Have a listen!

After moving to St. Louis, I made an amazing friend. A friend who checks up on me just because, always encourages me and somehow managed to help me run 13.1 miles in just over 2 hours!

Did I mention she is also the mother to Jeb's future wife Capi?! I mean look at how she looks at him!!

In getting to know Mary Catherine, Brent and I also got to know her husband Ryan. We connected instantly, because Ryan is from Alabama -- and even though he cheers for the wrong team, we still love him (War Eagle Ryan!!).

The last year and a half, Ryan decided to take a major leap of faith. He decided to take a big dream and turn it into a reality. Instead of sitting around talking about his love of writing music and playing the guitar, he wrote a bunch of songs and found a way to go to Muscle Shoals and make a record. Seriously! A record! And even better, it is a great record. One that our entire family enjoys. I'm so looking forward to the day that I get to say, "I knew him when . . . "

Last night was Ryan's cd release party. A wonderful time of listening to him perform several songs from this album as well as a few new songs. If you don't mind, go to his website and have a listen. Buy a cd too! It is money well spent! But most importantly, don't just dream. Do.

Art Exhibit, Saks Fifth Avenue style . . .

Without looking past the first photo, can you identify the painting that belongs to Ford? Apparently everyone from his school that came into the children's department at Saks Fifth Avenue could! The 3rd graders painted bear paintings. Then, the art teacher worked with Saks to have the kids art displayed on a rotating basis in their Plaza Frontenac store. Very exciting stuff for 3rd graders! And for their parents!! :)

If you didn't guess, Ford's is the painting on the far left . . . what gave it away? Maybe because it was the ONLY Auburn bear out of 80 paintings! So, War Eagle St. Louis!
And the proud artist was a little embarrassed to pose among a variety of girls pink tutus!

Celebrating President's Day with Honest Abe

Virginia is blessed with an amazing 1st grade teacher! Mrs. Donnelly invited any students and parents to meet her in Springfield, IL on President's Day weekend (I'm just a little late downloading pictures!) to tour the Abraham Lincoln Museum and home. Lots of kids were sick so only 2 parents and kids made the drive, but it was SO worth it! It was a great day with my girl and we both learned a ton . . . not to mention, my mom and I had made this same trip when I was a little older than Virginia and long before the cool museum existed. Fun, fun memories!

Max and Virginia were very interested in the steps at the end of the walkways to the houses . . . it was how people stepped in and out of the horse drawn carriages.

And everyone needs a cool Lincoln penny . . .

Mrs. Donnelly was a great tour guide. She had come several times and new exactly what would interest the kids most. It was so fun to see them spot things they had learned about in class the weeks before the trip!
Max and Virginia fit right in with the Lincoln family . . .
A great day trip for all of our St. Louis friends and worth a stop for anyone driving through the area!

Happy 5th Birthday Jeb!

So, I often say, the days of a mom are long, but the years are very short. I realize this truth every time we celebrate a birthday. I seriously cannot believe that my baby is 5! Jeb is my "yaya" loving, family hugging, belly laughing, dinosaur studying, Zoob building, Playmobil adoring boy. He is my almost constant companion and he is hysterical, smart, sensitive, sweet, rough, crazy, limit pushing and adorable. His blue eyes and precious grin work in his favor! In just 5 short months, he will be walking into Reed with his brother and sister -- kindergarten at last. I'm going to cry. I'm going to miss him. And he is going to LOVE school and do great and hopefully miss me a little too! :)

Here is to 5 years . . .

You had us at hello . . . but just to be sure, you thought you would throw in a collapsed lung, some oxygen tents, incubators and 18 days in the NICU.

But by your 1st birthday, you were ready to go face first into some cake! We had only been in St. Louis for 3 months at this point.
And now you are two . . .loving Elmo and always pulling all the toilet paper off the roll.
Happy 3! You wanted blue jeans like your brother and loved to do whatever Ford and Virginia were doing.
Welcome to Fort Jeb . . . you are 4 and I made you this fort for your birthday!

And now you are 5! Hope your birthday was "Dino-mite" just like your cookie cake!