See ya later 1st grade!

I am now the proud parent of an incoming 2nd grader.  WOW!  I swear it seems like just yesterday all of our family and friends were gathered at Brookwood Hospital having a contest to see who would be the closest in guessing Ford's birth weight -- now at 4 feet 6 inches and 62 pounds it is a little crazy to believe that he joined this world at a whopping 6 pounds 2 ounces!  Time is going so quickly . . . some days are incredibly exhausting and I wonder if I will ever have a moment to myself.  But then on days like today, I realize it is all going by like a blur and soon enough I will be longing for these crazy times!

I am so proud of Ford.  He is sweet and smart and cute and kind.  He even wrote the following in his first grade journal:  "My mom is my hero because she makes my meals."  I guess the way to any guys heart is through his stomach!!!  

And apparently, in addition to all his other great qualities, he is also physically fit!  I have to say, I was always a little sad at school when they handed out the Presidential Physical Fitness Awards.  It was an award I never earned.  I just have no athletic ability!  Way to go Ford -- 6 pull ups . . . amazing!

Brent brought Ford a special "last day of 1st grade" lunch and ate with him and all his friends in the cafeteria.  Fun times!  Ford LOVED having Brent at the school . . . 
and apparently his friends enjoyed showing off for Brent too!
Way to go Ford . . . we can't wait to see what 2nd grade brings!!!

Can we get some oxygen up here please!!!!

Ford's baseball team was able to purchase "awesome" tickets to the Cardinals/Cubs game.  They were even able to walk around the field -- big stuff for 7 year old boys!  So, Brent came home and off the boys went for a night at Busch Stadium.  Little did they know, they would need oxygen tanks in order to breath!

Here is the view from their seats . . . one of the other parents said it was like watching the game from an airplane!

Here are the boys with their coaches on the field!  Ford is the one raising his hand . . . 
And my handsome boys!
We don't have any pictures, but Brent and I were able to go see the Cardinals and Royals play last night -- it was a friends birthday and we were in a suite.  Private bathroom, free food and drinks, A/C and an awesome dessert cart -- definitely my kind of baseball!!!!

Preschool is so yesterday!

That might be what Virginia says in the morning!  Today, she completed her final day of preschool.  I seriously can not believe that my girl is going to kindergarten this fall!!  She is so excited and so ready but I am feeling a little sad -- Jeb and I will be lonely next year!  This morning on the way to school she said, "Today I graduate from preschool and tomorrow I am a kindergartener."  Way to go V!!!

Of course, I followed her in on her last day for a photo opportunity . . . here she is in her classroom with her teachers, Mrs. Sullivan and Mrs. Grawer.

After Jeb and I dropped her at school, we decided we needed to celebrate her "graduation" when we picked her up at 11:45 (yes, Alabama friends, preschool hours are ridiculously short in St. Louis!!).  So we planned a picnic!  Sandwiches, chips and canned drinks from Honeybaked Ham were quite the treat!  And we headed to our favorite park for a little fun in the glorious sun!

Then, she came home and had a surprise graduation gift from Mema and Bud -- a new baby doll that she has officially named Gracie.  Gracie is adjusting well to life with Virginia and is happily tucked in bed right beside Virginia and Oink Oink the pig!!

So, good bye Salem and watch out Reed!!!

Purple and glittery . . . what more could a girl want?

Virginia went to the eye doctor a couple of weeks ago and her glasses needed new lens.  Since the warranty was up in a few months anyway and she was about to outgrow her frames, we just went ahead and took the plunge for new glasses.  Sadly, Jeb goes in a couple of weeks and I have a feeling we will be buying yet another pair of glasses and Ford returns late in the summer and will be due for a new pair too.  The glasses store LOVES the Balogh family!  Ugh.

So, here are the new, amazing, purple glasses . . . and did I mention the glittery earpieces?!  Where in the heck were all these awesome, cute glasses when I was a little girl???  I had to wear the BIG, brown, plastic things.  Yuck!

I think these are perfect for an about to be in kindergarten girl!!! :)

Put your peanuts in, put your peanuts out . . .

