The Meyer Family

All Boy

2010-08-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

These pictures probably say enough by themselves. Lake has hit two fast and furious. Complete with tantrums, hitting his sisters, tackling them and the occasional biting incident. He has developed an aversion to shoes and likes to say "No" to everything. He still has a little bit of a soft side though. There is nothing sweeter than a hug from your little boy.

Summer Fun

2010-07-27T19:30:00.000-07:00

Lake and Meredith get along amazingly well. Merdi would do absolutely anything for him. We have had a hot summer, so cool entertainment is sought anyway we can find it. They have fun just playing in puddles or with any kind of hose attachment we can find. Check out Merdi's outifts. Not a care in the world!

Chicago Trip

2010-07-27T19:09:00.000-07:00

Josh and I were able to get away for a weekend and headed to Chicago. The trip started out a little bumpy with my nephew falling out of a tree thirty minutes before we were to leave, but we still headed to Quincy to meet the train. We arrived in Quincy only to watch the train pull away. Luckily we were able to cancel our hotel reservation in Chicago and spent the night in Quincy under a tornado warning! We were able to get on a train early Saturday morning and had a great time once we arrived. Thanks to Josh's aunt and uncle, we were able to go to the Vince Gill concert while we were there. Thanks also to his mom and dad for watching the kids.

Hannah's First Communion

2010-05-23T19:50:00.000-07:00

Hannah received her First Communion this morning with her cousin Foster. I have to preclude this by telling a funny story regarding Hannah's preparation. Two weeks ago, Hannah had her interview with the priest. We had the questions she had studied throughout the year in her religion classes and looked them over the night before. So we are sitting across from Fr. Chris and he asks Hannah what sacrament she has been preparing for? She looks at me and starts crying and says, "You forgot to study that question with me." Fr. Chris tried every way possible to get her to come up with the answer and she just couldn't. He finally just gave up and told her it was her First Communion. Well, she passed anyway and today was the big day. I'll have to cherish this picture of her in a dress with her hair down because it was a miracle!

Hannah with her friend Sydney who came to watch Hannah receive her First Communion. Scary to think I might be taking this same picture again in a couple of years, but instead it will be for their first dance.
Hannah and Foster getting ready to receive their First Communion.
Hannah and Meredith before Church.
Hannah-so grown up!

No Staging Here

2010-04-27T20:07:00.001-07:00

I couldn't stage these pictures if I tried. I seriously could take a picture like this each morning and they would all capture this image. It truly is the sweetest thing I have ever seen. I hope this friendship continues as they grow older. There are several pictures of my brother and I like this when we were kids and we grew up very close, so hopefully this is indicative of great times ahead.

Pictures Galore

2010-04-15T12:56:00.000-07:00

I haven't had much time to post in the last month due to birthdays, set-up of a softball team and starting a new job. I hope I can start blogging again. I really want to be able to print it off yearly for the kids so that they can have a keepsake beyond their scrapbooks. But for now, here is a couple of months of pictures. Enjoy!

Lake could care less about collecting Easter eggs. As soon as he found candy in the first one, he was done.
Merdi loves to pose for the camera.

It would be a miracle if all three kids ever looked at the camera, smiled or posed together.

I never noticed how much Lake puts his tongue out until I took pictures. I love taking pictures of him though. Just so stinking cute.

Meredith and Lake LOVE each other. This is how they look pretty much every morning. They are also starting to play together so well.

Lake and Uncle Jeff going down the slide at the zoo.

Hanging out with the goats.

Lake wasn't sure what to think about the goats. He would reach over and touch them and then quickly retreat.

Hanging out at the zoo.

This was worth a picture. All three kids doing the same thing with no fighting. Miracles do occur.

Hannah's birthday at the Depot Inn Swimming pool.

Hannah had a couple of friends spend the night at the hotel before her swimming party.

Happy Birthday Hannah and Merdi

2010-03-29T20:02:00.001-07:00

Hannah turned nine on Sunday and Meredith will turn five tomorrow. Meredith celebrated her friend birthday party with a friend from school who has a close birthday. Hannah is having her friend birthday party this weekend. We also celebrated with a family birthday party since my brother and niece share birthdays with the girls on the exact same days. It's hard to believe how much the girls are growing up.

Meredith opening her presents. We had her birthday party at my school and the kids had a great time.
Meredith and Camryn's luau cake. Heather did such an awesome job.
The family birthday cake. Hannah was born on my brother Jeff's birthday and Meredith was born on my niece Elizabeth's birthday (Meredith and Elizabeth were even born at the exact same time 2:58 AM)
Hannah wanted Band Hero after playing it on Spring Break. I think Josh may be having just as much fun as her.
Of course a gun or fishing pole was in order.

Beach Bums

2010-03-16T20:31:00.000-07:00

I love this picture from Florida. They look so professional, yet were so far from it. The boards were used mainly to sit on, as the girls were too cold to go in very deep. I plan on a longer post this week with many more pictures to come, but it has been a really long day!

Hip Hop Dancing

2010-02-22T14:33:00.000-08:00

Hannah and her friends performed this hip hop dance for the school's talent show. For those of you who know Hannah, this is very surprising. Hannah hates to have attention brought directly towards her. She also does not take dance lessons like her friends. They worked hard on the dance and did a great job! Hannah is second from the left.

Lent 2010

2010-02-17T19:25:00.000-08:00

We decided to do something as a family this year for Lent. We discussed several options and then voted.

We voted on two final choices: only water to drink with dinner or no dessert.

In the words of my four year old "Yeah, water wins and dessert loses".

Not Me Monday-Ash Wednesday

2010-02-15T17:02:00.001-08:00

Wow. Where to start this week?

I did not remind my husband last Wednesday to remember to fast and make arrangements for church that night only to find out it wasn't really Ash Wednesday until the following week. I am way more organized than that. Upon realizing that it wasn't really a day of fasting, I did not pretty much eat every snack in sight.

On a recent snow day, I did not send the two youngest to day care and then go back to bed until 10:00. I am more responsible than that.

I did spend Valentine's Day at a candle lit dinner with my husband followed by a romantic stay in a hotel where I found rose petals covering the bed. -OK not really. Instead I cooked three lasagnas for my husband to take to a family dinner while I stayed home with a sick child.

Lastly, I did not throw my two youngest in the shower with me this evening so that we could be done in time to watch The Bachelor. Who watches that show anyway??

Snow Day

2010-02-09T20:05:00.001-08:00

I am not a fan of snow at all. I think it is pretty when I am watching it fall from inside the house, but I dread having to go out in it. However, today I told the girls I would build a snowman with them. They had their doubts about my ability and kept asking what time dad would be home. We put on our ten layers and headed out to the yard. I picked up my first handful of snow to get started and it blew right out of my hands. The same thing happened to the girls. The snow was like powder and there was no chance of a snowman. A snowball fight was out too. Next best thing? Snow Angels!

Itty Bitty Shoot

2010-01-29T18:50:00.001-08:00

Lissy Early took the kids pictures last week. It was quick and low key. I love how she captured their true personalities. Check out her great site: http://www.missprissiness.com/

My Little Diva

2010-01-20T12:50:00.001-08:00

Meredith is such a little girly girl. A huge difference from her sister Hannah who is all things not girly. Hannah never had a choice when she was younger. I always put her in dresses, bows, etc. Then she got old enough to say no thanks. Meredith on the other hand loves purses, bows, pretty dresses and playing with her babies. She was so excited when a friend gave her this purse. She immediately filled it up with her play cell phone, chapstick, lotion and all of her money. She is always asking me to take her picture and really hams it up for the camera. It is going to take some thought on how to proceed with the things she wants to do, such as dance class and cheerleading. These really aren't things I have been involved in so it will be a little more difficult to schedule and find out how she can get involved. Hopefully she'll eventually want to get involved with sports, but if not I will try to find activities she enjoys and support her just as much as we do Hannah and sports. Let the tutu buying begin (is that even how you spell it?).

So Sweet

2010-01-11T19:54:00.001-08:00

Isn't this just the sweetest picture. It's amazing how they just pick up on these things. We bought Lake tons of 'boy' toys for Christmas, yet he likes to play with his sister's dolls. He truly is one of the most loving babies I have met; always giving hugs and kisses. Don't misjudge him though-he can pull hair, hit and throw things with the best of them.

Only Looks Gross

2010-01-09T19:37:00.001-08:00

I'm not neccesarily Susie Homemaker, but I do like to try new things. These fire starters are so easy to make. I put a used egg carton by the dryer and fill up each section with lint from the dryer. Usually one filter fills each section. I then pour candle wax over each section and let it harden. My husband then pops out one section at a time and uses it for a fire starter. These will also be great for camping.

Earning Her Keep

2010-01-07T10:46:00.000-08:00

Family Christmas

2009-12-28T17:58:00.000-08:00

This year we celebrated Christmas with Josh's side of the family at his sister's house. It was very low key and relaxing. The kids had a great time playing with their gifts. Of course, my husband always has to find something to get the kids riled up. Nothing like a game of lasso during the middle of a Christmas celebration.

Foster is about to be hogtied here. Look at the line forming. Who needs expensive gifts when you have a rope?
No one was injured during the making of this image.

Hannah, Meredith and Lake received a Wii from Grandpa and Grandma. We have had a lot of fun playing the different games.

