St. Louis Zoo

This is one thing I miss about St. Louis so much.  The Zoo there is awesome and it's FREE!!!  We would go all the time while we lived there and Chase has been begging to go ever since we moved.  We were lucky enough to fly from our stay in Utah to St. Louis and stay with our good friends John and Tara... Thanks again you guys!  I knew one thing we absolutely had to do was go to the zoo.  It was a cold day, but it wasn't crowded and all the animals were out and moving around so really it was the best day to be there.

This Tiger had 5 cubs back in April.  We tried to see them 

before we moved, but they weren't out on display yet.

All five were out and playing, it was the coolest thing we saw that day.

I tried to get a picture with all the cubs in it, but couldn't.

Here are two of them playing around with their mother in the background.

The Hippos are my favorite!

The whole gang at the end of the day

The Ladies

This is a group of my friends from High School.  Some of them I haven't seen in over 5 years and some more recently.  I love getting together and reminiscing about the old days and the trouble and drama we would get into together.  We had some great times!

Lacy, Allison (with Nixon), Me, Melissa, Ashley, Carrie, Becca, Brit, & Lindsay

Thanks for a great night Ladies!

I hope some of you who couldn't come will be able to next time!

Dino Museum II

This is Chase's favorite thing to do.  He LOVES the dinosaur museum.  He could spend all day there and tell you about all the dinosaurs.  His favorite is the T-Rex.  He has always had a fascination with dinosaurs and all his favorite book are about them.  This time Landon didn't want to come so it was Papa Tom, Lindsay, Mike, Me, Bryce, and Chaser.  I don't think that place will ever get old for him.

Counting Change

I think Landon drove my step-mom crazy while we were in Utah.  He was always bugging her to print pictures for him off of her computer.  One day She put him to work on the big bowl of change in their bedroom.  He sat there and organized all the change and then counted all of it.  It kept him occupied for about 3 hours.  Once Landon starts something he doesn't quit... there is way to much OCD in him to stop.  When he was finished my dad gave him $10 worth.  Landon thought that was awesome.

Sophie

A friend of mine was going out of town for a few days and I got the privilege of watching her little girl Sophie.  She is the cutest thing and my boys absolutely loved her.  They couldn't wait for her to get up from her naps and play.  She was so good and I LOVED having a little girl in the house.  Hopefully I'll have one of my own someday...

This was the extent of her mischief.  If I left the pantry door open

she would get into the cereal and pick out all the marshmallows.

At this age my boys did much worse than that!

Chase was so cute with her and loved playing with her

Teresa, go out of town again so we can have her back!

Backyard Football

Some of you may know that I am really raising 3 boys, not 2.  My husband is just as much of a kid  as the little two... sometimes more.

The other day he went and bought spray paint to turn our yard into a football field.  After school it's the neighborhood football field anyway, but now it's official.  We have the white lines to prove it.

Landon and the neighbor boys were so excited.  It rained that night and

the biggest concern when they woke up the next morning was 

whether the lines for the football field were still there.

They were.

Trunk or Treat!

I love the ward Trunk or Treat.  Our last ward in St. Louis only did it the first year we were there and than did away with it.  I love to see all the kids in their costumes and it's just a safe quick place for our kids to get a preview of the real night to come.

They kids in the costume parade.

Chase was really under the weather the next day,

I think that explains his face expressions in all my pics

I love to see big brother take care of his

little one.

"Pumpkin Patch"

Some girls and I took our kids to a "Pumpkin Patch" last week.  It was a little week in the pumpkins, but made up for it in other areas.  They had a little haunted house that was just perfect for the little ones with a little maze at the end.  There were some farm animals for the kids to look at and they even got to witness a black cat catch a real mouse for dinner (Yuck!)

Collin, Chase, and Ethan

All three of these boys are in preschool together

Aren't they so cute!

This was a shed filled with corn kernels.  The kids loved it!

All the kids buried Landon

A really cute tire swing shaped like a hourse,

The kids discovered  this right as we were leaving.

First Day of Preschool

To make a long story short... The school year started a couple of months ago, but Chase just started last week.  We weren't planning on sending him this year, but due to some fortunate events and luck he is attending the preschool just down the street from us.  He was so nervous on our way out the door and kept telling me how "shy" he was and didn't really want to go.  The second he saw his friend Collin, who is in the same class, all shyness was out the door and he was ready to go.

Look at that face!

Haunted Gingerbread House

Every year at Christmas time we do Gingerbread Houses.  I was walking through the store and saw this cute Haunted House Gingerbread kit and new my kids would just love it.  I love doing things like this with my kids.  Landon tends to get a little OCD with his crafts and thinks they have to be perfect while Chase could care less.  It makes for a little confrontation when it comes to deciding how the candy should be placed, but they both loved the end result and everyone had fun.

When You Gotta Go... You Gotta Go!

