Sisterly Love!

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Each month Julia has a reading folder that she logs what she reads for that month.  We encourage her to do a lot of chapter books and things that are appropriately challenging for her but I never argue with the desire to reread the old favorites, especially when she reads aloud to her sister.

Happy Birthday Farmer Fuzz

Matthias has been very into tractors lately so we did a farmer party for his 2nd Birthday.  

Such a yummy cake, he was so excited to see the red "Tractor Mac" on the top

Excited birthday boy!!

So thoughtful to share....

Happy Birthday Farmer Fuzz!
Its hard to believe this little boy not too long ago was this sweet baby!!

A Red Tractor fan through and through!!

Ava's injury

Just before Matthias' birthday, Ava had a terrible fall on the sidewalk leading to our apartment. She smacked her head on the sidewalk and immediately a HUGE goose egg popped out. Now we know that everyone says it is a good sign that it popped out but just to be sure ( and because it scared the living daylights out of us!) we took her to urgent care.

This is a profile shot of the the bruise.

And another ...

Brave little miss...

She was such a good girl at the doctor, and we were so blessed that she didn't need any further testing or anything. They assessed that she probably had a mild concussion but did not need to do anything more with her unless she had any changes in behavior.

We sent out texts for prayer request on our way to urgent care and we definitely felt those prayers surrounding us. We are so thankful that it wasn't any worse, just very scary!!

Oh the blackmail...

Some day this picture will be very valuable to us as his parents...
yes that is my son, wearing a tutu and playing with Strawberry Shortcake.

Homemade Applesauce

We made homemade applesauce with our friends!

Ava loves it!

Matthias loves it!

Almost everyone loves it!!


Everyone had a great time making it and eating the peels when we used the pampered chef apple corer, peeler, slicer.

Homemade Slip and Slide...in the rain!!

We have a terribly hot and dry summer in St. Louis, there was a severe drought for the majority of the summer. But Labor Day weekend we saw something we hadn't seen in months... RAIN! We were on the tail end of the effects of Hurricane Isaac. Which meant, a lot of rain, but also very warm temperatures.  One of our neighbors had the great idea of making a homemade slip and slide and bubble pool in the pouring rain! 

It was a slippery, soapy fun afternoon!

Matthias insisted that he needed his one arm floatie!

Pushing the big trucks through the mud.

Julia was brave enough to try the big slip and slide!

Matthias tried his hand and making big bubbles

Julia and her friend Karis hosing off all the soapy bubbles from the slip and slide

Ava making big bubbles...

Carefully...

Gentle...

Not quite the big bubble she was hoping for!!

I can't tell if Julia is helping Daddy hose off all the bubbles or just spraying him down!

Adding a little more bubble mixture to the slip and slide.


We had such a fun afternoon in the rain. What a great idea!
Thanks neighbors!!

Color bubble painting

We got some colored bubbles in a care package from a friend in Michigan and Ava and Matthias had a great time using it to paint pictures as well as the sidewalk one afternoon.

 

1st Trip to the Magic House

For Matthias' Birthday,  several friends and family (Koschmann's, Hoyt, Leidecker's, Huston's, and Morel's) went together to buy our family a membership to the Magic House in St. Louis. 

It is an amazing Children's Museum. The first visit was on a school day and Julia couldn't come with us, but Ava and Matthias had a great time!

Ava and Matthias working the pit-crew

Matthias was on tire duty

Ava putting away the old tires.

Next stop... the pizza kitchen! Ava is a great pizza maker.

And Matthias is an excellent eater!

Before anyone will respect you as a real doctor, you will have to stop sucking your thumb!!

Paging Dr. Troxel!!

Ava made it her own personal mission to rock and cuddle each and every baby in the nursery!

Just a little fishing trip

Matthias' favorite place in the whole museum is the water play room!  He gets good and wet and loves every minute of it!

Daddy gave Matthias a hand on the spiral staircase... it was a little tricky!


What a great birthday present. We love going to the Magic House!!

CCLS Carnival

Julia's school CCLS hosted a back to school carnival. It was a little rainy, but still a lot of fun. Julia and Ava both rode lots of rides and had a great time. We finished off the night with a little Daddy-Daughter Date on the Ferris Wheel.

Daddy and his girls on the Ferris Wheel

Watching his sisters and Daddy go 'round and 'round on the Ferris Wheel

Pray about Everything... Worry about Nothing

This is a wall "sticker" that I found this summer at Target with my dear friend Rachael. We had just finished having mommy drinks at Applebee's after a very rough week visiting them without a daddy on hand because of his summer Greek class.  Her husband Nick sensed a need for a little mommy time and offered to put all 6 of our kiddos to bed. Rachael and I were wondering Target when I saw this and we both agreed that it was the perfect reminder for the next few years at seminary. The funny twist is that I didn't buy this that night but instead said that I would buy it once I got home to St. Louis. Once I got home and looked at our Target, and a few other Targets, I regretted this decision! It took several trips and always checking but finally I found it and bought it, then it took awhile for Chris and I to take the time to put it up. And when we did, we had a hard time getting the "w" and "y" to stick so for a while it said, "Pray about everything, orr about nothing!" So glad it doesn't say that!
But now that its there, it does serve as a great reminder of where our hearts should be. We are trying to pray about everything and worry less... 'about nothing' will have to come with time!

Dude, I'm a ballerina and you are a butterfly!

Ava loves to play dress up and lately so does Matthias!

Getting Daddy ready for school

And all good things must come to an end... After a week and a half of Daddy at home it was time to get  ready for Fall Quarter,

 with a little help from a small boy!

Matthias is checking out daddy's orientation schedule

"Can I go to class with you Daddy?"

Steak and Shake

After our journey to the top of the arch we enjoyed a delicious dinner at Steak and Shake.

Ava loved decorating her Steak and Shake hat

Very Official in her hat... "can I take your order please?"

Matthias didn't keep his hat on for very long but he was very excited about driving his Steak and Shake car.

Finally the arch!!

Julia did her 1st grade social studies project on the arch and all summer was anxious to visit and make the journey to the top. Finally the last week of August we did it! She was so excited!

This is in the little elevator on the way to the top, Ava is very "scared"

A Sweet Bean and her daddy-man

Checking out the model of the Arch

Family Pic at the top of the arch

Looking to the east

Looking to the west (Seminary campus is this direction)

Checking out the view

We were way up there!!