Random Post While I Have Time

2009-12-22T12:54:00.000-08:00

Ok, so this post is going to be very random. I have been so busy lately, that finding time to upload pictures and actually write something about them has been nearly impossible. School is out for winter break and I am trying to catch up on as many things as possible. Today I managed to make it to the post office, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, JCPenney's, McDonald's and an oil change. In between I am trying to catch up on laundry and get some baking done. I think our house is just going to have to be a mess for one day longer. Enjoy the pictures, I'll attempt a narrative for them while time allows.

Our attempt at a Christmas card. Lake loves to pull Merdi's hair. I actually went ahead and used it for the card. No use in staging something!
Our Christmas Tree. The bottom of the tree has to be free of ornaments since Lake thinks everything is a ball these days.

Isn't Merdi just the prettiest little girl? I love her blond hair with dark brown eyes. She had a Christmas program at school and she wanted to look 'beautiful'.

Santa at the winery. What more could a mom ask for? If only Santa could come home with me!

Christmas with the Silvernail's this past weekend. The kids received such awesome gifts. It was so nice to spend time with family.

Lake loved his new Rocket Flyer. Isn't Aunt Jodi so pretty?

Merdi in her new pajamas. Can you tell she likes them?

Not sure what to do with all of the Christmas photos you receive? Punch holes in them and decorate a small tree or two.

Have you been to this blog:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/

I recently bought her cookbook and love the recipes. Seriously, should meatloaf look this good, even before it is cooked?

A Beautiful Soul

2009-12-07T19:20:00.001-08:00

This past weekend my family visited my sister Julie at the Shrine in Alabama to celebrate her 29nd birthday. This was also her one year anniversary in joining the monastery. Julie is such a sincere, sweet young lady. She believes whole heartily in her calling and you can just see the passion in her when talking. The first time I went to visit Julie, I had many reservations about her joining a cloistered monastery, but I have come to realize that it has nothing to do with me. This is her choice and what she is called to do. If she hadn't wanted me to get married or have children, as I feel called to do, I would have thought she was nuts. So, who am I to judge what someone else wants to do with their life. We were able to have some great conversations and I was glad to see that she just seemed so "normal" for lack of a better word. She is the Julie I have always known, just a little more driven to spread God's message. I also was able to attend a very moving Latin Mass at the Shrine and join the nuns in praying the rosary. It was a great opportunity to reassess where I am in my faith and where I am leading my children in theirs. All in all, the twenty hours of driving in three days was well worth it!

Jeff, Sister Julie and I visiting

Hannah, Sister Julie and I

This picture does not even begin to show how beautiful she is. Plus, you should hear her sing!

Happy Birthday Sister Julie!

My mom and dad drove from Florida to visit. My dad is so proud and my mom is getting used to the idea. It is hard for her to see Julie behind the iron work.

The Sleep Fairy

2009-11-29T19:40:00.001-08:00

This blog carnival was started by MckMama. Be sure to click on the Not!Me! Monday link above to check out her site.

I did not tell my daughter that there was a sleep fairy and that if she stayed in her bed all night, the sleep fairy would put a present under her bed each night. But if I had, it would have worked like a charm! She would have slept in her bed all night until about 5:40 when she called out for me. I would have offered for her to come snuggle with me and she would have replied, "No, because then the sleep fairy won't come."

Watch out for the Flames!

2009-11-23T18:47:00.000-08:00

Do you ever live through your children? I have to be careful about this with Hannah. I have this overwhelming desire to give her all of the things I never had. There is a such a fine line to be drawn with this. I try to encourage her to try all kinds of activities and to be the kind of person who can be friends with anyone. Eight years old has definitely changed in regards to what goes on. Friendships are so fragile at this age and feelings can be hurt so easily. The amount of bullying is also overwhelming. Hannah and I are continually having the conversation about not worrying about what others think and that there are times not all of your friends are going to get along. This is really hard for her to grasp, but I am lucky because she has chosen to be friends with a core group of really good girls. We try to find ways for them to foster their friendships outside of school, but this can be difficult since you don't want anyone to feel left out.

Recently, we organized a team for the local K-Life Dodgeball Tournament. Hannah and her friends had a blast tie-dying their shirts and practicing for the big day. They wanted to look fierce, but it just didn't work. The Flames were the youngest team in the tournament, but they played their hardest. It was a great day to hang out together and develop friendships with good hearted children and their parents. I know Hannah may not always choose friends that I approve of, but for now I am blessed to have a child who isn't worried about cliques or popularity. She just wants to be friends with everyone and what more could a parent ask for?

What a fierce looking team. We were YouTubing 'Dodgeball' the night before so that the girls had some clue about what they were doing.

Pretty cool looking uniforms though!

The Meyer Family

2009-11-16T13:05:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama.

Oh, where to begin. I have so many Not Me! mentions that I better limit them.

I most certainly did not stalk MckMama's blog last week, wait for every twitter update and cry uncontrollably in my office. Since this did not really occur, I did not have to explain myself to co-workers who thought I had finally lost it.

I am definitely an assertive person, so of course I did not go ahead and order more food from the Schwan's man even though we have plenty of food. Seriously, how hard is it to say "No thanks, we don't need anything this week".

I have not been going to bed at 8:00 with Lake. Of course, I rock him to sleep and then place him in his crib. I then always go downstairs and finish laundry, dishes and get all of the clothes set out for the next day. On that same note, since I always lay out the outfits, my 4 year old has not been picking out whatever she wants to wear to school.

Last night, after completing all of the above tasks, I did not stalk about fifty blogs to see what other people write about. I wonder why I was so tired this morning then???

And lastly, I loved every minute of brushing My Little Pony hair for over an hour with my sick little girl today while answering one million questions!

Life's Blessings

2009-11-14T11:41:00.000-08:00

I have been reading a blog for several months now and have been reeled in by the author's story, her outlook on life and the questions she raises in your own beliefs. The site is mycharmingkids.net. A very long story short, the author has a little boy Lake's age who was given a dire diagnosis while still in the womb. Recently, this miracle of a little boy survived a procedure that was very touch and go and now he will be able to live life like a baby boy should. There were days I would read her entry and be in tears for a child I have never met. I always believe that there are reasons why things happen. By coming across this blog, I have been so much more appreciative of the health of my children and find myself wanting to spend much more time with them. God works in such mysterious ways. Even when times are tough with the kids, I try so hard to keep in mind what a miracle they are and how fragile life can be.

I would be lying if I said having a third child was easy. Things are so much more hectic, there's more cleaning to be done, more laundry (you get the picture). Plus, with the kids age differences, it is often hard to find things to do as a family where everyone has a good time. Thanks to a chance happening of running across this particular blog, when there are millions out there, I have such a renewed sense of family and togetherness. How awesome is that?

One of our little blessings!

Halloween and Fall Pics

2009-11-01T10:33:00.001-08:00

We had a great Halloween with weather to be thankful for. Started off with a quick trip around the square where area businesses had stations set up. Aunt Jodi and Uncle David came from St. Louis to trick or treat with the kids. Amazing how much smoother things go with an extra set of hands. Every time one of my sisters visit, we think about how awesome it would be to have a nanny. Hannah was a witch, Meredith was a princess (although she kept telling people she was a pumpkin) and Lake was a lion. We made it through about half of the neighborhood before Meredith became too tired. It was a quick night, but everyone had fun. Lake enjoyed handing out candy with Grandma Lysle and Aunt Sabra. Hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween!

Merdi's New Haircut

2009-10-23T20:40:00.000-07:00

Merdith and I were at Wal-Mart today and she decided that she wanted to get her haircut after looking at the different hair styles on the boxes of hair coloring. She wanted it cut really short. Here is a before and after picture. In this first picture, Merdi is sitting with the pumpkin she carved with her dad tonight.

It actually looks really cute on her. I have to admit that I just did it myself. Since she has curly hair, it's hard for anyone to tell if it's not exactly even. She was really proud of it. It's funny because she thinks she looks so different. She was wondering if Hannah would recognize her when she got home. Too funny!

1st Not Me! Monday!

2009-10-18T12:25:00.000-07:00

I have been reading a blog written by MckMama for about a month now. She does this post each Monday and I thought I would join in.

Here is my first Not Me! Monday!

I certainly did not pack my daughter's lunch with all things prepackaged. I am a much better mom than that and always plan ahead with healthy lunch options.

I would never let my 14 month old child wander the house so that I could get some things done and then I would have never asked my daughter to go find him. What kind of mom does not supervise her children at all times?

I definitely did not watch Lake fall off of the couch while he was napping and allow him to continue to sleep on the ground since he landed on a quilt.

Never would I just throw away some clothes with stains on them instead of taking the time to treat them. I know money does not grow on trees.

I can't believe some parents would pay their children off to do something. In no way did I tell my daughter I would pay her to get a haircut. I have more control over my children than that.

I did not accidently send Lake to the babysitter with the wrong sippy cup filled with day old milk that I found on the car floor. Being the good mom that I am, I knew which cup he started out with that morning and never left one in the car. Since I didn't really do this, I did not have to call the babysitter and ask her to please clean it out and give him fresh milk. That would have been embarrasing.

What things have you not done this last week?

October Update

2009-10-15T09:53:00.001-07:00

Things have been so busy lately that I have not had time to post any pictures. We are finally in the full swing of school, work, church classes, etc. and it took awhile to get back into the groove following summer.