Uncle Booper...

Uncle Booper came into town for the weekend.  He interviewed at the University of Iowa for medical school.  My boys were so excited to have him come and are hoping that he and his wife move here permanently.  We loved having him here even if it was a short visit.

So for those of you who don't know, Booper isn't really his name... go figure.  His given name is Brandon, but since he was a baby my older brother Ken (although my mom likes to take the credit) nicknamed him "Booper" and that's who he's been ever since.  It's carried over in school, work, and everywhere else he goes.

This weekend Chase told us that Booper was his real name and Brandon is his nickname.  I don't think Landon even knew his name was Brandon until about a year ago.

I wonder what his kids will call him...?

Wilson's Apple Orchard

This week we went to the apple orchard with some friends.  I had taken Chase once already with some girls from the ward, but it was a first for Bryce and Landon.  I guess the it was a hard winter and really mild summer so a lot of the apples didn't look so good on the outside, but tasted great on the inside.  There is a local store where they make homemade apple pies and apple turnovers along with some other homemade goods.  You can't go without some fresh apple turnovers... they are delicious!

It was a great evening with the fam and some great friends!

Making the trek down to the apples

Don't ask me...

Flag Football... Go Raiders!

Landon had his first flag football game this week.  His team is the "Raiders" and it's made up of 1st and 2nd graders from a couple different schools in the area.  He only knows two kids on his team from school so he was a little apprehensive about playing.  He quickly forgot about his "shyness" when the game started and did awesome.  He was so excited he got to play running back for the first half.  I love that my kids are getting to the age where they are playing in organized team sports.  I used to always go to my brothers games growing up and loved it.  I'm so glad I have boys!... although I would still like a girl someday :)

Go Raiders!

Look at that form!

Although Chase isn't very interested in the game itself

he had fun too.

This kid is always making me laugh!

Wedding

We just returned from a short visit in Utah.  My little sis Lindsay got married last Friday and it was the most beautiful wedding and dinner ever.  She looked amazing and the entire day couldn't have turned out any better.  She married an amazing guy and we are so excited to welcome Michael into our family.  Lindsay planned everything so perfectly.   A wonderful chef and family friend, Ruben, cooked steak, salmon, and halibut with grilled peppers and asparagus on a huge grill set up right there in the yard.  All the fish was caught in Alaska during the guys trip there a month ago.  The yard was decorated with white lights and chinese lanterns.  She had all the guest sign an old pair of wooden skis as they came in which I thought was the best idea.  I had left my camera in my little brothers car so was without it during the day.  It was a night to remember.  If any of my family members have pics please send them to me.  My step-mom Bonnie took this photo of my family before the dinner started.

First Day of First Grade!

So, I know this is late.  I'm just not in the blogging mood lately.

This is Landon on his first day of First Grade!  I can't believe I have a first grader!!!  He is growing up so dang fast it just kills me.  He loves school so far and is so lucky that he's made friends so quickly here.  He walks to school every morning with our next door neighbor Tyler.  His teacher played for the Iowa Hawkeyes which he thinks is pretty cool too.  Notice he already has the jersey and had to wear it on the first day.

kiss-up! :)

Crocs

My kids live in their Crocs.  It's about the only thing on their feet all summer long.  They even where them to church sometimes.  I think Crocs are the best shoes for kids ever invented!  They can slip them on, they're super comfortable, they cover their toes, and you can wash them on those days when your kids trample all over in the mud.

Last night after I got the kids out of the shower I noticed some spots on Chase's feet.  At first glance I thought they were just still dirty, but quickly realized that they were tan spots from his Crocs!  He has perfect little circles from where the sun has tanned his feet through the little holes on the top of his shoes.  I guess we need to start putting sunscreen on the tops of his feet from now on, but so cute!

Happy 4th Birthday Chase!

My baby turned 4!  I can't believe Chase is 4.  He is such a fun, cute kid.  We absolutely love having Chase in our family.  He always has this look on his face that says trouble, but in a moment can turn it into the cutest smile and sweetest personality.  I have a cousin who commented on Chase at our family reunion this summer that I think describes him perfectly.  She said, "Chase reminds me of a mime, he never talks, but I can always tell what he's thinking by the look on his face."  The kid has a the best facial expressions!  You can't get enough of him.

He loves his older brother and is always trying to keep up with him and always wants to be where he is.

He is a true "momma's boy" and I love it!  He's always cuddling with me and love's to have his back and face tickled.  At the same time he has such a stubborn disposition about him.  This kid knows what he wants!  I have a hard time telling him "No" when he looks at me with that cute smile and I usually end up giving in to his demands.  

We were so blessed this year to have his Grandma Cindy and his Great Grandparents here to celebrate with us.  They drove from Illinois for the weekend to see us and celebrate Chase's birthday.  It was such a treat and we were so glad to see them!

Happy Birthday Chaser!