Happy Memorial Day

Baby's first corn on the cob! Hope you enjoyed your day as much as we did!!!!

Meet Me In St. Louis

Rhonald, Cole and I packed up the car and headed to St. Louis for Memorial Day weekend. We had never spent any time there - only driving through to get to Michigan or Illinois to see family. The weather was wonderful and we had a very nice time! We went to a couple of their many children's museums but our absolute favorite place was the St. Louis Zoo! It was a great day with lots of fun animals to see and good food to eat! We had a picnic lunch and ice cream cones to help cool us off in the late morning - you can't beat that! They had a cool Children's Zoo with fountains for kids to play in, a playground with a sandbox that Cole loved and a petting zoo. Rhonald and I did not think we were ever going to get him out of the petting zoo. After his nap we took Cole swimming in the hotel pool. He was a little scared at first but quickly got used to the water and had a blast! Another highlight was hanging out in the park under the Arch in the afternoon, which was just a block from our hotel. Cole was able to run around and play while we people watched and relaxed. I think his favorite part of the whole trip was chasing the ducks around the park!!!! And the best part for us???? Cole slept every night we were there (that is a first)! We ended up coming back early due to stormy weather but do plan to go back when Cole is a little older to enjoy the things we did not get to do this time around!

A Wonderful Night At The Park

We had a fabulous time at the park on Friday night celebrating Ben Burrow's first birthday. The weather was perfect...the food was great and the company was even better. Cole had so much fun running and playing with the other kids and with us. Cole's favorite part of the party had to be the gift boxes that Emily made for the kids. Oh my goodness - Cole carried his box all night long and looked inside it at all of the goodies about 1 million times. Rhonald's parents were here and joined us as well. It was so much fun to watch Ben devour his yummy cake and open his gifts. Cole enjoyed his first hot dog - and when I say enjoyed it, I mean he thoroughly enjoyed it! The park has to be one of my favorite places to go with Cole. He loves to play there and it is so neat to watch him do new things each and every time that we go.

Cole's First Haircut

I took Cole to see Miss Kara today for his very first haircut! He did amazing! He loved sitting in the booster seat and looking at himself in the mirror. Kara was super fun with him and kept commenting on how good he was being. When Cole was born he had a curl of brown hair on the crown of his head. It was kindof like his signature - everyone commented on it and we loved it. That curl has grown so much faster than the rest of his hair. Once it began frizzing Rhonald requested that we cut it. I was sad to get his hair cut but once I did I wished I would have gotten it done a long time ago - it looks so cute! I also wish I would have gotten a before and after shot since you can't tell a big difference from the front. I was so proud of Cole today --- another example of what a big boy he is getting to be!

Happy Mother's Day

Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby... somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother,'normal' is history.

Somebody said you can't love the second child as much as you love the first... somebody doesn't have two or more children.

Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery....somebody never watched her 'baby' get on the bus for the first day of kindergarten... or college.

Somebody said a Mother can stop worrying after her child gets married...somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings.

Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home...somebody never had grandchildren.

Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her... somebody isn't a mother.

Happy Mother's Day everyone! I was thinking last night before bed that 2 years ago on Mother's Day I told my mom and Rhonald's mom we were going to have a baby! Wow - we have come a long way since then!!! I have never loved a job more than the one I have now. I feel like being a mother is what I was called to be and I cherish each and every moment (even the "not so fun" moments that come along every now and then). Being a mom has taught me so much about myself...things I could not have learned any other way. I am so thankful for those lessons and for wonderful family that I share with Rhonald and Cole. I am so proud of that little boy and adore him completely! I cannot believe he is mine and I am so thankful to be his mom!!!

Forever Friends

One of the things that Rhonald and I cherish most from our childhood is the wonderful friendships that we made. Rhonald and I are still very close with our childhood friends and we love that. I want those kind of friendships for Cole so much. Today we were able to have Ben and Emily over to play. It was a lot of fun!!! As you can see the boys enjoyed a wagon ride in the beautiful weather. They had a great lunch and played with toys while Emily and I talked and were able to catch up on "girl time." I love that Cole and Ben have known each other from day 1. I love that Emily, 20 weeks pregnant with Ben, was there the day Cole was born. I love that Cole visited Ben in the hospital the day after he born...that Ben kicked Cole from inside Emily's tummy and that they love to be together now. I love that they are making memories together without even knowing it. I cannot wait to see the trouble they get into as they get older (or maybe I can)!

Something Small

Not much to share today but a recipe! Today my friend, Kellie, and I took our boys to the park and had so much fun! We were talking about how hard it is to make sure the boys are getting the things they need to eat each day and also making sure they are eating different things every day. Who knew parenting could be so challenging sometimes?! One thing I have given Cole lately as an afternoon snack is a smoothie. He loves them! So, I thought I would share the recipe with you all in case you were also needing something "new" to give your kiddos.

in a blender combine:
blueberries
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup apple juice
1/2 banana
ice

blend it well so they can suck it through their sippy/straw cup and off you go! And it is a great way to get them to eat fruit (if that is an issue...that is all Cole would eat if we let him).