Parent's Day Out

I am writing this blog entry in hopes that people will say a little prayer for me. I enrolled the kids in a Parent's Day Out program at a local church on Tuesdays from 9-3pm. Last week was suppose to be their first day of "school," but Evan had a fever from that Sunday till Wed. and ended up having an ear infection, so I couldn't take them. So tomorrow will be their first day. I am nervous as all get out because I for some reason feel bad taking them there. I know this is a good thing for them to get out and experience and a good thing for me as well, but I am really struggling with the fact that they will be there....crying. So much to adjust to in a day: new people, no blankie when you want it, no paci (which they are definitely getting better at with just naps and car), no mommy, no snacks.
I keep telling myself at least they have each other to be with, but this is the longest they will have gone without someone other than family (or an hour at the gym; which doesn't always go so well either) watching them for an extended period of time. I do have my day set to be with two friends in the morning and then a doctor's appt. in the afternoon, but I know all day I will worry.
So, please send your prayers! I will post with an update of their first day tomorrow.

Festival of Nations

On Saturday, we took the kids to the Festival of Nations down at Tower Grove Park. This was Greg and my fourth year to go and we still love going despite the huge crowd of people and the ridiculous walk from the car to the Festival. If you have never been, it's definitely something to experience. They have about 50 food vendors and there is food from anywhere imaginable. Just to name a few, you can try: Indian, Polish, Greek, Chinese, Turkish, Afghan, Bosnian, etc. We tried a chicken with veggie on pita from the Bosnian group. It was very tasty. Leah especially liked the Baklava from there as did I. Both of the kids loved watching the dancers and people walking around. There were also some men taking bales of hay and launching them over their shoulders over a very high pole. So interesting to watch!
We checked out some vendors selling crafts, etc. and bought Evan a wooden Cobra; which the tail was broken in about 5 minutes because he got it caught in the wheel of the stroller as I was pushing. We stayed for about 3 hours and then headed back towards the car and decided to check out the ducks at the pond. It was a beautiful day outside and I am glad the kids enjoyed the festival as much as we did.

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Movin' On Up

On Thursday, the kids were able to use our bed frame to climb up on our bed; which scared me half to death because our bed is really high off of the ground. Then Friday, while getting ready for dinner, Evan climbed up his high chair and Leah had to try as well. Evan can make it up consistently. Even though Leah had difficulty and only made it up one time, we decided it was time to retire the high chairs. Gosh, my babies are growing up.

Evan sitting in his big boy booster seat at the table.

Leah sitting in her big girl booster seat at the table.

Jump Up, Jump Up & Get Down

Evan and Leah have been getting better and better at their jumping skills. They are actually getting their feet off of the ground now. A couple of weeks ago, all Leah could do was bend down really low and then stand straight up real fast and she was so proud of herself. Now, she is even more excited that she is jumping off of the ground. Gotta love Evan's hair in this video. He had only been awake for a little while.

Old Town-St. Charles

Papa & Evan looking at an airplane

Evan watching people from the gazebo

Dancing

Still dancing

Leah getting low

Still dancing

These pictures were taken 7-26, but I forgot to post them. I thought some of them were too cute, so I am posting them now.

Greg was out of town for "Guys Weekend" and my mom and dad invited the kids and I over for dinner. We took the kids to Old Town- St. Charles. The kids loved walking on the cobblestone streets, playing/dancing in the gazebo and seeing the trains by the old train station.

21 months old

{We finally got a new camera and are still figuring out the best way to take the pictures, so excuse for how blurry they are}

The kids turned 21 months on Sunday, Aug. 2nd. (the day we left for our fishing trip to Bennett Springs- blog entry to follow). Everyday it's something new with them. Evan is talking up a storm. I am really going to have to watch my sailor mouth now (also goes for Nana Billington!) because he is trying to repeat everything. The day we left for Bennett, I was in the other room packing up last minute things and heard Evan yell, "Mine!" to Leah. He has that word down pat and I am SURE that won't be the LAST time I hear it either.

Both kids are able to jump and get a little bit off of the ground. I love watching them try and jump; it's hysterical! They both are able to say the sounds of about 7-8 animals. Their new trick or fun thing to do is to sit on the couch, tell us, "Night, night" and then they bury their faces with their eyes closed. Evan even tries to make a snoring sound. Then they like to jump up and say, "AHHHH!"

Only a couple of months and we hit the "terrible two's." I believe that the terrible two's started already!!!!

One Fish, Two Fish

Sunday, Aug. 2nd, we headed down to Bennett Springs, MO for Greg's family reunion and some fishing. This was the second time the kids went to Bennett. Last year, Evan was getting his first tooth in while we were there. The kids did a great job riding in the car again. They took an hour and 15 min. nap. Ahh, silence is golden! When we finally got there, we unpacked and enjoyed the beautiful weather outside on the deck. Throughout the trip, the kids loved pushing their little toy lawn mower and wagon to the other side of the deck, loved catching bubbles-of which the adults were REALLY tired of blowing, loved throwing the ball for Wrangler to fetch, and loved playing with the sliding glass door-which let a lot of bugs inside the cabin.

We took the kids to the indoor pool at our cabin/lodge one day. The water was really cold, so they were only in there for about 10 minutes. Wednesday, we took the kids to the outdoor pool in Bennett Springs Park. They had their first experience going underwater. They both slipped and went under for a second or two. Scary for Greg and I to see, but the kids seemed okay and didn't cry.

Evan and Leah also loved feeding the fish at the hatchery and going to the playground everyday. One day, Evan decided to taste some of the fish food as well. Grossed Greg and I out more than Evan. The playground was a hit because it also had a water fountain. Evan and Leah LOVE to play with water. Needless to say, water and sweat + mulch and dirt = filthy little kids. But, it was vacation so we let them go ahead and get dirty.
Our last night there, we put the kids down around 8pm and tried to go outside and enjoy S'mores by the fire with family. However, this was the night Leah decided she was going to take about an hour and a half to try and go to sleep. So, Greg and I took turns running back upstairs to calm her down. (no fun)

Everyone seemed to do well fishing this year. The fish were running larger than normal; which makes fishing more fun when you catch a biggin!

We can't wait till the kids are old enough to go fishing with us.

Little side stories to remember about vacation: Rachel got her head pooped on by a bird while she was fishing, as well as hooked her finger with a fishing lure. Janet, Rachel's mom, also got hooked by a fishing lure while packing for the next day to go home. The lure was so far in her finger, she had to go to the ER. She was a trooper and got out there bright and early to fish again before she had to head back home. Last, but not least...It still remains a mystery who clogged the toilet downstairs after an enchilada and bean dinner (gotta have something funny happen on vacation right?)

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