Scooter ridin' to school

Apparently everyone in our neighborhood either rides a bike or scooter to school. I've seen several moms riding their own scooters with their kids. Jack has thoroughly enjoyed the little bit of independence he has been granted as scooter-ridin' is a big honkin' deal.

As you can see, it's serious business, too.

This day, he rode all the way through the houses and in the grass to our house.

I just love this picture (but not the dumpster). Too bad I can't photo shop it out. Not-a-care-in-the-world-look on his face.

" You see how cool I am with my scooter (that's too small for me now), I get to ride this thang to school and my mom doesn't care..."

Introduction to Basketball

Jack has never played an organized sport. I decided it was time to get going with sports, figure out what he is most interested in and just do it. I signed him up for, "introduction to basketball" at the YMCA. Today was his first class and he loved it. He was enthusiastic, didn't stop moving and working hard the entire lesson. I took a gazillion pictures and couldn't narrow it down more than I did below.

He's got great form here. He said that he made three baskets during the lesson, but the goal was so high, I just don't know about three? I did see one go in.

I LOVE this facial expression here. He's looking at those girls like, "what are you doing here?".

Ben never misses out on an opportunity to make himself comfortable while taking in the show.

Lots of dribbling and bounce passing.

Not even close.

I love how he sat down on his ball, just like the teacher.

Getting Outside - finally!

We have been stir-crazy inside the last three to four weeks. The heat has been unbearable. I figured out our sprinkler system and decided the boys needed a little water fun and exercise. They ran and ran and ran for the entire 36 minutes (each section is on a timer).


We had two inflatable balls and the game was, shove-the-ball-as-close-the-sprinkler-base as you can. Everything with boys has to be rough, has to be physical and must be loud.

Back to the shoving game.

What would happen if I step on the sprinkler - even though mommy has told me one thousand times not to?

Jack hurt his foot. He got over it.

Ben is a tired mess. Look at those legs and face!

Oh, how I know and love this facial expression.

I just want to reach out and pick that grass off his face.

Drying off and laughing at each other. I just love it when they love each other.

Helicopter overhead.

Worn out and happy. Good idea, mom!

Hello Lexington!

I've been in Lexington over a month, but just getting around to posting any pictures of my house. It's almost pointless as nothing in the photos is ours. Not the patio furniture or the Adirondack chairs. Nothing. These are shots taken, (by Sam) of the walk through before he closed on the house at the bank. I was not there and I'm not sure why he only took photos of the one room and outdoors. I don't know! Anyway, this is our new abode and we are really enjoying it. Jack has a little guy behind us that is 5 years old, Eric. So far, Ben hasn't met anyone (but he sure likes Eric). We joined the YMCA just a 2 minute drive away. We are carrying on our life here almost exactly as we were in Illinois.


I will post more pictures of the house as we have it and with more rooms. This is what I have to work with right now; previous owner's possessions.

The eat-in part of the great room.
Our gigantor refrigerator and kitchen/family room.

Screened-in porch (and we kept the TV - so that is ours now).

More porch.

Just outside the porch is a patio. Those windows go to the great room with the big fridge.

Patio steps and aforementioned windows.

More pictures to come....one day!

Goodbye Belleville

The last weekend we were together as a family in Belleville, we had a pizza and ice-cream social with our neighbors. It was so fantastic. The kids played together, going from one yard to the other. The adults, well, we sat in the shade. My friend Mary organized the ice-scream social and provided everything. I felt very loved-on by my friends. I never thought I'd say that I miss Illinois, but I do. The old book club girls and I went out for a margarita after the festivities.

Cypress Knoll Court is where Sam and I have resided the longest in our marriage. Plus, you know, we had Ben there, too. Most of the pictures I took of the kids were too bright and deleted, I'm sad to say.


Jack and Ben at Matt and Rachel's.

Sam helping himself to pizza.

Peter and Mary

Dos Gorditos time! Amy and Mary.

Amy, Mary, me and Melissa.

Jack turns 6 years old!

It's hard to fathom that I have a six-year-old. I feel like I was just in labor for 21 hours just last year. Jack has been a trooper, adjusting to a new house, our sometimes boring, summer routine. He has made a new friend, Eric, who lives right behind us. For his actual birth day, we went to see "Cars 2", just he and I. He had a happy meal for dinner (his choice). The following Saturday, we had his "party" of two cousins and his new friend, Eric, at Monkey Joes. Bouncy houses = happy Jack!

Before the movie with his ear protection.
Opening presents at his after-monkey-joe-party.

Checkin' it all out.

He wanted a cookie-cake, and that's what he got. Star Wars everything!

All the boys enjoying their pizza and "cake".

Ben sitting outside with the bigger boys.

Memom and Ben.

Waiting on his piece of cake.

My handsome 6-year-old Jack. Just as precious and beautiful on the inside as he is on the outside. He's a wonderful big brother (most days), he loves Star Wars and scooby doo, pizza lunchables, chicken nuggets and anything chocolate. He says he wants to marry a chocolate covered girl.

He also claims he wants to marry his momma!