Our charIsmatic daughter saying her bible verse

"Watch this mom"!

The last two months Kate has been into this new "Watch me or Watch this" phase. 10-20 times per day she is pulling on our arm saying this so we will watch some new trick or silly act she is working on! And if we take her to the park around slides and climbing towers we hear it even more! She makes us so nervous constantly because she is always trying to do something with a little twist to make it a little more thrilling! A couple of nights ago we were hanging out in Jeremy's office while Jeremy and I were talking and we hear Kate behind us saying, "Mommy, Daddy, Watch this"! We turn around to see her climbing up Jeremy's filing cabinet! As Jeremy is explaining to her why we don't want her to do that, she says "Ok, but I really like to do that because it is dangerous!!" We love her sense of adventure and energy. We just pray for the Lord's guidance as she grows to help her channel it all in the right direction, and in the meantime we just pray it doesn't cause a broken bone! This video is from last night at the Magic House. Just another example of Kate insisting on doing something the unconventional way! 

Kate's first time milking a cow!!

We went to Purina Farms today as a family. This was a lot of fun and is totally free which makes it even better! We took a tractor ride around the farm. We went in the two story dog and cat house and saw all kinds of cute breeds of dogs and the girls got to play with a few. Then we went into the barn where we saw lots of farm animals. The girls loved the 6 week old baby pigs that they got to play with. We finished the day with Kate milking a cow for the first time! We didn't think she would actually do it when it was her turn, but she went right up and then wanted to do it again! Maybe we should move to a farm! 

Picture's from Purina Farm

Feeding the fish (and trying to keep Anna from getting in with them!)
The baby pigs were so cute! Kate was so happy to see "Wilbur" in person!
Swinging from a rope in the barn. Kate had a blast
Playing in the corn. Good old fashioned farm fun!
They loved playing with all the dogs at Purina Farms

Stitches with a Smile

Sweet little Anna had to get two stitches in her forehead two nights ago. This was our family's first trip to the Emergency Room, so it was a little traumatizing for everyone! We had been enjoying a wonderful warm evening outside. We had just finished a fun pizza picnic that we had delivered to us outside on the playground, and the girls were running around and getting good and dirty. Anna was standing beside the swingset, where no-one was swinging, when all of the sudden a little guy ran over and pulled one of the swings back and then let it fly-right into Anna's forehead! We never saw it coming or had time to stop it. When we picked her up she was covered in blood. It looked much worse than it actually was, so it was a scary few minutes trying to figure out where the bleeding was coming from.  The hole was small but there was no doubt it would need some stitches to hold it together. Anna was amazing through all of this.  This picture just captures the essence of Anna! She almost always has a smile ready, even after getting stitches. The doctor and nurses were amazed at how pleasant and cooperative she was during the whole process at the ER. Anna just sat so still, watching everything they were doing to her, but hardly complaining. She is so cute, stitches and all!

Only Kate....

Only our little Kate who makes us laugh every day, would get into the pile of clean laundry in our bedroom when she is supposed to be taking a nap and put on layers of my exercise pants, two of her daddy's t-shirts, and my purple hoodie, before climbing back into our bed and taking her nap!! Jeremy went into the room to check on her and this is what he found! She is so funny!

Fun at the City Museum!

We had so much at the City Museum last weekend when Pops and Nana came to visit, especially Kate. She went down 20 different types of slides, some of which were almost too scary for me, she swung from a rope like tarzan, went up in a gigantic tree house, and climbed through a maze of tunnels that went really high. We couldn't believe how fearless she was. She definitely doesn't take after her daddys fear of heights! We can't wait to go back. Jeremy and I enjoyed it as much as Kate!

Watch the video below to see one of Kate's favorite slides, that at times made her go airborne, making her Nana quite nervous!

Kate's first haircut!

Well, we finally had to break down and get little Kate a hair cut. Her hair has grown SO fast this past year! But, we knew it was time when it was starting to fall in her food all the time and almost into the toilet when she uses the bathroom!! She never likes to keep it pulled back either. With summer on its way, we thought it would be a good time to lighten things up a little for her. She was excited about going and actually did pretty good, other than getting a little impatient when the lady kept making her put her head straight down (as you can see from the glare she gave her in one of the pictures below!)  Kate got to bring home a chunk of her hair in a little bag and she carried it around for 2 days showing everyone! We cut 6 inches off and it still seems really long for a little 3 year old. It looks so pretty and healthy now, and a little easier to manage.

BEFORE.......

DURING........

AFTER!!!

Fun day at the Zoo

The weather was awesome yesterday so we decided to get out and spend the day at one of our favorite places, the St. Louis Zoo!  Our friends, Amy, Avery, and Skyler came too and we all had a great time together enjoying the warm day.  We let the girls get out of their strollers a lot and they had a blast running and giggling to each exhibit.  We saw lots of animals, had a picnic in the grass by the tiger cage, and Amy and her girls got soaked getting a little too close to the penguins!

Coloring is EXHAUSTING!!!

The other day Anna was sitting on my lap and we were coloring at the kitchen table.  The next thing I know she lays her head down on the paper and closes her eyes. I waited a few seconds thinking she was just being silly and then I hear her snoring!! She didn't even budge when I took her to her crib. Coloring is hard work for a one year old!