I'll try to give a quick update on what has been happening. Lake is finally walking, although he prefers to crawl. He is becoming more independent and is into everything. I swear he will be right by me while I am doing something and when I turn around he is already up the stairs getting into things. He is still a happy baby and is starting to interact a lot more with his sisters. They think he is pretty cool. Lake had the flu about three weeks ago and the lingering cough and runny nose refuse to cease. Poor kid is so tired of having his nose wiped.

Meredith is in her second year of preschool. I decided to put her in the afternoon class to wean her from naps and boy have I made a mistake. She is fine at school, but 5:30 until bedtime at our house is a battle. It is hard to believe that someone so sweet and cute can turn into such a monster.

Hannah is liking third grade. She loves her teacher and continues to do well. She had an orthodontist appointment yesterday and her teeth are moving so quickly, they decided to tie off her palette expander and braces for the next eight weeks.

Hope all is well with everyone. Enjoy the pictures!

Lake loved the games and rides at Chuck E Cheese

Hannah and her Uncle Nathan had a blast playing the games. We were supposed to go to the zoo, but the rain caused a change in plans.

Josh and I were able to go to the Cardianls game when they played the Cubs in September. We had a great time and were able to hang out with some friends we haven't seen in awhile.

Just Peachy!

First Day/Week of School

2009-08-29T11:41:00.001-07:00

The girls started back to school last week. Meredith attends a full day preschool in town. This is her second year there and she is excited to be a part of the "older kids". It has been quite an adjustment getting up earlier and not having a nap during the day. She has been falling asleep on the way home from school and bed time cannot come soon enough most nights for her.

Hannah is in 3rd grade this year. It is the first time she has been in the same building as me. She was very hesitant at first, but I think she has come to realize it is not such a bad thing, especially when she needs something. Hannah really likes school and loves her teacher. She has been so lucky in her school experience to always get a teacher she likes. I have never had to deal with her not wanting to go to school, which is such a blessing. We are going through a stage where athletic clothes are pretty much the only thing she will wear. I try to just pick my battles with this as I can remember fighting with my mom about clothes (except I was probably 15). Some days I just look at her and wonder where my little girl has gone.

Hannah had braces put on this summer, as well as a palette expander. She was quite miserable at first, but is adjusting. Her speech is much better and she is eating more variety of foods. The palette expander doesn't allow her to bite down all of the way, so she struggles with some foods and gum and hard/sticky candy are forbidden. She will wear a retainer for two years following this treatment and then will have a full set of braces put on. She has a long road ahead of her and I keep reminding her that her smile will be beautiful.

We bought a new car this summer also (Suburban). It is so nice to be able to separate the kids when we are going places. There is less fighting and they can watch their own movies. I like that the middle seats are split, although Hannah may tire of picking up everything her brother and sister drop.

Happy 1st Birthday Lake!

2009-08-20T19:49:00.000-07:00

Lake turned one year old on August 19. He celebrated his birthday with his cousin Carley and his Aunt Jamie who all have birthdays within the same week. Lake is still a sweet, sweet baby, but he is slowly becoming all boy. This has to be a nature thing, because it certainly isn't due to nurturing. He is all over the place, likes to be rough and has decided that yelling at the top of his lungs is fun. Lake has seven teeth, lots of curls and bright blue eyes. He isn't walking yet, but will stand on his own for a few seconds at a time. He has developed some type of crawl with one leg out in order to go faster. I'll have to add a video clip sometime. It makes him look a little on the special side. He continues to love his sisters, although he enjoys beating up on Meredith. She literally may start developing bald spots. Hannah is like a little mom to him. He often will reach out for her and she tries to hide the fact that this makes her feel special. Lake sleeps through the night, is using a sippy cup throughout the day and attempting to use a spoon when eating. He is a healthy eater and eats pretty much whatever we are having. All in all, he has been the perfect blessing to our family and all I could have ever wished for in a boy. He has made our lives a little more frazzled, but it feels more complete since the day he was born. I continue to thank God for such a blessing!

Lake enjoying his birthday cake.

The girls thought Lake needed a Cardinal's cake.

Check out these pictures for proof that this kid is always happy. I hope he continues to be this laid back and happy with whatever life brings his way.

New Pony

2009-08-12T14:47:00.000-07:00

One of grandpa and grandma's ponies recently
had a baby. This was one of the first days that
Josh was able to get it away from its mother.
The kids love going out to their house to
see it and riding the other horse and ponies.
Hannah thought she would love horse back riding
and I even looked into getting her lessons, but
her confidence quickly went by the wayside.
Meredith and Lake enjoy it though.

Lake liked riding on the pony. He got braver

throughout the evening.

Hannah hanging out on the hay bale.

Lake thinks he is pretty cool. Look mom, no

hands.

Lake Trip

2009-08-01T15:21:00.001-07:00

We spent a couple of days at the Lake of the Ozarks with the Silvernail side of the family. My sisters Jodi and Jamie, their spouses, my brother Jeff, my Aunt and Uncle and their children and great grandchildren were all there. It was such a fun time. It was great because my cousins have children my kids ages, so everyone got along really well. We enjoyed good food, hanging out at the pool, tubing and boat rides. I even went out on the wave runner by myself!

Meredith loved the wave runner. Here she is riding with her Great Uncle Jim and her cousin K. They never wanted to get off. My poor uncle was on the wave runner for almost four hours straight giving the kids rides.

Hannah, Meredith and S. getting ready for take-off.
(I don't like using kid's names on my blog without parent permission).

Trip to Alabama

2009-07-23T08:47:00.001-07:00

Last week the girls and I headed to Alabama to see my sister Julie who is preparing to become a nun. It was a beautiful experience and I am so glad that we took the time to go visit. She lives in Hanceville, Alabama at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament. She lives a cloistered lifestyle, so our visits with her are limited, which made our time with her very valuable and meaningful. I was so glad that Hannah and Meredith were able to visit with their Aunt Julie. They weren't very surprised to see her in her habit and dress or behind the bars as I had spent a lot of time explaining this to them on the trip down. I think Hannah understood that this is the vocation Julie has chosen. Meredith's response was "I don't want to live here when I grow up because of all of the curvy roads." Julie seems very happy and at peace with her calling. I know she has prayed for a long time that this is what she is called to do. I have to admit that I wasn't sad when I was there or when I was leaving. I was very relieved to see that she was happy and the idea of becomming a nun is not surprising to me since I grew up with nuns as teachers most of my life. I am looking forward to the next time I visit. Here are some pictures of the beautiful Shrine and us with Sister Julie.

The girls at the Lourde's Grotto.

The entrance to the Shrine. There were so many visitors coming and going while we were there.

The Church where we attended a Latin Mass with the cloistered sisters singing.

Julie and I. The bars look intimidating, but they really weren't. We could pass things between them and I could still hug and kiss her. They are more a symbol of the vow she has taken.

Hannah and Meredith with Aunt Julie. She says they can still call her Aunt Julie, even when her name changes.

Dinner Conversation Anyone?

2009-07-07T15:16:00.000-07:00

Lake has had a hard time taking an afternoon nap because we are usually always on the go. The last two nights, he is completely alert eating and then when you look again, he has crashed. Hope this won't be the new routine.

Monday Night

Tuesday Night-Yes we change his clothes, they just look similar.

Kitchen Makeover

2009-07-06T10:07:00.000-07:00

I usually don't have many bragging rights, but I like how this kitchen project turned out. I have been meaning to redo the kitchen chairs for a couple of years now and finally got around to it this summer. The chairs had a light tan covering on them that had turned a myriad of stain colors. I decided while I was at it to change the curtains to match. With my mother-in-laws patience and guidance, I sewed these curtains and changed the seat covers on the chairs. I was also finally able to hang the plates that Lake got for his birth and the girls for their birthdays. They are really neat and have the kids full name and birthdate on them. You can't tell from the pictures, but I also repainted all of the trim and recaulked the windows and baseboards. Next up, a new kitchen ceiling. I can't decide between tin tiles or wainscoating.

Summer Cont.

2009-07-02T14:51:00.000-07:00

We have been trying to stay really busy this summer and catch up on some things we haven't been able to do. Hannah is taking tennis lessons and dance, along with basketball camp soon. We have also been going to the library and pool a lot. In the down time, we have been working on multiplication with Hannah and recognizing/writing the alphabet with Meredith. Summer is flying by with still lots to accomplish. We have a trip to the Lake planned next week, then a drive to Alabama to see my sister and then a couple of days at Tan-Tar-A. Maybe by then we'll be ready for school to start again. Summer is my favorite time of the year as I despise cold or even chilly weather, so I really try to get as much out of three months as I can. Here are some random pictures from the last couple of weeks.

Some days we all need a break.

Meredith isn't very fond of the pool and can usually be found laying pool side.

The girls at the pool.