Everyone has funny names for things and I always love hearing all the different ideas.  When Ford was born, I was adamant that we were going to call our body parts by their correct names -- after all, we were mature enough to do that.  So, penis it was.  This theory worked great until I had a little girl -- I couldn't do it.  And then along comes Jeb.  One day, Virginia was helping me change his diaper -- she was 3 and he was 1 and she snickered and said, "I see Jeb's peanuts mom."  And so it began -- apparently when we said penis, Virginia heard peanuts.  Jeb liked the term and took it as his own.  So now to why I'm sharing this information that normally we don't talk about that much!  Last night, I got Jeb out of the bath and he ran to his room naked to get his pj's on.  When I arrived at his door, he was singing the hokey pokey song -- and he added a body part . . . "put your peanuts in, put your peanuts out, put your peanuts in and you shake them all about".  I had to preserve the story because it must be shared with him when he is older -- mortifying and hysterical!!!  I did advise him that he probably should just stick to arms, legs, head and whole self in the future when doing the Hokey Pokey! :)

Happy Mother's Day and Happy 12th Anniversary!

Poor Brent -- today was a double whammy!  Not only did he have Mother's Day to celebrate but it was also our 12th anniversary.  That is a lot of pressure!  My parents were in town so last night we were able to go out to dinner and do a little shopping.  We even purchased our joint anniversary gift -- a new sofa for our family room!  Much needed and VERY EXCITING!  Of course, we now have to wait until July for it to arrive but we are so happy!  We also had a yummy dinner at Sugo's.

This morning, I woke up to this . . . YUM!  Not to mention a large icy coke delivered to my bed by Ford.  Way to go guys -- delicious!

And this sweet note from Virginia . . . she amazes me with her writing these days!
And our attempt at a Mother's Day photo . . . see Ford peeking out from behind Jeb?!
I wanted to spend a little time with each of my kids individually.  I rarely get to do that.  So, Brent agreed to be in charge of two kids all day and I was to take each one for a date!  Unfortunately, Jeb is having asthma trouble so he wasn't up for a date -- our date was 4 breathing treatments!  Virginia and I had a fun time at the salon -- her first official pedicure with the bubbly foot soak and all!  Aren't her orange and hot pink colors awesome!?  And Ford and I enjoyed a delicious dinner at Dewey's --  peppercorn ranch salad, bbq chicken pizza and yummy carrot cake.

Check out the nails!
What a fabulous Mother's Day -- I love my rain coat!  And Ford made me an amazing masterpiece in art -- pictures to come when I get it framed! Also, thanks Brent for an awesome anniversary -- and for that comfy new sofa!!! :)

A quick visit with Mema and Bud

Mema and Bud were in St. Louis for a few days.  They wanted to get in a quick visit and see Ford play baseball.  Thankfully, the weather cooperated Saturday and they got to see a game!  Here are a few pictures of our visit . . . 

Jeb enjoying his popsicle . . . 
A little tree climbing fun . . .
And some baseball with Mema (Ford told me at least a hundred times how much better she was than me -- not that it takes much!) . . . 

Mother's Day at Salem

On Tuesday, Jeb and Virginia's preschool had a breakfast for the moms.  We started in our child's classroom and then went in to the multipurpose room for breakfast and some song and dance with the kids.  It is always a cute time!  Here are a few pictures . . .

Jeb was feeling a little shy with me around (and as you can see, he is really into his sunglasses!) . . .

Virginia made this cool puppet to help decorate our breakfast table!  She also made a portrait of me (notice the yellow placemat on the table) and planted me a flower.  Jeb also made a placement and planted me a flower -- love, love, love my sweet gifts!
Trying to grab a pick of the three of us before we started eating!
Happy Mother's Day everyone!  More pictures of our Mother's Day to come -- Ford made me the coolest metal handprint thing (I'm sure there is a better name but it is amazingly cool!) and tomorrow I am planning a date with each child -- V and I are getting our nails done, Jeb and I are going to read at the bookstore and Ford has something special in mind that I think involves food!  Can't wait!

Brilliant Barrettes!

Some seriously cute new barrettes thanks to my friend Sara!  I saw these adorable monogrammed barrettes in Chasing Fireflies -- an adorable catalog if you have never seen it!  Anyway, the barrettes were over $30 for two so they were definitely out of any barrette budget I know of!  So . . . I thought of my creative friend who was making adorable appliques out of felt and wondered if she could copy the barrettes.  Of course, she did and thankfully, Virginia was a recipient of her awesome creativity!!!!  Virginia was super excited to get not one, not two, but THREE adorable "V" barrettes!!!

How cute is this?
A close up!
If you are inspired to get creative, check out Sara's directions at www.thedenckhoffs.blogspot.com.  Thanks so much Sara!!!!!!