Missouri Botanical Gardens Japanese Festival

This weekend, the Missouri Botanical Gardens was hosting a Japanese Festival.  I decided I wanted to take the kids and after a little convincing, Brent agreed to join us.  It was a fun, but VERY hot morning filled with origami, Sumo wrestlers and bonsai trees mixed in with finally seeing the Niki sculptures  on display (these are fun for kids if you haven't seen them yet).  I am not normally a "garden" kind of person but this place is amazingly beautiful . . . I do not know how anyone could not enjoy a visit.  Here are some pictures from our day . . . 

The kids love fountains and the garden is full of them!

Jeb loved spinning the tops . . . 
Ford was a pro at the water balloon yoyo . . .
And Virginia decided this origami took a little more thought than she anticipated!!
With the Niki buffalo totem . . . 
Watching the martial arts show . . .
Isn't the scenery incredible?  The kids are cute too!
Ford in the cat . . . it had windows you could climb out and seating inside.
A horse drawn wagon in the children's garden . . .
Virginia in the climbing area . . . she loves to climb and does not fear heights!
Jeb was so proud that he could do it too . . . with a little encouragement along the way!
My hot and sweaty cool boy in his new red shades (much better than the pink ones he had been sporting . . . the joy of a sister!)
And we saved the best for last . . . the 420 pound sumo wrestler.  WOW!

Seven years ago . . . WOW!

WOW . . . my big boy is now "7"!!!  It is so hard for me to believe that my once tiny baby is now 4 feet 4 1/2 inches tall . . . that is a lot of growing in 7 years!!!  Ford woke up this morning to a singing happy birthday balloon (it only took a couple of stops and a phone call to find it at 9pm on Wednesday night!) and pancakes with syrup and a whipped cream smile!  The presents were opened before school and he loved them all -- thanks Mema, Bud, Mimsie, Nana and Papa Ken and aunts, uncles and cousins for all the gifts and sweet birthday wishes!!!  

Ford got to wear a special birthday hat at school today so everyone knew it was his day!  I also brought iced cookies to his class that were in the shape/colors of an Auburn football jersey with a "7" on them.  He was quite proud of his cookies!  We then had dinner at Dewey's (I guess that is his birthday tradition since we also went last year!) and custard by the train tracks in Kirkwood.  What more could a boy want!!??  Apparently, Ford just wanted to stay up later because bedtime didn't go so smoothly but I'm trying to overlook that one glitch in our otherwise exciting day!!  Here are some pictures of the birthday fun!!!

Ford testing out his new iPod Shuffle . . . he got a little speaker set and an iTunes gift card too!  I think he is going to be a gadget guy like his dad!!

An Auburn sweatshirt from Nana and Papa Ken . . . WAR EAGLE . . . we are ready for some FOOTBALL!!!!
Ford sporting the birthday hat and showing off his cookies in his classroom!!!
With Mema and Bud at Dewey's . . . 
A little custard while watching for the train . . . 
Happy Birthday Ford!!!!!!

NASCAR and nails! :)

So, we get up this morning to a beautiful sunny day!  I'm thinking a little leisurely pool time sounds like the perfect day.  Unfortunately, I was outvoted!  Ford, who was jealous that Mema, Bud, Aunt Genny and Uncle Mike were all at Bristol for the race, decided that he needed a NASCAR fix himself.  So off we headed to the NASCAR Speedpark!  Maybe we have the next Tony Stewart on our hands (we should probably be wishing for Kyle Busch this year, but Ford is not a fan, so we will stick with Tony!) . . . that would be Bud's dream fulfilled!!!  Here are a few pictures of our day . . . 

Gentlemen, START YOUR ENGINES!!!!!! . . . 

Wish you could see the concentration on that little face but it is hard to get good pictures of lightning fast racers!
Beating his dad (in the blue car behind him) . . . 
Brent and Virginia take a spin . . . Danica Patrick maybe??? 
Jeb wanted to ride so badly . . . this was the only one he was big enough to ride!!!
Tony Stewart's race car . . . (we have a bit of a blue/orange love at our house -- Auburn Tigers and Tony Stewart!!!)
I couldn't stand to think that my sweet girl had to spend her entire day racing cars . . . I have remember doing that as a kid and was so happy when I was old enough that mom and I skipped the races and instead went shopping.  I'm not sure Virginia is going to feel the same, but after the boy morning, we went to the salon for a little mani/pedi!!!  Aren't those pretty pink nails???!!!