10 months

2009-06-22T19:35:00.000-07:00

Lake, or Lakester Lu as his family affectionately calls him, turned ten months old. I am probably biased, but he is the best baby in the world. He is all smiles and giggles. Recently he has been pulling up on everything and has several bruises to show for it. He is all over the place and constantly on the go. He has decided that he loves the stairs. With the girls we didn't have to worry much about them putting things in their mouth, but Lake always has something in his mouth. Grass, leaves, dog food and Barbie toys are just a few things I have removed recently. He has pretty much given up his pacifier and quit nursing. He still drinks from a bottle, but also uses a sippy cup for juice. Lake eats table food now and has no interest in being spoon fed anything. He can often be caught clapping as this is his favorite thing to do. We think it is because he lives at the ball fields. Lake enjoys the pool. His sisters continue to love on him and are finding that he can hold his own with them. Lake consistently has a handful of his sisters' hair. Today we decided to take his saucer to a friend since he has decided to make a game out of crawling out of it. Lake's hair has a reddish tint to it as of now and his curls are becoming more evident everyday. I could go on and on, but you get the picture.

First Day of Summer

2009-06-21T08:36:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day of summer and we are slowly making progress on our list of things to do. We are trying to keep busy and have fun at the same time. A pool pass has been a blessing since we can just go for an hour and not worry about wasting money by not staying. Recently I recovered my kitchen chairs and made new curtains (pictures soon) and took down some outdated blinds. I have been meaning to do this for over a year, so it felt good to get it done. I am lucky to have a mother-in-law who can and is willing to talk me through all of the steps. I love sewing, but just lack confidence. We have lots of trips planned for July and August, so it is time to buckle down and get the house cleaned up. The girls both have swim lessons starting next week and Hannah has tennis and dance. Amazing how fast the summer can fly by. We haven't even been out on the boat or camping yet because it won't quit raining. Hopefully after today we will see more sunshine. The kids got Josh a double gazebo for Father's Day and are excited to get to use it when we go camping. Lake turned 10 months on Friday. He is such an easy going child. It is hard to imagine that he is going to be a year old soon. He is quite busy compared to girls. I will do an update post on him tomorrow with pictures. Here are some pictures of the summer to date.

The grandkids are helping Grandma Lysle turn an old shed into a playhouse.

Lake checking out the grass. There is little point in using a blanket.

Meredith likes painting rocks and it keeps her busy.

Hannah is actually really good about helping out when I need her to.

Sometimes you do what you have to do. I don't think this area has been cleaned since we moved here four years ago.

Beginning of Summer Break

2009-06-04T19:40:00.000-07:00

I decided not to work summer school this year so that I could get some things done arond the house and spend some time with the kids doing activities that we normally don't get to do. It's already week two and I have to admit there have been a few wrenches thrown in to my great plan. We did manage to get the yard cleaned up and planted the herbs and tomatoes. Monday night we had an unusual amount of rain which caused the sewers on our block to become overwhelmed. The water backed up into our basement and created quite a mess. Fortunately for us, we had already removed the furniture from the basement. We still had to have a company come in and suck out the water, disinfect everything and remove the carpet and drywall. Hannah and I have spent the last three days sorting though boxes of clothes and pictures that got wet. She is also becomming quite the dry wall remover. We helped a friend remove her drywall and insulation last week, so she had plenty of experience. I might start hiring her out :) I'l try to post some of our fun activities planned for the summer.

Lake has become quite the active little boy. He is all over the place and can't seem to be happy unless he is moving.
Here is our street after Monday night's rain.

Hannah has a cupcake maker and Meredith has a snow cone maker. Miracle of all miracles, they each made the other a treat to share for dessert.

Is this considered child labor?

Jodi and David's Wedding-Memorial Day Weekend

2009-05-26T19:07:00.000-07:00

My sister Jodi got married this past weekend to David Diebold. They are a lovely couple and just fit each other perfectly. Their wedding was held at the Chase and was absolutely beautiful. Hannah was a junior bridesmaid, Meredith the flower girl and I was a bridesmaid. We all had a great time, despite some stress in getting everyone organized. Jodi and David were very low key, which set the mood for the entire weekend. The events started on Friday with a dinner out with just the girls, followed by the rehearsal on Saturday with a BBQ dinner, wedding and reception on Sunday and a couple brunch on Monday. It was great to see family and friends, especially my parents from Florida. My parents were excited to see the grandkids, especially Lake who they saw for the first time. Here are some pictures from the weekend.

Hannah as a junior bridesmaid. She looked so pretty with her make-up and hair done. My mother-in-law made this dress from one of ours. Hannah wasn't thrilled about wearing a dress, but didn't make too big of a deal out of it.

The three of us before the wedding.

The family minus Julie and Jane.

Aunt Jamie and Meredith. She was such a beautiful, little flower girl. I was really nervous that she wouldn't walk down the aisle, but she did it without hesitation.

Jodi's Family

Jodi and David with our parents.

Life Updated

2009-05-16T15:14:00.000-07:00

Sorry that it has been a while since the last post, but time has just gotten away from me with all of the activities, end of the school year routine and life's adventures. There just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day to get everything done, let alone get organized for the next day. Laundry is piled up, trash needs to be emptied and don't even look at the dusting that needs to be done. Then once you get one thing finished, you have to start all over again. I always reflect on this at dinner time. By the time you cook dinner, clean up the dishes, sweep the floor and wipe everything down, another meal needs to be made. I hate seeing the kitchens in the different magazines that always show everything so neat and organized. Don't they eat in their kitchens? Do their kids do their homework at the kitchen table and leave their papers everywhere? What about the crumbs that seem to fall from everything your children touch?? Enough complaining. Here's celebrating our children and how they are doing:

Hannah-I would love to say Hannah is growing into such a young lady, but that would be so far from the truth (the lady part, she is certainly growing). She is going through a stage where nothing can have ruffles or "puffy sleeves", no skirts or dresses and her hair has to always be in a ponytail. I was fighting it at first, but have sort of thrown in the towel. She is really athletic and so that is what we are embracing. She is currently playing softball and really enjoys it. Softball is very competitive in Kirksville, so I am glad that she is actually pretty good at it. Especially since we will spend our whole summer at the ball fields. Hannah will be entering third grade in the fall and seems to enjoy school. She has a busy summer planned with swimming lessons, softball and hopefully horseriding lessons.

Meredith-Our little diva! Meredith is at the stage where she thinks everything should be her way and watch out when it isn't. I feel like we are constantly having to threaten her to do anything. We were trying time out, but now when she doesn't want to do something we ask, she puts herself in time out. So much for that method supper nanny. She played soccer for the first time this Spring and only cried through the first two games. I quit having to go on the field with her after about the third game. Thank goodness for a rainy season with lots of cancelled practices and games. Meredith loves to be in dresses and doesn't mind me fixing her hair at all. I think she is probably going to be a singer or dancer much to her dad's dismay. She acts like some broadway actress and everything is drama filled from putting on her shoes to brushing her teeth. She enjoys attempting to do everything her sister does, which doesn't always work out. Sometimes her and Hannah can be such good sisters to each other and then the next minute they are fighting over something so trivial. I have to say that there are times I can't help but smile remembering how I fought with my sisters too. I love when Meredith calls Hannah her bestest friend and when she asks Hannah if she likes her.

Meredith and her friend Camryn before the Daddy Daughter Dance.

Meredith at her first soccer game. This is completely posed after the game when she stopped crying long enough to have her picture taken.

Lake-He turned 9 months old today and is still as cute as ever, but is really turning into all boy. I can tell we might have our hands full. I am already starting to miss the cuddling. He is constantly on the go and always moving around when you are trying to hold him. He enjoys playing with his toys and lately spending time outside. He isn't formally crawling, instead he likes to army crawl or do a push up type of move where he jumps to get where he wants to go. This move has landed him on his face several times. His sisters continue to entertain him and he is beginning to entertain them right back.

Well, that's about it for now. We have my sister's wedding this weekend, in which all three of us girls are in, so there will be lots of pictures to post.

Easter 2009

2009-04-16T09:47:00.000-07:00

Lake's first Easter consisted of three Easter Egg Hunts. Of course, he couldn't have any of the candy, but he was content playing with the empty eggs. We had an Easter Egg Hunt at Josh's work on Friday. On Saturday, Truman had their Egg Hunt and then there is always one at Josh's Aunt's house on Sunday. It was a very relaxing weekend since it was a four day holiday. I finally got caught up on most of the laundry and went grocery shopping which was really needed. The girls enjoyed all of the things in their Easter baskets. We have learned that less is more!

Happy Birthday Hannah and Meredith (just a bit late)!

2009-04-11T11:09:00.000-07:00

Hannah and Meredith both had birthdays the same weekend. Hannah turned eight and Meredith turned four. Hannah celebrated with a roller skating party and Meredith had a swimming party. Hannah had a Hannah Montana theme (like there was ever any other option) and Meredith partied with Tinkerbell. Fun was had by all and the girls loved all of their gifts from family and friends. They were blessed with so many things, that most haven't even been played with yet.

Meredith's Tinkerbell cake.
Meredith taking a swim break.

Hannah is actually pretty good on roller skates. One of the few girls I didn't have to hold up the entire time. Thanks to my friend Mandy, I think we had everyone at least standing on their skates by the end of the party.

