Six Years Ago Today...

You know, I had hoped last year I would write a big, sappy letter to my husband, but it didn't so much work out that way.  The end of our fifth year, and large parts of our sixth year as a married couple were difficult.  But what is amazing is that when you fight for something with all you have, you are duly rewarded.  I can honestly say that today, six years after saying "I do!" on the beach in Key West, I love my husband more than I ever imagined possible, and I know, without doubt, that he feels the same way.

So here's to six amazing years, my love.  We lived a blessed life!

Happy Birthday, Baby Boxer Girl!

A BIG happy birthday to the best pooch around!  Our Sophie is FIVE years old today!  We rescued her from St. Louis Boxer Rescue when she was six months old.  This is how she looked the day they brought her to our house to meet her.  

And here she is now!

As you can see, she leads a very rough life these days! But one thing I have noticed about this blog - I spend every single day with this pooch, much like the boys, home, alone, and yet she is rarely featured in the blog.  I will have to change that.  Lord knows, she creates plenty to write about!  =)

A Birthday Kind of Weekend

You should all know by now that April and May are crazy for us.  It's Birthday Central for the Latta family - at least 2/3 of ALL of our family was born in these two months!  And with accommodating Isabella's mom's family, we frequently have to rearrange weekends and celebrate birthdays and holiday unconventionally - such is life, we've learned to roll!

So this year, in order to have a cool shindig for both Sean and Isabella, we did a combo party!  Could have been a disaster and mass chaos, but instead it was awesome, and I owe it all to our awesome kids!  Sean and Isabella loved partying together, no one got upset, no one begged for more spotlight time, they loved helping each other out.  Most of that comes from the incredible big sister, Isabella!

How do you celebrate a 10 year old girl and a three year old boy?  With a Fiesta, of course!  Our guests this year were Grammy, Poppa Latta & Roxy, Grandma Fran & Papa Z, Grandpa Phil & Oma Annie; Aunt Jessica came in from Memphis; our neighbors, The Blakes (sans a sick Joe); Isabella's friend Kirsten; and our good friends, The Caylors.  

FIESTA!

Grandma & Papa Z

GiGi & Baby Ryan

Oma Annie & Baby Ryan

Baby Amerra's getting so big!

We chowed down on yummy BBQ & Fiesta fare!

Poppa, you have a little chili pepper on your face.  =)

The Buffet Line

Birthday Girl Isabella

Ms. Hope

Sean & Kirsten

The kiddos opened their many presents - we have such amazing friends and family!  Thank you ALL for being a part of such a fun and wonderful day!

Lil brother & Big sister helping each other out!

SMILE!

Sean's new favorite noise maker!

Isabella got a new American Girl doll from Grammy!

New bikes from Mom & Dad!

Then we headed outside to beat up on a defenseless pinata - of which I took not one single photo, apparently!  I did, however, nab some great photos of Isabella taking advantage of her sleeping Poppa!  Everyone needs a nice Mani every once in awhile!

Which is his best color?

And then we dug into some great birthday cake and ice cream!

"Happy Birthday to You!"

Aunt Jess

Sean would like you to SEE how great his cake is!

Ryan getting his first taste of cake & icing!

Hope, Isabella, Kirsten & Emma

Happy Belated Birthday, Grammy!

Yesterday was Grammy's birthday - so sorry, didn't even make it to the blog yesterday!  We can't wait to see you tonight to celebrate!  Love You!

Grammy, Isabella & Sean

Grammy & Ryan

Reflections on Three Years

Dearest Sean,

This past week you turned three years old.  And Momma is in full-on realization that you are no longer a baby.  Oh, you will always be Momma's Baby Boy, my first born, with you from start to finish.  But you are so much your own person now - so sweet, thoughtful, funny, silly, goofy, quiet, shy, laid-back, athletic, not to mention more handsome than I could have ever imagined!  With your big brown eyes and big smile, and your curly, moppy hair and tall, slender body, you are the perfect mix of your Mommy and Daddy.  You are such a complete joy to have in my life, and what an amazing three year journey we have enjoyed together.  

I can see so much of me in you - shy, reserved, fearful.  I hope you do not let these traits hold you back, that you reach for all you desire without fear of failure.  Momma will be right there behind you no matter what.  

But make no doubt about it, little boy, you will go far in this world.  Your charm and sweetness are unmatched, you give love so freely and easily, no amount of "things" you can acquire in this world will match the joy you will bring to all those around you.  

I look forward to cracking more jokes with you, investigating the world together, being your jungle gym, your snuggle bunny, your storyteller, and your guide in this life.  

I love you now and forever, from the bottom of my heart and with all that I have.

Love,

Your grateful Mommy

10 Days Old

1 Year Old

2 Years Old

3 Years Old

Prayers for an Angel

My friend Angie introduced my playgroup to the story of Kayleigh, born 3 months premature last June - and her fight to live ever since, never leaving the hospital, never leaving the tubes and wires that kept her alive.  

Kayleigh lost her fight this week.  Please say a prayer for her and her family.  This is Kayleigh's story.  The letter from her Daddy to his daughter is the most moving thing I've read in a very long time.

