Science Center

We visited the Science Center.

I was underwhelmed by it...maybe when Cole is a little older and Daddy can come along it will be more fun.

In the meantime, was NOT underwhelmed by the cuteness of my kids.

Cole dressed himself for the day.

And Maxine was her normal adorable self.

Jackpot!

We got to go to Chuck E. Cheese again - Jackpot!

We got to hang out with super fun friends; Laura, Stella, & Maria!  Jackpot!

The rides were awesome!  Jackpot!

We had friends by our side for the suspenseful parts!  Jackpot!

Big sister helping little sister - the sweetest thing ever!  Jackpot!

Killer dance moves!  Jackpot!

Super cute and sweet baby going with the flow!  Jackpot!

Tickets galore (from a machine that I still think malfunctioned to give all of these babies)!  Jackpot!

Seriously! Jackpot!

Awesome day - Jackpot!

Thanks to our WONDERFUL friends who made the day super fun!

Missouri Botanical Gardens

One of my Leave List wishes was a morning at the Botanical Gardens.

We ventured out last Wednesday morning (because of the free admission on Wednesday mornings) and readied ourselves for the fun. 

Let me preface this trip with saying that I had been in a funk...my return to work growing closer...Cole challenging me with sass and 'tude....financial woes of a leave without full pay...and oppressive heat that held us hostage inside the house with the shades drawn...

It was a VERY hot morning.  Temps in the 90s with 1,000,000% humidity - I am only slightly exaggerating.

However, the gardens were lovely.

Really lovely.

We arrived early to try to beat the heat - which meant a rushed morning.

We walked a lot to try to see it all and make it to the Japanese garden for one of my favorite sights, the koi.

Oh, the peaceful Japanese garden...The really hot, steamy Japanese garden.

All was going well enough.

Until...

Cole looked down and saw "boo-boos" (blisters) on his feet from his new shoes. (this happened as we arrived ON the bridge to view the koi)

Oh, the horror.

The screams.

The tears.

The drama.

The improvisation. 

The carseat hanging out of the bottom of the stroller.

The wrap that saved the day.

The hot, hot hike out of the gardens pushing/wearing somewhere around 65 extra pounds of human.

The white knuckles.

The a/c pumping ride home for naps.

We crossed it off of my leave list.

Moving on....

RRR

 

We are officially recyclers again.  Cole is loving it and wants to recycle EVERYTHING!  I hope to improve our "green" skills and decrease our impact on the planet so that these two lovely kiddos of mine can enjoy healthy living with their kiddos and kiddos' kiddos...and so on.

CityGarden

I absolutely love living in a small town and the feeling of safety and security that comes with it.  However, there are days that I so miss living in the city.  However, I am so grateful that we are close enough to St. Louis to take advantage of all of the free, fun, family activities that it holds. 

This venture took us to the Citygarden.  I was so impressed as it was my first visit.  The garden offers lots of art and sculpture for grown-ups and FUN waterplay for kids.  Well worth the trip for the free entertainment!

 Cole was thrilled to be able to play and get wet in his normal clothes.  I was so glad I thought ahead enough to bring sunscreen and a change of clothes (I surprised myself with the thinking ahead part!)

 Seriously, how fun does this look!?  I wanted to run through with him!

 However, Maxine and I sat and watched from the sidelines while she snacked.

 Cole did a little (creepy) people watching from close up.

 Then Max napped in her stroller while we followed Cole around.

 Cole loved the Pinnochio statue!

I may have had to drag him away....but I promised him another visit!

May 24 {to-do}

My to-do list today was sizable!  And checked off for the most part by 10 am!

• Paint Maxine's changing table & accessories
• Sort through Cole's clothes to get rid of too small clothes
• Clean toilets
• Walmart
• Cole haircut (and following bath to remedy the itchies)
• Get paintings from basement - paint frames
• Cut fruit & veggies (there were tons in the fridge just waiting!)
• Hang things in Max's room
• Finish Max's room!

So, it may not seem that big....but, I did all of these things while caring and feeding for two children (and myself).

Here's the finished product for Maxine's room, all girled up!

I made these using modge podge, Amy Butler fabric, some hemp twine, and stretched canvas.

I made these using the Amy Butler fabric (a quilter's pack), wooden letters, and modge podge.

Derek hung her shelf and I strung some colored twine with clothespins for an "inspiration wall."

Maxine's crib...which before was Cole's crib...which before that was Derek's crib.  Same bedding as Cole.

more of my homemade "art"

painting by Barbara Keith - Derek's dad's first wife's mother (clear enough?!), frame painted to coordinate with changing table and other accessories in the room.

changing table painted for some color & personality.  Wall decal ordered from amazon, super cheap.

with adorable girl, comes adorable girl stuff, accessories, hooter hiders, wraps & slings, diaper bags, etc...  Birdie hooks keep things organized behind the door.

I had so much fun decorating to make Max's room girlie!  Turns out the decor is almost as fun as the clothing for girls!

May 19 {magic}

Today's adventures took us to the Magic House.  

But first, I had my 6-week postpartum OB visit.  There's a first time for everything...like nursing a baby during a vaginal exam while your three year old narrates what the doctor is doing (with a giggle, "he's looking at your butt!").  That brought us to some questions (again) about how babies come into the world.  Cole played his new favorite game of *follow-everything-mom-says-with-'why?'-and-see-how-many-'why?'s-it-takes-her-to-snap*.  After lots of maybe-too-honest answers, I told him that babies are made with love and magic.  I thought about my answer for a while and decided it was so true.

Then we had our picnic lunch in the car and proceeded to the Magic House.  Maxine rode out the day in her wrap with a little discreet nursing when she needed it while Cole explored.  He made me so proud, exploring independently and being respectful of the other Magic House guests.  I am proud to be his mom every single day, but today I loved seeing him be him. 

Lots of fun.

Cole visited the Magic House in March with his class and came home talking about the mouse door for days.  He was thrilled to find it again today!

Lots of fine motor work.

Lots of learning.  

Lots of pride (for mama).

May 13 {Outings}

 Today was a busy one!  

Cole, Maxine, and I started the day at the zoo. 

 After we checked in on the goats and friends, we went to Adapt to visit my coworkers, show off Little Miss Maxine, and pick up a new and functional phone for me.  Maxine got lots of snuggles from my work friends and Cole had fun playing (and eating Coldstone).  He told me many times before we went that he didn't want to go to "wuwk."  However, I think he changed his tune about work with the fun he had. (PS - I love my coworkers!)

Next we visited Daddy at work and took him out to lunch at his favorite place, Hon's Wok.  Cole and Maxine met Hon himself.  Future customers, I am sure!

That makes for a busy morning for our crew - But a fun one for sure!

May 12 {Projects}

Today we realized that Maxine has a cold.  

This was likely the cause of the coughing/choking spell yesterday.  

With snotty baby, we spent the day inside.  

Mission *girlify Maxine's room* lead me to my project!

I really like to be crafty but often find myself starting lots of projects, not so much finishing any.

I am thrilled with how these letters turned out.

It was time consuming, but fun!

I have a few more ideas/projects up my sleeve!

Hopefully I can keep some momentum...