Lake-7 Months Old

2009-04-02T19:17:00.000-07:00

Lake turned seven months old recently. I haven't changed my mind about him being the best baby ever. Even through a double ear infection and a horrible cough, he has been a good baby. He is always smiling and has started to laugh at his sisters when they act silly. He doesn't sleep through the night yet, but I think it is because he doesn't nurse all day and wants that bonding time during the night. He eats baby food at lunch and dinner and has learned to feed himself the baby puffs that dissolve in your mouth. Lake can sit up unattended and rocks back and forth as if he wants to start crawling. We would actually have to put him down though for that to happen. He recently bagan saying "da, da, da" over and over, which of course Josh takes as him saying his name first. We are learning that we can't put him down anywhere that he could roll off of and not to leave little items laying around. He loves to grab anything he can get his hands on: hair, the girls' filled drink cups, your plate when you are eating, etc. We have had several messes the last couple of weeks due to this new found need to have whatever we have. Did I mention that he is the biggest drooler you have ever met? He is always soaking wet. Surely his teeth have to come in soon, although Meredith was almost 12 months old before she got hers. When I took him to the doctor, the nurse thought I had given him Kool-Aid. So great, I probably look like some white trash mom who puts Kool-Aid in her baby's bottle. We have tried all types of ointments to treat it, but nothing seems to help. Any suggestions? Enjoy some pictures!

Spring Break

2009-03-23T15:38:00.001-07:00

Spring Break was last week and I took the kids and two of their cousins to Fun City in Burlington, Iowa. It's a great place for kids, with an indoor waterpark, arcade, bowling alley, go carts and laser tag. For the grown-ups, there is a casino and spa. It's a pretty reasonable trip and extremely kid friendly. We had a great time and everyone had lots of fun. Lake loved the water and never cried once. Meredith got sick the last day, so that was a downer. She wound up having strep throat and had a really difficult time getting over it. Lake started running a fever after that and it turned out that he had a double ear infection. What a way to finish of a vacation. Two kids on antibiotics can put parents over the edge. Everyone is well now though!

Check out Meredith eating her sundae while talking on the phone.
Not really sure why Hannah isn't holding on here.

Air hockey is Meredith's favorite arcade game.

The week before the trip, all Hannah and Meredith talked about was taking Lake down the Slide. I don't think he really cared either way.

Our little fish!

Grade School Reunion

2009-03-07T13:03:00.001-08:00

Two weeks ago I was fortunate to be able to attend a grade school reunion in St. Louis. I attended grade school at Epiphany of Our Lord from K-8th grade. We mostly all went on to different high schools, as is common in St. Louis. This was such a great night as I had not seen many of my former classmates for twenty years. It was so cool to see how much and how little people had changed. The conversation was easy since we all had spent our childhoods growing up together. I think we all agreed that it was a shame so many of us have lost touch over the years. Thanks to technology and Facebook, we were all able to reconnect. Now there is talk of making this a yearly event. I was kind of taken by surprise that some of my old classmates didn't recognize me. In my eyes, I don't feel like I have changed much. Check out the pictures below to see what you think.

In case you can't see it that well, I am the second one down. Did you read my goals? Such ambition!

2nd one from the right on the bottom row. These were my skate or die days. I think I used a can of hair spray each week.

2nd row, 2nd from right.

Saving the best for last. Here is my 8th grade graduation. I didn't get the memo that said wear pastels. That would be me in the royal blue dress and dyed shoes to match.

So what's the verdict? I think I look practically the same!

Family Update

2009-02-25T18:18:00.000-08:00

Sorry it has been so long since the last post, but it seems harder and harder to find time. I'll try to give you a family update with some pictures thrown in here and there.
Lake just turned six months old. He is as cute as ever. Seriously, I would love to have another baby if I knew he/she would be as easy as Lake. He is starting to eat some baby food, mostly fruits and vegetables. He wants to crawl, but just doesn't have the motor coordination for it yet. He is sitting in a high chair and has decided high pitch yelling is his new form of communication. No luck in sleeping through the night yet, but we're making it.

Hannah will be eight next month. This is so hard to believe. She will be finishing up 2nd grade soon. Hannah is a great student who really likes school. It would be amazing to see her potential if she would actually apply herself. She likes to get by with as little effort as possible in everything she does. Right now she is involved in baton and basketball. For some reason, she absolutley loves baton lessons and has gotten quite good at it. Basketball has been going well. Hannah has a height advantage right now which helps a lot. You never know, but it appears that she is going to be tall. She is constantly outgrowing her clothes and shoes. Here she is in purple (the one who looks like she is getting ready to fly).

Meredith will be four next month. She has been sick for about a week now and hopefully she is finally on the mend. Thank goodness for grandparents! When we had Hannah, everybody kept telling us to wait until the "terrible twos". When she turned two, we were like big deal, that was nothing. Then she turned three and our lives changed dramatically. Meredith has followed in her footsteps. Three has been really rough. She is sweet as can be sometimes and then we wonder what happened to our precious little girl. Some crazy monster takes over and there is no reasoning with her no matter how hard you try. It's interesting though, because she never acts like this for anyone else or in front of anyone else. Meredith is going to start soccer this spring and is really excited about it. It will be interesting having two children in sports.
Josh and I are doing great. Busy with work and raising three kids. It takes quite a bit of coordination to get everyone where they need to be, but we're getting into a routine. Well, I'm off to church for Ash Wednesday.

Sorry for the Long Delay

2009-02-05T17:38:00.000-08:00

Toby gets really jealous if you are paying too much attention to Lake. He will wiggle his way on to your lap and sometimes on top of Lake to get you to pet him. Little does he realize that Lake's favorite thing to do now is pull hair. Lake also attempts to eat Toby, another new favorite thing to do. It is to your advantage to stay away from Lake's mouth and hands right now. He is trying so hard to cut those first teeth. Drool is everywhere in our house and there is no hope for keeping his shirts dry. He soaks right through his bibs. Meredith didn't get teeth until she was over a year old, so I hope this isn't six months of teething. Luckily, it has not made him cranky in the least bit. Still happy as a clam, always smiling. This Bengals shirt is from Josh's aunt. His dad is from Cincinnati and they really like the Bengals. Aunt Gale, if you still read this, thanks for the outfit. He looks great in it. Maybe one day he'll wear the real thing. I'll try to get more pictures posted soon. We have been so busy that it has been hard to find time. I'll leave you with Hannah and Meredith's favorite YouTube clip. It's called Charlie Bit My Finger. It scares me that Hannah wants to access YouTube, but I guess this is how the new generation is going to be. I'm going to have to learn how to put some blocks on our computer soon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlgSz8sSM

Lake turns five months, Merdi learns to dance and mom learns that cooking with kids is not easy.

2009-01-19T19:25:00.000-08:00

Lake turned five months old today. Isn't he the cutest thing ever! Not much has changed since the 4 months post, except he now eats some fruits, babbles more and sleeps a lot less. Long gone are the days where he slept more than he was awake. He is very observant and loves to watch what his sisters are doing.

On t.v. and in the magazines you always see the cute pictures of moms cooking with their kids. The kitchen is always spotless and the mom has a big smile on her face. It was our turn to bring dessert to the family dinner and the girls wanted to help make brownies. No problem until they started fighting over the aprons, Hannah didn't wait to read the directions and Meredith threw a fit because she couldn''t do it by herself. I found myself counting to ten several times in the 20 minutes it took to make the brownies.

Is anyone else lucky enough to have the Bella Dance Video or the Bella Cheerleading Video? It comes with its very own dance mat and accessories (and the most annoying songs in the world). Goes a little something like this "Bella Bella, Bella Dance A Rella." Hannah has the cheerleading one and Meredith received the Disney one for Christmas. Meredith absolutely loves hers. She dresses up in her dance clothes and follows right along. Hannah would kill me for telling anyone, but she actually likes to do the Disney Dance moves also.

I love this kid!

2009-01-09T08:35:00.000-08:00

Ok, I'm sure every mom feels this way, but Lake is seriously one of the best babies ever. Does he sleep through the night? No, but I don't even care because he wakes up smiling at you. You feed him and he goes right back to sleep. Does he sometimes get fussy? Rarely. Is he always smiling? Yes. Seriously, he never quits smiling. His cheeks have to hurt. He is just so laid back and happy about everything. Check out these pictures. They aren't staged or anything. I should probably worry because this most likely means he is going to think he is funny like his dad :)

Christmas 2008

2008-12-31T05:54:00.000-08:00

Christmas this year was very relaxing for the Meyer Family. Our last day of school was the 23rd. We spent Christmas Eve at Josh's parents, where the kids were spoiled with lots of gifts from grandpa and grandma and aunts and uncles. This is always a fun time for the family with lots of good food to eat. Santa came to our house on Christmas morning. Hannah was up at 4:30 asking if Santa had come. She was convinced to go back to bed for a while. Hannah's favorite gift was her cupcake maker. It only takes about 45 minutes per cupcake :) Meredith had asked Santa for a washing machine for her playhouse and was so excited to see that he had brought it. Lake could really care less about any of his gifts. I actually rewrapped some of his gifts from the night before so the kids wouldn't wonder why he didn't get as much. They never even noticed. I really couldn't justify spending a bunch of money on gifts Lake wouldn't be able to play with for quite some time. I let each of the girls buy something for each other and for Lake. This was really cute and they were really interested in whether the other person liked their gift. In the afternoon, we went over to my brother's and opened gifts. He had a really neat train set that the girls liked playing with. I remember growing up and my grandpa always had a train that went around his tree. I just might try this next year. Friday we headed to St. Louis to visit my family. We had a great time just hanging out. Hannah became a Wii champ and Josh realized he usually goes to bed at a reasonable hour for a reason. We had dinner with my aunt and uncle and their family Saturday night. This was a great time to catch up with family. The girls have lots of cousins on the Silvernail side of the family that they don't get to see too often. Sunday morning, we were up bright and early and headed to The Mills for some much needed shopping. Hannah and Meredith have outgrown all of their clothes and were in desperate need for some new ones. I have never seen such great deals. We could have spent hours there, but needed to get back to celebrate my nephew's 16th birthday. Now we are back to reality and the cleaning has begun. I didn't know it was even possible to accumulate this much laundry. Here are some pictures from the week.

