Gentlemen, START YOUR ENGINES!

What can I say?  I grew up in a family of Nascar fans.  I, on the other hand, preferred shopping to watching cars speed around in a circle.  When Brent and I dated, he was not a Nascar fan.  This was definitely a perk that scored him some points.  Sadly, he has since fallen victim to the craze.

This weekend, he went to Gateway Speedway for a car race.  Our friend Jim had pit passes and took a group of guys to enjoy a race as the insiders see it.  They had a great time.  The girls, not to be outdone, also enjoyed a wonderful night -- Stir Crazy and The Hangover -- what a girls night out!  But I digress . . . here are the photos of the boys.

Brent and Jim with the Zaxby's car. . . 

Brent and Baxter . . . 
And the prize winning photo . . . Brent meeting Carl Edwards!
All I have to say is . . . . never ask me to go to a car race.  PLEASE!

The Grand Finale . . . goodbye 36, hello 37!

OK, 37 sounds really old!  Where did the years go?  It seems I just watched my father celebrate his 40th (while thinking he was ANCIENT!) and now I'm knocking on the door of 40.  Time . . . slow down!  The years are fun but the time is flying!  Here are a few shots from my grand finale.  We brought 37 in with a yummy dinner at the Trainwreck and some cupcakes from Maggie Moo's -- life is good!

Ford wanted an onion ring tower -- he shared one with me, one with Brent and one with Virginia.  The rest went into his skinny little self!

And Virginia was singularly responsible for making at least 10 of the 40 wings we ordered disappear!  My girl LOVES her some wings!!!
And Jeb, as sweet as ever and happy with his hot dog and french fries!
The damage was done . . . and it was delicious!
And for the final farewell . . . Maggie Moo's cupcakes.  DIVINE!
So come on 37, let's see what you have in store!

Happy Birthday to Me!!!!

Today we had my birthday party!  Yes, we were a day early, but it was the BEST party ever.  There is no place in the world like the City Museum.  Seriously.  It is a dream birthday destination.  Especially if you like to climb, crawl, slide, swing and generally act like a kid for the day.  Perfect place for a perfect day with my precious family!  The pictures tell it all . . . 

Ford on the newly opened "rooftop" at City Museum.  You walk on the stones while getting sprayed with water.  Or you can do like Jeb, and just stick your hand in the water spouts and shoot all the people in your vicinity!

And who doesn't like slides -- especially one that you can climb up using a knotted rope.  By the way, this is also on the roof of the 10 story building that is City Museum!  And that is me sliding down with my crazy Jeb -- not to mention, I climbed up that crazy knotted rope while carrying Jeb -- thankfully a kind lady helped me haul him over the top ledge so I didn't slide back down said rope with him around my neck!
Forget Where's Waldo? . . . Can you spot all the Baloghs in this picture????  Hint:  There are 4!
Virginia . . . sliding with a face full of sheer joy!
Jeb was leading the way to the tip top of Monstro City . . . followed by me and Virginia.  I seriously love this!  And if you don't know City Museum, we are HIGH in the sky.  Seriously HIGH!
Jeb and I at the bottom of one of the many slides!
Ford playing Tarzan . . . everyone needs a rope swing!
What an amazing day and what a fabulous birthday party!  I think we will do this all again in a year!!!!!

A Friday Field Trip . . .

This week we spent a lot of time around the house reorganizing, unpacking, etc...  By Friday the kids and I desperately needed a day out!  We started with bagels at St. Louis Bread Co. and we were walking in at the zoo by 9am . . . to rain.  Ugh.  But thankfully, the rain was shortlived and the clouds kept the temperature bearable and it was a GREAT day at the zoo!

The St. Louis Zoo is fabulous.  First of all, it is FREE and who doesn't like that?!  And now, thanks to Mema and Bud's gift of a zoo membership, parking is easy and also FREE.  Children's Zoo -- FREE, train rides -- FREE, carousel -- FREE . . . do you see the pattern?  We LOVE the zoo and we LOVE FREE!  

So here are some fun shots from our mostly FREE day!

The awesome refillable zoo cups that were purchased just after we moved to STL -- I am amazed that we still have them and happy to report we have never been to the zoo without them.  The kids always remember their cups!

