While you were out....

While we were out (to IL for a week) my parents painted for us. It was an offer that I could not pass up. The bathroom cabinets were white (no pre-pictures). Now they are a great chocolate brown color.




The kitchen was previously red with regular honey oak cabinets. There was also paneling below the chair rail. Dad filled in the grooves in the paneling to create a solid wall effect. The walls were painted a light blue and below the chair rail a darker blue. The cabinets were painted the same as the upstairs cabinets. as you can see, it has made a huge difference. The kitchen actually looks much bigger.

Friends and Family

The last weekend/week of July we did some more traveling. First, we traveled to see Justin's bestfriend from Kindergarten and his family. Chris, Justin and I went to school together since the 5th grade. It was a great visit. Very surreal since Nick (14 y/o) is very similar looking and acting as Chris was at the same age.

The boys did a lot of video game playing and it was just like old times. The kids really loved being with Chris, Shonna, and Nick for the weekend. We had a great time with old friends.



Next we traveled to IL to visit with Justin's family. The weather better than to be expected for Southern IL in late July. We took the time to go to the Cardinals game in St. Louis while we were in town. We had not been to the new stadium since it was built 3 years ago.

On the way over, Miles really enjoyed watching Tom and Jerry. I wish you could hear the laughter that goes along with the smiles.

We arrived at the ballpark a little early so we took the time to get some pictures.

Uncle Jordan and Tracy joined us in seeing the ballgame. We all had a really great time.

The kids loved riding the metrolink over the river to the ballgame and back. It was a long night, getting home at 1:00 a.m., but it was well worth it!

To Do List....

There are some many posts that I wanted to get up before today. It seems that my To Do List is a little too long.

Last night at 9:30, I was making fairy wands for a 6 year old fairy party later today. It should be so much fun. I am going to try to get some posts up before the party so that I can post her birthday pictures later in the week.

We are expecting 7 girls, dressing them in fairy outfits (handmade skirts by my mom and all different fairy wings). It should be a beautiful party. Unfortunately, I think it will be too hot (90 degrees) to have the girls that are all dressed up to be outside for very long.

Wish us luck.

And the little baby bird has left the nest.

I expected that I would say this many years from now. However, it comes tonight. Miles is having a sleepover, without Sophia, without mom and dad. And he is only 2 1/2. How did this happen so soon.

The long story is that Justin had car trouble today, so we had decided to jump his car to take it to the dealer. Grace had come over to stay at the house while Miles took a nap and Justin and Linda took Sophia to gymnastics lessons. Once I got home from work, Justin and I jumped his car and drove it to the dealer. In the meantime, Miles woke up and my dad had also arrived in the BIG BLACK TRUCK to pick up my mom since they were letting Justin take the car to work tomorrow. Miles looked at my dad and said, " can i sleep at your house tonight?"

We were pretty sure that he just wanted to take a ride in the BIG BLACK TRUCK. We offered for him to take a ride and then come back home. He was ADAMANT that he was staying with G.G. and Grandpa Herb. He even went upstairs to get his stuffed monkey and blanket. Mind you that I had only seen him for about 10 minutes. However, he did not care, took my dad's hand and headed out to the truck. He said goodbye to all, and only gave me a hug and kiss.

After all of the traveling that we have been doing this summer and being stuck with Sophia all summer since she is out of school, we figured out that Miles just wanted some alone time, WITHOUT SOPHIA.

Sophia was tearful and quiet after he left, just saying, "I miss Miles"

We expected that they would call once they got home to say he did not want to stay. This did not happen. I called before we went to dinner and he was happily playing and riding his tricycle throughout the house. He was not coming home.

So we went to dinner as planned, then out shopping for some new school clothes. After Sophia realized that this was a good thing, to have the sole attention of Dad, Mom and Grandma Linda, she was much happier. She loved eating out at mexican and going shopping without any brothers in the way.