Random pictures from our final lazy days of summer!

Well, we are getting back into our routine.  We can no longer linger in our pj's in the morning waiting for time to get dressed for the pool.  Ford has to get himself ready, get a snack packed and get the backpack loaded to be at the bus stop by 8:07am.  We don't see him again until around 4:15 . . . a long day for a little guy!  Jeb and Virginia ask for Ford at least 100 times a day -- they miss him terribly!  And I think they are both tired of me and ready for school too.  Yesterday, Ford brought home a writing assignment from school.  The page started with the words printed "I wonder if I . . . " and the kids were to complete the sentence.  Ford wrote . . . "I wonder if I am a good stoodent [student for those of you unfamiliar with 1st grade spelling!].  I, for one, am sure he is!

Here are a few final pictures from our last days of summer . . .

Virginia and Jeb at the pool . . . 

My attempt at getting a picture of all three kids enjoying the pool (never works!) . . . 
Ford working on his  diving skills with Mr. Jim  . . . 
Jeb after his Skittles snack . . . (notice the Kung Fu Panda bowl Mema!)
An after school popsicle . . . YUM!

First Grade!!!

Today Ford entered 1st grade!  Wow!  I feel old!!  He was a bit nervous and excited too . . . I can't wait to hear about his first day.  I'm sure I will not get as much information as I want, but maybe he will share a little!  Here are a few pictures from 1st Grade!

Reed School 2008!

Ford's classroom . . . the theme is superheroes (see the capes!?) . . .
Ford and his friend Nicholas were wearing the same shirt (I'm thinking the sizes are different though!).  This would have been a nightmare for a girl but the boys thought it was funny.  Their desks were even in the same grouping of 4 so that were sitting next to each other!!
Ford and his teacher, Mrs. Eisenbeis . . . 
At his desk after we completed our scavenger hunt to locate important spots . . . coat hangers, cubbies, pencil sharpener, reading corner, calendar, job chart, etc...  Ford's job for today is "30 second clean up" -- wonder if we could apply that at home????
My sweet boy! :)
Ford's classroom . . . 
It is hard to believe that next year, we will be sending two sweet kids into Reed School . . . scary!

Ford's 7th Birthday Party!!

Ford's pool party was a total success!  We were blessed with a super gorgeous day!  Highs in the low 80's and perfect blue skies!!!!  Ford loved having his friends at the pool with him.  They swam and jumped and played and ate chicken fingers and cake and swam and jumped some more!!!  It was a perfect day!  Here are some pictures . . .

Ford with his wagon load of presents!

A moment of quiet before things got started!
Virginia enjoyed the fun too!
Blowing out 7 candles is hard work!  He loved his football cupcakes!
The boys . . . aren't they a cute bunch!?
Jeb joined in the fun too!
Virginia, Ford and Jeb with our neighbor Ellie . . . 
Happy 7th Birthday Ford!!!!!!!!!!!

Just Hangin' Out

Well, we are gradually recovering from our travels and getting back into our normal routine.  Ford starts school Monday and I am feeling very old . . . what is it about 1st grade that seems so much "bigger" than kindergarten?  Not to mention, he turns "7" on 8/28 and we are celebrating with a swimming party this Saturday (please, pray for sunny, warm weather in STL!!).  So, here are a few pictures of us just hanging out . . . it has been nice to be a little lazy!!

Jeb, Ford and Lila baby (yes, Virginia allowed Jeb to love on Lila for her while she cared for Skylar -- she has her hands full with all her babies!!!)

Jeb loved my chocolate cake!!!
The kids with their new water guns . . . shooting comes naturally to Jeb so look out deer!!! :)
Virginia trying out chopsticks  . . . 
Ford, without the help of the little cheating clip . . . 
Watch for party pictures and the start of school soon . . .