. Not many sidewalks to attempt to ride on here....hasn't been on the top of our list of things to do until this summer to do it before Lilli came. We beat the time limit, just barely.

We also got a new baby goat on June 2. Helping deliver a baby goat was a new thing for me. I sat out there with him for about the first 2 hours to make sure Big Mama was a good mom and let him eat and all that. His name is James. For you star trek fans....we now have James and Tiberius. We are sort of hoping for another boy to be Kirk in the spring. If you also do not know, I named the goat Tiberius so that none of my future children(when prego with unnamed unidentified Zoey) could be named that. Cody loves that name, I gave it to a goat so it can't be used by our family. I was dodging a bullet for my kids so to speak. So I stuck to it when naming the goats to appease the trekky in him.

May 2013

May was a lot of fun for us. The weather was turning nicer, which in our house means a lot of outdoor time. It's usually plant the garden time which is tons of work but also therapeutic for me and beneficial for everyone. (partly that I get therapy yes and partly because we reap so much from the garden)

Zoey learned to walk in May. She was 9 months and 1 week. She has always been busy but she was my fastest walker. Not sure I was ready for it, but I didn't have much choice, we just adjusted for it.

Baylee had her first performance on the big stage at the college for her dance recital. I learned how to make origami flowers to give her something unique and original for walking across the stage which was by far my favorite part of the performance. She is full of personality and her little strut showed that embodied every part of her. Even sticking out her tongue at her dad while walking across the stage is so very much just "her".

After the performances, Baylee was asked to join the Petite company at her dance school. It is a competitive team. Due to their size, our area, etc, they only do three competitions a year(my wallet is glad for that for now). But it gets them into the swing of things. We were pretty proud of her especially since she has only been dancing for one year. At this point, she keeps up with the other girls who have all been dancing years longer than her. Her practices increased to 2 hours a week and she now gets jazz, poms, ballet and tap. She LOVES it. My little diva.

I feel like Tanner needs some face time here.....he's my little explorer. He can be found outside at pretty much any given point. Dirt is by far one of his best friends! He is forever keeping us laughing!

April 2013

Horribly failing at the blog right now since it's coming up on the end of August and I'm just getting to April....for real? Yep, that's how we roll these days! So you get highlights and lots of pictures!

April was home to loads of fun. It was spring break for public school, so we got to spend time with Izzy and Hannah. We went on an outlet shopping adventure, an outing to the nature center for a walk, and just got to spend some time together.

Baylee had a performance at the mall as a rehearsal for their upcoming recital.

The weather started becoming friendly and we got to spend time outside jumping (of course) and playing. This is where Baylee also sprained her ankle for the first time and had to take it easy. Tanner also received sympathetic ankle sprain and propped his up too.

Zoey was a speed crawler and started pulling up on things and standing without help. She also discovered at this point the availability of things to get into around here.

Tanner got to bam on the car and change brakes with Cody.....talk about little boy heaven!

Lilli turned 8....wow! 8!

Cody and I celebrated our 7th anniversary as well! :)

 I started jogging a few times a week. (who knew at this point, I actually wouldn't hate running and actually enjoy it?)

Looking back, mostly smiles a few angry faces from Zoey, Tanner does a few good ones as well.

Easter 2013

We joined the Easter celebration with Hannah, Izzy, Dan and Hannah's family. It was a fun filled day with many egg hunts and tasty food!

Baylee's Dance Recital finale

I think my movies are too big....so here's the finale walk for now. Which is my favorite. I love that she was the Baylee we know and stopped to make faces at dad for yelling out her name. Front row has it's advantages and disadvantages. So proud of our Miss Baylee Paige. 

March 2013

You will find pictures from March an assortment of chaos. 

Highlights:

-We had our biggest snow storm since we have been in Illinois(Happy Spring). built many snow features and I pelted Tanner in the mouth with a snowball while he was cackling one day, didn't mean to do that. and hit Baylee in face while doing some video. OOOPS! Bad aim.

-Tanner hurt his neck and got neck xrays...I'm sure there will be many of those in our future, he is adventurous

-Storytimes at the library

-Salt dough..ugh, messy

-Spring gingerbread boys (sugar overload)

-seed starters for the garden(epic failure, recovered by what we know best, starting them straight in the soil)

-cookie pops, masks, bird feeders oh my!

We tried to keep entertained. We taught Zoey to crawl through a box, now she knows what to do with a box whenever one is available. Life lesson for sure!

Easter will be added soon!