Jeb and Virginia had the best time petting the leopard turtle . . . 
My crazy animal girl even fed him leaves and he was a happy little turtle!
Virginia and Ford on the train (note the necklace Aunt May, Ansley, Lil and Martha -- still lovin' it!)
Some fun with the giraffes -- they are Jeb's favorite.  The one up close to them is the baby.
Kleenex had a germ exhibit and Ford and Virginia loved meeting the germ himself -- Jeb, not so much!
So the latest zoo craze is the stingrays.  Thanks to our membership, the kids could see the stingrays for $1.50 . . . well worth it because they loved getting all wet.  Who knew that stingrays liked to splash so much -- Virginia was soaked!
Virginia got to feed the stingrays.  You stick a disgusting piece of fresh fish between two fingers and hold your hand flat down in the water.  The stingray swims over your hand and sucks the fish right out.  Totally gross to me and her brothers but she was in heaven!

Jeb always hops on these little frogs in the children's zoo . . .

Another fun, FREE day at the zoo!

Totally Terrific Tomatoes!!!!

Each year we plant a few tomato plants.  This year we ventured out a bit and added several new varieties (for a total of 7 plants of 4 varieties).  This is a photo of today's bounty!  The kids eat them as fast as we pick them.  The goal for next year is to build a wooden garden box (a copy of my across the street neighbors!) and add to our veggie garden -- cucumbers, squash and peppers here we come!

Happy 4th of July Weekend!

The kids loved the fireworks at the country club just outside our neighborhood.  I think the whole neighborhood converges on the golf course to "secretly" enjoy the show!

But on the 3rd, Brent and I headed downtown for Live on the Levee with some friends . . .
The crowds . . . 
The Counting Crows . . . 
Fun friends  . . . Jacquie and Jim moved to STL from Birmingham 4 months before we did.  They live right down the street and they are our STL family!
Hope everyone had a Happy 4th!!!

The Men Behind the Name

People are always asking where we got Jeb's name . . . well, it is his initials.  "J"ames "E"dward "B"alogh.

The James is for my dad . . . (James Charles Durham)

And the Edward is for my wonderful extra father . . . Bill Dunnavant (William Edward Dunnavant) . . .
So lucky to have both of them around and loving on Jeb!!

A few more Athens pictures . . .

Watching the train go through Athens is one of my kids favorite things about visiting Mema and Bud!  Jeb still thinks it is a little loud (and yes, the poor guy has to ride in a pink stroller when we are there!).

A little pool fun thanks to Dana and Scott Henry and Mitchell!  I will not post the picture, but I have a GREAT shot of Mema jumping off the diving board.  She played categories with the kids and it was hysterical!

Point Mallard 2009

We made a return trip to Point Mallard -- so fun to be in the wave pool and hit the slides!  Even more fun when it is Sarah Kate's 11th Birthday!!!  Here is the gang waiting in line to enter -- Grace, Sarah Kate, Jeb, Mary Claire, Virginia, Ford and Mitchell.

A sweet brother and sister moment during lunch . . . 
Virginia and Mary Claire . . . 
Virginia hit the slides like a pro this year and Ford again jumped off the platform.  What brave kids -- I love seeing them do crazy stuff like that!

Moonwalk . . .

Ford and I enjoyed a little date to the Space and Rocket Center while we were in Alabama.  I had not been in forever and it was so fun to return.  Sadly, I found it much more interesting now than I did as a kid.  Next time we are taking Virginia so we can ride space shot -- you have to have 3 riders and we could never find anyone else that wanted to ride it!!!

Ford thought it was so cool how the space buggy folded up to fit in a pie shaped section of the spacecraft.  We also have directions to try to replicate their 35 mm film canister rocket and the lava lamps.
And the best part of the day -- reaching the top of the Mars wall!

Kiddie Carnival 2009

The Kiddie Carnival in Athens is one of my favorite childhood memories.  It is so fun to take my kids back each summer and visit with all my old friends that are now there with their little ones.  We didn't get many pictures because the kids all scrambled off in different directions, but here is what I have!

Caroline, Mary Claire and Virginia . . .

Virginia on the same little train that I used to ride  . . . only I fit in it for years and she is about to tall at age 5!
The ferris wheel -- blue seat is Caroline, Virginia and Mary Claire and just above them in the orange is Jeb and Ford.  I think Ford planned the Auburn colors! :)

A few more pictures from Birmingham . . .

The kids LOVE riding in Mimsie's golf cart . . . 

I got in some quality time with my friend Frances -- dinner and a painting class.  This is so unlike either of us to try our hand at art but it was really fun!  So when you see this painting hanging in my house, be sure to compliment the artist!!! :)
Emily and Ford enjoying a little snack in the grocery store at Mt. Laurel . . .
Popsicles with the cousins . . . seriously wondering what Virginia was telling Martha!