Where'd my Little Guy go?

Oh, there he is!

Birthday, Part II

We met up with a bunch of family in Hannibal last night for Isabella's 10th birthday - Grammy, Poppa Latta & Nana Roxy, Aunt Jan, Jonna & Mason, and Uncle Jim all came out to Fiddlesticks for some yummy food and silly times.  

Sissy & Sean celebrating!

This was a great pic of Aunt Jan and Ryan...and then Trey moved....

Sean just loved playing Sissy's musical card...over and over and over...

The next two pictures are what happens when you give Trey the camera.

Wha..?

Uncle Jim, up close and personal

Grammy with two of her babies!

That Isabella's so silly!  Just like her Daddy!

All the partying wore Ryan out.

Happy Birthday, Isabella!

Today our baby girl is 10 years old!  We're going up to Hannibal this afternoon to take her out to dinner, but two weekends ago was her time to celebrate however she wanted. 

So the five of us, plus neighbor Emma, headed into the city for Isabella's day of fun - first stop, Crown Candy Kitchen, an awesome little soda shoppe that makes their own candy, serves awesome shakes & malts, and a mean BLT!  It's truly one of a kind, just bring some patience, as they have a tiny dining area, and the wait line usually runs out onto the sidewalk.

Isabella in the doorway of Crown Candy Kitchen.  Yummy!

Sean & Emma - aren't they just too cute!

Still waiting for a table, but Dad's a good place to rest.

Sean, Emma & Isabella - I love this pic, you guys are Too cute!

Emma & Isabella

Wondering where Ryan went?  

Um, that'd be under the table!  

After Crown Candy, we headed to the Science Center.  A very cool place, and apparently the nice weather sent everyone over to the Zoo, because it wasn't crazy like we were expecting.  Only Sean was crazy - he had a 45 minute meltdown in the middle of the museum.  Seriously.  He's only done this twice in his life, but it was no less traumatizing to Momma!  

Luckily, the girls were complete troopers, and eventually got Sean back into having fun.  Isabella is an incredible big sister - she helped Sean and Emma out when they needed it, showed them how things worked, played right along side them.  Except for the full-body meltdown, it was an awesome time with all the kids!  

When we got home, another of Isabella's friends, Kirsten, joined us for dinner, and we watched Marley & Me after the boys went to bed (and the two adults and two kids bawled like little girls - at least they are little girls!).  The next morning, we made our usual big Sunday breakfast - Trey helped the little ones, Emma and Sean, and I helped the big girls!  Trey and I momentarily wondered why we weren't having more children, as it was such a picture-perfect morning.  Then we remembered Sean's meltdown from the previous day, and we decided we're perfectly happy with the brood we have!  

So have a great day, Isabella, and we'll see you tonight!  And 11 days to the big birthday party!  We Love You!

Easter 2009

Even with staying home this year, Easter was still spread out over more than one weekend.  This was actually our year to be in Hannibal with Isabella, but as is common, our plans change to go with the flow.  So the weekend before Easter, we colored eggs with Grammy and Isabella, along with a small birthday dinner and cake for Trey.

Sean and Isabella ready to dye!

But don't worry about Ryan having to sit things out, he had a great time posing for the camera!

The next weekend, Ryan and Sean opened their Easter baskets from the Grandmas, getting lots of good stuff.  Grammy came in for the weekend, and on Saturday afternoon, we headed out to O'Fallon for an Easter egg hunt at TR Hughes ballpark.  And so did a few thousand other people!  It was packed, but luckily we had more adults than kids, and we had a great time!

Sean waiting to get some eggs!

See the man and woman behind Trey?  We know them.  Really well.  They're good friends.  We had NO idea they were there until later, when reviewing the pictures - that's how crowded and crazy it was!

Sean demonstrating his wicked (left-handed!) curve ball.

Later that evening, we dyed more eggs, and at this point, Sean was feeling like a pro.  Trey tried his hand at tye-dying some paper towels, and we managed to get egg dye all over the place.

How can you not love that crooked little smile?

The egg loot, on a piece of Trey's artwork.

The next morning, the Easter bunny came, leaving baskets for each of the kiddos!  Yay!  We had an egg hunt both inside and outside.  

Grammy & Sean, before diving into the baskets.

Sean finds one of the golden eggs - i.e. the money eggs!

Daddy & Sean playing with Daddy's new favorite toy, racing motorcycles!  

Daddy helping Ryan open his first Easter basket.

Sean with one of the hidden goodies outside the house.

After resting a bit, we headed over to Grandpa Phil's and Oma Annie's for an Easter feast of....Corned Beef and Cabbage!  We also had another Easter egg hunt, but Sean was no where near tiring of these silly little scavenger hunts.  He loved it!

The egg hunting pro.

Ryan is mesmerized by the toy egg.

Sean got to turn each egg in for a small treat - one egg turned into a huge coloring book!

....which was fun for both Dad and kid!

We didn't see Isabella again for two more weeks, but she was finally able to open her baskets last weekend.  Holiday are always harder when the five of us can't be together, but we all had a wonderful time regardless!