Meredith and Lake telling Santa what they wanted for Christmas. Meredith was so sweet and told Santa what to get for Hannah.

Meredith loved Christmas this year. I think she was finally old enough to get the whole concept.

Lake happy as always. This kid is way too easy.

The kids at grandpa and grandma's before the mass opening of presents began.

Hannah with her first cupcake from the Cupcake Maker.

Uncle Jeff is always trying out new things with Lake.

Meredith was so excited to receive her manicure set. Aunt Jodi did such a beautiful job!

SNOW DAY (Friday)

2008-12-21T20:13:00.001-08:00

I remember when I couldn't wait for a snow day. My how my life has changed. It is quite difficult to entertain three children, especially when two of them keep telling you how bored they are. Hannah is at the age where she is bored unless she has a friend over to play with. Then Meredith wants to play with them and of course a fight begins. We finally decided to go to Wal-Mart. I am embarrased to say that we were there for almost three hours. Luckily, they have a Subway inside. We didn't even buy very much, but the kids were entertained by the masses of people shopping.

Lake is finally old enough for his saucer! The box said four months although he still needs a blanket to hold himself up. He is such a happy baby. I love when he smiles, which is quite often lately.

100 Things

2008-12-15T18:55:00.000-08:00

I was talking to Rebecca at work about this post and how many things she had done so far in life. She thought I would be surprised at how much I have accomplished. Let's see....
Things I’ve Done (in burgudy)
1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightning at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Rode an elephant

Wow! I have a lot of things to do still!

Long Post with Lots of Pictures

2008-12-12T12:50:00.000-08:00

These last few weeks have been pretty busy for our family. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with extended family and then took the kids to a new waterpark that opened in Iowa, near where we were having Thanksgiving. It was nice to just relax and let the kids play. They took full advantage of the park's operating hours. One of their cousins who lives in Iowa met us there, so that gave Hannah someone to play with. The difference in Hannah and Meredith's ages have really started to show lately. They don't have much in common and find any and every reason to fight. Who knows what we will have on our hands when Lake gets old enough to join in. We also had a trip into St. Louis to visit family and friends. It was so nice to get together with everyone and the girls loved seeing their Aunt Jodi. I like where I live, but when I visit St. Louis I realize how much I miss it.

Lake was baptized this past Sunday. It was a really nice service. Our priest was pretty witty. He made the comment that we "didn't have the River Jordan, but we had Lake Jerome". This certainly entertained those who have thought his name was a bit unusual. His godparents are Mike and Amy Bartig, friends of ours from Kirksville. Josh and I thought long and hard about Lake's godparents and really wanted a couple that was strong in their faith and had good family values. The Bartig's certainly fit the bill! Josh's grandma, Lake's great-grandma was able to attend, which was really neat. Josh was really uncomfortable with the christening gown Lake is wearing, but we assured him it was okay. Josh's mom made the outfit for Lake after I couldn't find one here in Kirksville. He looked so cute and innocent in it, which I think Baptism is all about.

Hannah has been preparing for her First Reconcilliation, which she will receive this weekend. She will then start preparing for her First Communion.

Christmas is approaching soon and we are not even close to being ready. The tree is up and Josh made a gingerbread house with the girls. They thought this was really cool. There are a couple of presents wrapped, but that is about it. There are still more presents to be bought and wrapped, cookies to be made and cards to be sent out. Our community has really fallen on hard times and we are making an effort at school to help those who may go without a Christmas and the stories I hear get sadder and sadder. It has really made me reflect on and be thankful for everything that we have. It's hard to go buy things my kids don't even need when there are families who may not have enough food to eat over the holidays.

Fr. Chris baptizing Lake.

Pretty nice looking gingerbread house!

Can you believe Lake is almost four months old?

Meredith loves her little brother. Often too much.

Aunt Jodi and the girls had a great time raking leaves, if that's what you want to call it.

Lake turns three months old

2008-11-26T08:05:00.000-08:00

Ok, I'm sort of plagarizing this post, so hopefully Sara doesn't have hers copyrighted :)

Lake just turned three months old and I think he has to be the cutest thing ever! He loves to snuggle and be held close. Our house is a mess because we spend so much time holding him. Here is a list of the top ten things he can do now that he is three months old.

1. Lake can hold his head up for extended lengths of time, although this requires putting him down and he doesn't really like that.

2. He can roll over from front to back and tries really hard to roll from back to front, but just isn't quite there yet.

3. Lake loves to smile. The girls love to talk to him and have him smile back.

4. He has started babbling and gets really excited trying to talk to you. His arms and legs start moving really fast.

5. Lake eats like crazy. We have had to start supplementing with formula because I can't keep up.

6. He still wakes up during the night at around 12:30 and then again at 5:00. 12:30 is a bit rough, but I don't mind the 5:00. He just eats and goes right back to bed.

7. He has started wearing 3-6 month clothes. Kind of sad to get rid of the cute little baby clothes.

8. Lake loves his babysitter. When I pick him up he is so content and happy. This is such a huge relief to me.

9. Lake worships his sisters!

10. Last of all, I personally think Lake is a "mama's boy". He loves his dad, but he and I have a special connection. I was so worried about this because I had no experience with a boy and wondered if I would know what I was doing. It seems to be working!

A Weekend in Review

2008-11-11T10:13:00.000-08:00

Hannah finds her brother to be so funny. Here she is laughing out loud at the faces he makes. She will put him into different poses in the Bumbo. I hope she remembers how fond she is of him and how he is always smiling at her.

This could be one of my favorite pcitures of all time. Meredith thought she was a monkey by dressing like this. We had just brought out all of the hats and gloves to be sorted. It is no joke when I say she thought she was ready to go outside like this and didn't understand why I was saying no. Josh and I are seriously losing our minds with her. She seems to throw a fit about everything and I can tell she is just testing us to see if we will actually follow through.

Here is a great gift idea for those of you who have little girls. It is called the Rose Cottage Garden. Meredith's grandparents got it for her last year for Christmas. Meredith loves playing in it and it is a great way to hide toys in her room. I accidently made the mistake of telling her we would have a tea party in it sometime. She woke up at 5:00 in the morning wanting a tea party and would not take no for an answer. What is it about children who won't get up for school, but can't stay in bed on the weekends.

Family Time

2008-11-07T18:11:00.000-08:00

Once again, may I say I love the Bumbo. Lake loves to watch me cook dinner. For those of you that know about Flat Stanley, this is what these Bumbo pictures remind me of. I should just start taking pictures of all of its uses and the places it goes.

Remember in the last post how I said I wanted us to start doing more things together as a family with no electronics involved? Well, we took adavantage of the beautiful weather this week to roast marshmallows in the backyard. While these events aren't exactly peaceful, they are something I hope the girls will remember. I just hope they learn to like each other more and get to a point where there is no crying for at least five minutes at a time.

Here's Hannah pouting for some reason or another. I think it was because we said two smores were probably enough before bedtime.

Luckily we have a privacy fence. Our neighbors might question our way of having dessert.

This would be Hannah's "I know what I am doing. You don't need to tell me." Of course she put her marshmallows on the wood and then caught them on fire. What do parents know? We are in so much trouble when the teenage years hit.

Lots of pictures from a busy weekend

2008-11-02T09:29:00.000-08:00

Halloween weekend was filled with lots of events, so I thought I would post them all together while I had time. Hannah has been begging to go camping, so we took the opportunity with the beautiful weather. I can't believe how nice it has been outside, but I am afraid it is just a reminder of how long the winter is going to be. The camping experience was ok, but not necessarily something I want to do too often until the kids are older. The girls just fight way too much right now and can't seem to find things to do in common. We loved camping when we were kids and always could find things to do without having to be entertained. We camped in a place called Yarrow, not too far outside of the city limits, by the Chariton River. The girls liked going down by the river and throwing rocks. I am probably way more protective then I need to be, but I was worried about the swift current and the soft sand shore ledge. We tried to do smores by the campfire, but the girls were scared of the dark and it just wasn't working out as planned. We wound up calling it a night pretty early.

I don't recall ever having the luxury of a DVD player when camping. We used to take long walks and do a lot of exploring. I am hoping we can start doing more family things where all electronics are put away, but it has become such a lifestyle for our kids that it is not an easy thing to do.

We have friends who have a cabin where we were camping. Lake chilled out while Josh set up the camper (and shop vac'd thousands of Asian beetles). I was worried about taking him, but he was all smiles the entire time. It was so nice to have one child not whining :)

Josh with the shop vac. These beetles have taken over Northeast Missouri. They stink when you step on them and they bite. I swear they just come out of nowhere. We are constantly telling Meredith that they are not ladybugs and not to play with them.

Lake is just the happiest little baby. He smiles all of the time and is starting to show his personality. He gets really excited when someone talks to him and starts waving his hands and legs up and down.

