Love it!

 

When they are nice together it is soooo cute!

Random

 

 

 

Random photos to show my kids ROCK!

Ellie and Micah painted my nails!!

 

Benjamin's first day of Kindergarten

 

 

 

 

His first day was actually last Thurs., August 13th. Benjamin is going to full day Kindergarten here in the Ritenour school district. His teacher is a petite Mrs. Hall who he says he really likes. I can't decide yet. She is not the warm, fuzzy, cuddly teacher I pictured (don't know why I had that image). However, she has probably been a K teacher for 20 yrs and is really good at it. He has around 21 kids in his class and goes from 8:55 to 3:25. I still can't get over a 6hr school day. No wonder summer is only 2 months long. He seems to have made friends and is doing well with the letter Bb this week. I was at a work meeting this afternoon and arrived home around bedtime. Benjamin informed me he fell asleep at his desk today. No note in the backpack about it, but I am pretty sure they do not have "rest time." Poor Ben has been woken up at 6am by Micah the past 2 mornings. I think that would explain his overwhelming fatigue at school. PLUS Ben, at age 6, still takes naps from time to time. I know a good nap will be in store for the weekend after finishing his first full week of Kindergarten. Man, they grow up fast!
On another note I have felt a little stressed out and carrying little patience with the kids. I feel so guilty when I get upset with them, but biting and screaming DO have consequences in our house. I was hoping going back to school would settle us into a nice routine, but I don't feel that yet. So far I am still adjusting to my new work schedule of 2 shifts a week, Ben going to Kindergarten, Ellie and Micah having a new babysitter, and Rob starting his new job at Clyde Miller Career Academy in the city. Plus Ellie and Micah will be going to mother's day out twice a week starting Sept. 8th. Maybe by October I will have our new routine down??!! I do believe kids ARE the hardest job I will ever love!

Summer 2009 (Turny Loi!)

We have had a really great summer. Even though we never went on a vacation we had tons of fun doing things around St. Louis. Most of our time was spent with my sister Julie and her kiddos. We had a blast out at the lake, at Six Flags, parks, swimming, and bbqs at our house. I do not take for granted that we live 20 minutes from each other and have kids the same age growing up together. This summer was one of the most fun we have spent together with our kids. We have laughed so hard and will have such wonderful memories to share! I am so thankful that Julie has the summer off and I work part time. I love her so much and can't imagine spending summers without her. I made a slideshow of pictures for her put to music of our adventures. Unfortunately I don't know how to do the music thing on here, but you can enjoy the pictures of "The Best Summer!!"

Micah's first haircut

 

 

 

 

Finally at 2yrs old and 3months it was time for Micah to shed the blond surfer dude hair. He did sooooo well. Probably because he was really sick with croup. I took him anyway because I had already rescheduled once and just wanted it done. Now I have a super cute and very handsome toddler!!

AFTER

 

 

 

Micah did really well getting his first haircut. He is sick with croup which made him very mellow. He sat very still and let Ms. Sandy cut away. He looks soooo handsome and much more like a little boy!

BEFORE

 

 

 

Micah is getting his FIRST haircut tonight, so I took some before pictures of his long, thin, blond hair. Who's kid is this anyway???

Switching Rooms

 

The boy's new bunkbeds!! Yeah! We just need to buy a new mattress for Benjamin on the top bunk. Until then, he will sleep on the bottom and Micah in the racecar bed.

 

 

Rob said with 5 beds for kids in our 3 bedroom house it looks like we are running an orphanage...

Steve and Angie's Wedding

The last weekend in July my cousin Steve had a wedding. He is one of five boys and one girl to my mom's brother John. He is the 3rd of his siblings to get married. Actually 2 days after the wedding his younger and only sister got engaged! Way to go Mary Catherine! Pretty exciting weekend. Friday we went out to the lake with some family and had a lot of fun as always. Saturday the 25th was the wedding out in Old Monroe, MO. The wedding was beautiful. We had some downtime between the wedding and reception. My aunt and uncle had a room at a hotel for us to hang out in before heading off to the reception. We had a great time visiting with family, telling funny stories, eating good food (or trying to between fits of laughter) and dancing, dancing and more dancing. Sunday we headed over to John and MaryAnn's for a brunch with my mom's side of the family. The weather was amazing and we spent most of our time outside. It was a pretty subdued day as I think we all were rather tired. The pictures tell the story!
Oh ya, the kids did not come with us, so Rob and I truly enjoyed an evening out-just the 2 of us!!!!!!

The Muny and a cold day at the lake