And so tomorrow, we will see how the night went. This might be a start to something good. Now we need to find a friend for Sophia to go to their house for a sleepover.

Taco's

Last night we were able to go with the extended family (total of 8 people) to the St. Louis Cardinals game. It was a good game, even though the Cards lost. (Pictures to post later.) The kids did great, even after the game went into 10 innings.

During the game, the crowd was cheering, "Lets go Cardinals, Lets Go!!"

At this point Sophia asked, why are they cheering for Tacos?
she heard, "Lets go Tacos, Lets go!"

Rude awakening

We are currently traveling. We have slept in 3 different places over the last 4 days. My guess is that I was tired. AND MILES WAS BEING VERY NINJA-LIKE.

This morning, I was nice and asleep only to be awakened by Miles hitting me with his pet monkey yelling, "wake up, wake up." He usually calls out for us when he is waking up, but I guess since he could see us (since we were sleeping in the same room) he decided he would try a different way to wake us up.

Nevertheless, this was a very rude awakening. At least it was at 6:50 in the morning.

You are not responsible

On the way to IN yesterday, we had just gotten back in the car after getting gas and a bathroom break. Justin asked if I had his phone.
The conversation went as follows:
R: "You left it right here."
J: " No, you left it here after you called my mom."
S: "Dad, mom is not responsible for your cell phone."

Conversation done.

Off again

and we are off again. On another vacation, this one will not be taking us to the beach. However, we will get to see old friends (from kindergarten) and family.

We are really excited to take the kids to see the St. Louis Cardinals next week at Busch Stadium. We have not actually been to the new Busch Stadium, but my last big memory from the new Busch Stadium is that the Cards won the world series in 2006. We were sitting in the hospital room, Miles still on the ventilator and Justin and Miles watched their 1st baseball games together. It was very bitter sweet for the Cards to win the world series and I will always remember where I was when that happened. Our great friends Kevin and Margie bought Justin a picture from that game and it hangs above Miles' bed. Each night I lay in that bed and read to Miles, looking up and the picture and being reminded of all that he (and we -including family and friends) went through.

I am so excited to make some new memories from Busch Stadium. 8 of us will be heading over together and the weather should be great-- only about 80 for the high. Very unusual for late July in St. Louis.

The Pirate and the Pirate Princess

Might Miles and Seadog Sophia were aboard the Sea Gypsy Pirate Adventure out of Annapolis, MD. If you are in the area, and you have kids, this is a great trip! The kids got their faces painted, and dressed in pirate attire. The kids got to shoot the 'bad' pirate, Pirate Pete with water guns. They LOVED shooting the pirate with the water guns.

Sophia the mermaid.

Last year, Sophia was afraid of the diving board. However, this year, she thinks it is great. She frequented the diving board multiple times each swim session. The weather was so good that we were able to swimming multiple times a day. It was GREAT!

After swimming for 4 hours, she fell asleep after dinner at only 6:30 p.m. She slept until 6:30 the next morning. That was great for mom, dad, G.G. and grandpa Herb.

So precious.

Miles and his boat license

On Monday night, we had rented a private boat to take us out into the bay. It was a beautiful night with calm water and lots of sun. The boat owners mentioned that "someone must have been smiling on us to give us that good of a day." They were right!

If you watch the horizon, you can see how much Miles is "driving" the boat. Yes, that is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge that we are under. (I took the picture to the side and could not figure out how to turn it).

For the entire drive to Maryland, Miles continued to talk about driving a boat now that he had his boat license. The owner of the boat was great and allowed both kids to drive. He just wanted to have a great time, and we did.

Sophia even made up a paper and pencil test to show that she had passed her boat test. She is also licensed.

Miles enjoyed watching the water as we were getting ready to pass under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

We passed very close to the cargo ships. The kids and the big people were impressed about the size.

Miles continued to watch as we approached the bridge.

Here is the view as we pass under the bridge.