My sisters came to Kirksville this week also. This was Aunt Jodi's first time seeing Lake. They were so good with their nieces and nephew. Aunt Julie (on the right) came to see us before she enters the monastery in November. I am really proud of her that she is following her life calling, although I am sad that we won't see her as often. I grew up going to Catholic schools with nuns as teachers, so sometimes it is difficult for me to see her as a nun, but I know she has prayed about this decision for a long time and feels it is God's will. My brother Jeff had a bonfire and we just sat around and talked. It was nice to visit with family and recall childhood memories.

Lake with Grandma Lysle. Unbelievable that we were able to sit outside without coats on Halloween. Halloween is really busy at our house. Everyone who doesn't live in a neighborhood comes to our house to get ready, have a quick dinner and then head out for trick or treating.

Foster, Hannah, Lake and Meredith

This is sort of a random picture, but let me tell you how awesome the BUMBO is. I read a friend's blog who had their child in one of these and had my sister-in-law buy one when she was in Columbia. This is the greatest invention! I only wish it were around when Hannah and Meredith were little. Lake is ten weeks old and it allows him to sit up already. He likes to sit at the table with everyone and it has become useful when I am trying to cook. I think he likes to be able to see everything around him. It has really helped with his head control too. (note: the warning on the BUMBO is not to put it on an elevated surface, however, it appears to be very stable and I am always near by)

Remember the blog entry about Sammy "running away" and Toby being an indoor dog? Look how good he is doing. This would have never occurred when we had both dogs. He even got to go camping with us.

Just chillin in the BUMBO.
Ok, so that's it for the weekend. Now it's time for laundry and grocery shopping. Although it was very busy, I am so thankful for good weather, great friends and quality family time.

Lake meets Toby

2008-10-25T15:01:00.000-07:00

We are now down to one puppy since Meredith's puppy Sammy "ran away." Here's the short story. Hannah begged and begged for a small puppy she could hold. Josh was completely set against it. Then the big softie decided to get her a puppy and why not get one for Merdi also. So, Santa delivered two puppies to our door on Christmas Eve. We are no match for two puppies. I felt bad because they are supposed to be indoor dogs, but whenever they were together, they did nothing but play fight and chase each other around the house. It was difficult to housebreak them because they were constantly running abound and being overly hyper. I noticed that neither girl was playing with their dog, so we decided to look for a new home for Sammy. I had a friend whose mom really wanted a small lap dog and was more than happy to take Sammy. Meredith took it really well. She looked for Sammy for about 30 minutes and then all was well. Now Toby is an indoor/outdoor dog and both girls are playing with him. They call him the family dog. He has been so good and you can tell he is so much happier having human attention.

Back to Work

2008-10-17T10:18:00.000-07:00

I started back to work last week, so it has been hard to find time to post. The transition wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be though. Lake has a great babysitter, so that makes it so much easier. We have finally found a routine that seems to be working. Lake turned two months old on Sunday. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. He is starting to hold his head up for longer periods of time and always has a smile for his mom. He is still waking up during the night, but so did the girls at this age. At least it isn't every two hours anymore. The girls are still in love with him. I can't believe how much easier it has been having Hannah to help. She is the best big sister to him. When I pick him up from the babysitter he always has a big smile for her. So many people told us how hard three kids would be, but actually it hasn't been much different. The only real noticeable difference is the lack of time to be able to do personal things like blog, scrapbook, etc. Meredith is now 31/2. She is the cutest thing, but is quite the handful. Our kids never hit the terrible twos, but holy threes. Something about talking back just drives me crazy. She is also Miss Independent and wants to do things that are not possible for her to do by herself. She is really enjoying preschool. Her teacher informed Josh that she is the only child who nurses her babydolls at school. Just pulls up her shirt and pretends. I call it being resourceful. You never have to look for a bottle that way. Hannah is doing great in 2nd grade. She has a wonderful teacher and I think that makes all of the difference. She is at that age where she doesn't like any of her clothes that I pick out, yet will pick out an outfit that doesn't match at all. She doesn't like for any attention to be drawn to her in any way. Here are some pictures from the last two weeks. We'll have lots of Halloween pictures soon.

Check out this great smile!
Meredith loves her little brother!
Kitten for a day. Kind of like rent a kitten. It just

showed up in our garage, so we let Meredith play with it for a couple of hours.

Go Bulldogs!

2008-10-06T19:29:00.001-07:00

Truman's Homecoming was this past weekend. We went to the parade on Saturday. The weather was really nice. I remember homecomings past when we had on hats, gloves and coats. Nothing really new to say about the parade. Same parade pretty much every year, just a different theme. The girls really liked the bands when they came by. Something new this year was that no one could throw candy from the floats. Instead, people come by and put it in the kids bags. Kind of takes the fun out of scrambling for candy, but I understand the reasoning behind it.

Lake Turns Six Weeks

2008-10-02T13:38:00.000-07:00

Family Visit

2008-09-29T11:10:00.000-07:00

Two of my sisters came to visit this past weekend. It was so nice to see family and just be able to relax. It was also a great excuse to go shoppping and out to eat. You never realize how limited your choices are in Kirksville until you try to take others out to eat. While Ruby Tuesdays may be exciting to us, it certainly is not all of the rage in St. Louis. So of course, dinner was at Pagliai's and breakfast was at Pancake City. Might as well break out the fine china for family.

My girls worship their aunts. They always have so much fun. They make me miss being young and carefree. It's not like I can really go out and jump on the trampoline when there is laundry and dinner to cook, besides entertaining a month old baby who wants to be held at all times. They also always look so good. Highlighted hair, in-style clothes, etc. Makes me miss St. Louis.

Jamie and Julie loved holding Lake and it was nice to have a break every once in a while. I actually ate with two hands when we went out to eat. They carried the car seat for me everywhere we went. I could really do the "nanny" thing. Also got to visit some great antique stores. Hopefully this visit got the "baby urge" going with Jamie (hint, hint).

Uncle Jeff came over to visit also. He is like a human jungle gym to the girls. Poor guy never gets to just visit. He looks so cute holding Lake. He would make such an awesome dad. I just realized how bad this picture looks with the cute little purse sitting next to him. He might kill me for this one.

Seriously, no one has played this game for years, but as soon as my sisters arrive, the board games come out. Makes me feel like such an inferior mom. I read with the girls, does that count?

Hannah's New Bed

2008-09-27T18:02:00.000-07:00

Ok, so miracles do happen. Hannah has not slept in her own bed since she was born, although this is no fault of her own. Before we had kids, we always said they wouldn't sleep with us. I remember thinking our friends had strange beliefs because their kids slept with them. Then we had kids of our own and of course they slept with us. Sort of like when you go to Wal-Mart before you have kids and wonder why a mom can't handle her child who is screaming. Then you have a child of your own and understand completely. Anyway, Hannah has been begging for a loft bed. We told her she could have one when she started sleeping by herself. When Lake was born, Hannah started sleeping on the floor of our room. We thought this was a big step. Then some friends of ours offered us their loft bed because their daughter didn't like it (Thanks Bartigs!). Hannah has slept in her own bed since the loft went up. Meredith then decided that she should sleep in her own bed too. Now, you would think we would start Lake out in his own bed so we don't have this battle again, but we are gluttons for punishment I guess.

Pumpkin Patch

2008-09-23T09:25:00.000-07:00

The corn maze. It was really long and cut in
the shape of a train, which could only be seen
on an aerial shot. LaPlata is known for its train stations.

We went to the Pumpkin Patch this past weekend with our family and Josh's sister and her two kids. They had a really neat corn maze, but the kids got scared half-way through, so we took a short cut out. There was also a haystack maze, bounce house, corn cannon and hay ride. The kids had fun, but the adults realized that the pumpkin patch really is meant for entertainment of kids. It just doesn't have the same appeal anymore. 80 degree weather probably didn't help much either. The kids were pretty worn out though, which makes any event worth it.

Splish Splash

2008-09-19T14:04:00.000-07:00

It's amazing the things that change with your third child. With Hannah, we had two different types of bathtubs that could grow with you. Meredith used them second hand and poor Lake gets his sister's lap. The girls take turns holding Lake while we wash him. They want to take a bath every night just for the opportunity to hold him in the water. It just didn't seem worth the effort to buy a baby bathtub that he would outgrow in a couple of months when you have two girls who can hold him for you.

Lake Turns Three Weeks Old

2008-09-13T13:03:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that Lake is already three weeks old. Time is going by so fast. Yesterday was his actual due date, but that is hard to imagine. He is growing by leaps and bounds and is becoming so much more alert. He sleeps less and is really beginning to focus on your face when you talk or sing to him. The girls are falling more in love with him everyday. We are working on putting him down more and getting him to take a bottle now and then, so that our transition to the babysitter goes well.

Rollerblading

2008-09-10T06:55:00.000-07:00

Here's a shout out to Monica and Julie. Do you remember our rollerblading days? I doubt I could even do it anymore. When I watch Hannah, it doesn't even look fun. The streets are rough and it looks like your ankles should hurt.

Fall has hit Kirksville

2008-09-10T06:43:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it, but it looks like summer may officially be over. It has been 40 degrees the last two mornings. I had to hurry up and pull out some fall clothes. For some reason, it doesn't even seem like we had a summer. It rained for so long in June, July flew by and August was a blur. We have had so much rain lately that even the garden looks horrible. I bet I only had to water the outdoor plants, herbs and garden three times all summer (well actually Josh and Hannah did this for me). Maybe we will have a really long fall season with a short winter. Just dreaming!!!!!!!!!!!

WEBKINZ Mania

2008-09-06T16:06:00.000-07:00

My kids are obsessed with Webkinz. Hannah owns eight of them and Meredith just got her first one. For those of you fortunate enough not to have children playing with them yet, I'll give you a heads up. Webkinz are stuffed animals that come with a secret code. The secret code is entered into Webkinz World on-line. You are then responsible for feeding them and making sure they are happy and healthy. You earn/win money to buy them toys, food, clothing, etc. Each animal has a meter that tells you when they need something taken care of. Hannah is very good at taking care of hers and it keeps her busy. Meredith, on the otherhand, needs constant help, so I wind up playing. I have actually found myself logging on in the middle of the day to earn her more money or to take care of her frog. Good thing for high speed, wireless internet or we would have even more of a nightmare on our hands.

Two Weeks Old

2008-09-03T08:29:00.001-07:00

It is so hard to believe that Lake is already two weeks old. It's harder to believe that he really shouldn't be here for another ten days. He already looks so different from when he was born. I can't get enough of holding and snuggling with him. I want to savor this time with him, since I know it will go by so quickly. When I look at Hannah and Meredith, I can't believe that they were once this small. Lake really is a great baby. He barely ever cries (Josh would disagree, but he usually gets him at just the wrong time) and he is so happy when he is awake. He is awake for much longer periods of time now and is so attentive to his surroundings. Meredith and Hannah have not tired of him yet and are constantly arguing over getting to hold him. Hannah has been the biggest help with him and he just adores her.

Go Cardinals!

2008-08-31T12:26:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I know I have high hopes, but the Cardinal's still might have a Wild Card chance if they can start a winning streak with tonight's game. I have become obsessed with watching them play. Last night was tough choosing between the Cardinal's and Mizzou Football. We chose football with baseball between plays and commercials. Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick have such great stories. I'm sure Lake will join their ranks in about twenty years :)

Rick Ankiel
Ryan Ludwick

Week 1.5

2008-08-31T12:18:00.000-07:00

Lake has already grown so much in the first week. We had our one week doctor's appointment and he has actually gained weight (8.1). He was 75%ile for height, 50%ile for weight and 14%ile for head circumference. He is truly Josh's kid!

First Day of School

2008-08-31T12:14:00.000-07:00

Meredith started preschool this year. She loves packing her lunchbox and carrying her (empty) backpack.

Witch Hands

2008-08-31T12:06:00.000-07:00

Do you remember doing this when you were a kid? The girls thought it was the greatest thing. Now we can't get them to eat Bugles without them doing it.

David Janes (my brother-in-law) wins race!

2008-08-27T09:37:00.000-07:00

NORWALK, OH (Aug. 23, 2008) — Thousands of American Drag Racing League (ADRL) fans swarmed the starting-line area at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, for a raucous celebration of winners Frankie Taylor, Shannon Jenkins, David Janes and Billy Vose in the 2nd annual ADRL Gatorz Ohio Drags. Check out this link to view the race: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuYDUufHQSQ

More Baby Pictures

2008-08-26T08:11:00.002-07:00

Lake has been such a good baby so far. He loves to sleep and snuggle. I think sleeping may be his way of hiding from his sisters who pass him around like a football.

Baby Pictures

2008-08-26T07:47:00.000-07:00

Meredith loves to hold Lake, although she
won't talk to him if anyone is around.

Getting ready to go home from the hospital.
How is it that no matter how much you plan
the "coming home outfit" it never fits?

Lake has had enough!

This babysitting stuff sure is tiring.

Lake Jerome Meyer

2008-08-20T10:13:00.000-07:00

Lake Jerome Meyer was born on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 weighing 7 lbs 6 oz and 22 inches in length.

Beach Ottumwa

2008-08-07T19:26:00.001-07:00

Some friends of ours invited us to Beach Ottumwa this week. Hannah had such a great time. She could have probably kept going for a couple more hours, but the adults were getting tired and had gotten plenty of sun.

35 weeks and counting

2008-08-07T19:23:00.001-07:00

The countdown has begun. We have about thirty-five days left to go. I can tell Josh and the kids are getting more and more anxious. I, on the other hand, realize we still have a lot to do before baby's arrival.

33 1/2 weeks pregnant

2008-07-28T14:50:00.000-07:00

For those of my friends who say I haven't been sharing pregnancy pictures, here is one of me with six weeks to go. I went to the doctor today and he is having me have another ultrasound in two weeks since the baby is presenting as large. The good news is he is head down already!

Ft. Myer's, Florida 2008

2008-07-25T19:43:00.000-07:00

We decided to take a trip to Ft. Myer's, Florida to visit the grandparents before the baby arrives. The girls loved going to the beach everyday and swimming in the pool. Grandma Jan and Grandpa John really enjoyed the time spent with the girls. Aunt Jodi and Aunt Julie were also there, so that helped make it a little more relaxing.

Haircuts

2008-07-02T17:51:00.000-07:00

Meredith has been begging to get her hair cut and Hannah wanted to be in on the action too. It was kind of sad to see all of Meredith's baby hair cut off, but it looks a lot better now. This was quite a drastic change for Hannah who wants to grow her hair down to her feet.

1000 Hills State Park

2008-07-02T17:46:00.000-07:00

It has finally been warm enough to go to the lake. The water was still a bit on the chilly side, but was ok as long as you stayed in. Hannah and Meredith loved going on the tube together. I was a nervous wreck with Meredith on the tube, but Josh kept trying to reassure me that she was fine.

Family Reunion

2008-06-23T08:41:00.000-07:00

We went to a family reunion this past weekend in Iowa. Thank you to Uncle Larry for bringing all of these great toys to keep the kids busy so the adults could visit.
This blow-up water slide may have to be our next investment. The kids loved it!

Lake Rathbun

2008-06-16T09:36:00.000-07:00

We camped at Lake Rathbun this past weekend and the girls had a lot of fun. Hannah and Meredith really enjoyed swimming and tubing behind the boat.

Meredith thought she needed to water all of the flowers (we won't tell her they are weeds).

Water Balloon Fight

2008-06-09T11:51:00.000-07:00

This is what you resort to when your air conditioner has gone out and it is 85 degrees out.

Truman State University Springtime Pictures

2008-06-05T11:30:00.000-07:00

Skating Party

2008-06-05T11:22:00.000-07:00

Hey all you Nerinx Hall alums, do you remember our all-night skates?

I would not recommend a skating party for seven year olds, unless they have actually skated before at some time.

Slip and Slide

2008-06-05T11:12:00.000-07:00

Did you even know that Slip and Slides were still around?

I forgot about all of the bruising that occurs.

Josh wasn't too thrilled about the condition of our grass once you removed the slide.

Summer Hits Kirksville

2008-06-05T11:10:00.000-07:00

It was finally warm enough to visit the pool. This is one of the neighborhood park pools, which are nice when you don't have a lot of time to check into the city pool.

KBSA Softball

2008-06-05T11:05:00.000-07:00

Hannah plays softball for the Kirksville summer league program. She really enjoys the sport and has come so far compared to last year.

Check out the homerun stance!

Looks just like Molina behind the plate. This is her favorite position to play.

Memorial Day BBQ

2008-06-05T10:59:00.000-07:00

Meredith likes the idea of fishing, but has no patience unless a fish bites immediately.

Meredith refused to touch the worms.

Hannah is quite the angler!

Ted Drewes

2008-06-05T10:49:00.000-07:00

You can't really visit St. Louis without going to Ted Drewes.

Trip to the St. Louis Zoo

2008-05-31T14:56:00.000-07:00

Hannah's favorite animal was the penguin.

The girls love their Aunt Jodi and I am so thankful she was there since Meredith was scared of every animal she saw.

This is Meredith pouting because she didn't get her way. We were stuck in the Reptile House until the severe thunderstorm had passed.

High School Musical on Ice

2008-03-19T10:13:00.000-07:00

These aren't the greatest pictures, but Hannah and I went to see High School Musical on Ice this past weekend. It was a lot of fun and I have to admit that even I was impressed. The characters aren't the real ones from the movie, but the voice overs are so good, you can barely tell.

The Pool at Fun City

2008-03-19T10:08:00.000-07:00

The girls loved the pool at Fun City. The temperature of the

water was great. This part of the pool is only one foot deep, so it was perfect for Merdi.

This is what the pool complex looks like. There was one day where the

kids stayed in here for five hours straight.

Meredith loved the water!

Hannah looked like a raisin after this day!

Spring Break Trip to Fun City

2008-03-19T10:01:00.000-07:00

The girls had a blast at Fun City. Meredith is in love with

air hockey. I think she challenged everyone in the family to

a game.

This was the funniest thing to watch. Meredith would

play this game for as long as I would allow. She never scored any

points, but thought she was a winner if it just went in and fell

over the edge.

Hannah is our little race car driver. She loved going around the track in her go-cart.

Hip Hop Camp

2008-02-11T12:07:00.000-08:00

These pictures are worth a post just for the fact that Hannah would even go to dance camp. I have begged her for several years and she always refuses. This time it was completely her idea. She learned a dance to 'lipgloss'. Hannah is in the back row with the blond ponytail.