An apple a day...

They say it's never to early to teach your kids to make healthy food choices. I recently joined an organic food co-op, and it was my turn to drive to Ballwin to pick up the goods for the six of us that live in the St. Charles area. Isabella and I had a fun drive out, in the midst of rush hour traffic, getting lost because I was admiring the water park right next to the parking lot I was supposed to turn into, etc, etc. She really is so fun!

So then we get back, she helps my friends get their goods in the car, and then I start putting away our bounty. Apples, romaine, squash, oh my! And of course, I have yet to learn that I can't keep the refrigerator door open. Because Speedy Gonzales will go in for the kill.

That little stinker grabbed an apple and started chowing down!

Look, ma, No Hands!!

Round the Cycle We Go

Today is officially the first day of Cycle Break. For all you traditionalists, Cycle Break is what every child in grade school around here dreams of - three straight weeks off when everyone else is in school! We live in the *only* school district in the entire state of Missouri that operates its elementary schools on a year-round school schedule, and Isabella couldn't be happier.

So not only has it only been three weeks that Isabella has lived with us full time, we now face three weeks of no school! What to do, oh, what to do.....

Well, I'm not sure about the next 14 week days, but today, Isabella has been hosting her own version of Romper Room. Sean, Ryan, and Sean's girlfriend Emma are having a blast!

I'll be honest. I have NO idea what they are doing.

...And Tween makes Five...

In case you haven't heard by now, our family grew by ONE recently! Well, technically, we've been a five-member family since December 4th of last year, but now we're "Official!"

Isabella now lives with us Full Time!! Yes, it's very exciting, we could not be happier! And, yes, it was a surprise to us all! Long, complicated story short, two Sunday evenings ago, we got a call that she wanted to move here, and two and a half hours later, she was here. The next day was still a major in-limbo day, and it wasn't until Monday night that we knew - for sure - that this was happening. Isabella started a new school on Tuesday, and our life has changed forever since then.

Gift from my dear friend Amy E.

We now have the boys sharing the nursery, and Isabella has her room back to herself upstairs. We've visited her school, met her teacher as well as some of her classmates. She has new friends, one of whom she has hung out with multiple times. She asking about getting involved in activities this year and next, and even asked me to show her where she will be going to middle school next year.

Isabella, chillin' in her updated digs.

The boys and I get her on and off the bus, she helps with dinner, goes shopping with me, and just this morning, I was quizzing her on her spelling words for her test today as we waited for the bus. It's new, exciting, crazy, chaotic, and All Good!

Our baby girl, IzzyB

Happy Birthday, America!

We had a pretty fabulous 4th of July weekend. And in some ways it started the weekend before, when my best friend from college, Kimberly, got into St. Louis with her husband Charlie. She moved to Dallas six years ago, and we rarely get to see each other. But there's more to our story than just that, as Kimberly is responsible for my marriage. You see, Kim and Trey are cousins - well, second cousins, but I've learned that in the Latta family, damn near everyone is a cousin in some way. Trey's dad, OC, aka Poppa Latta, is first cousins to Kimberly's mom, Momma Becky. So not only is Kimberly my best friend of 15 years, but she's family!

Thames & KimKim

Let's be clear, I love this woman!

Anyhoo, Trey and I met up with Kim and Charlie last Saturday, went out for drinks and a little gambling. Much alcohol was consumed. Then on Tuesday, Kim and I met up with some old co-workers - yes, we not only are best friends and family, we also worked together back at Knights! We met Beth, Cathy and Jeffrey out at the Trainwreck, and Oh Lord, I was in stitches the entire time. I forgot what a riotous crew we are when we're together! Kimberly has a picture of all of us.

So Thursday we made our way to Hannibal, where Nana Roxy was cooking up a good, old fashioned southern fried chicken dinner, complete with every fixin' you can think of, for Momma Becky and Charlie's birthdays. My arteries were reeling, but my mouth was so happy! And it was the first time Kimberly got to meet Ryan, and the first time in almost two years she saw Sean.

On Friday, Mandy and Nick, along with Baby AddieCakes and Nick's parents were in town, so we hung out at Poppa Latta's house, eating like gluttons, swimming, and letting the cousins play and get to know each other. And Friday evening, we headed out for my first Hannibal Cavemen baseball game - Hannibal now has a collegiate league, and while they lost, we had a really good time dodging the rain, telling stories and watching some great fireworks when the game was over. There was a wee bit of drinking here, too.

Addie, in the hands of a bad influence, Terry.

But the big day was Saturday - not only Independence Day, but also Ryan turned seven months old! Miss Isabella was in the parade, so we convened once again, this time on the streets of Hannibal to watch what was a really great, small town, holiday parade. Beauty queens waving from the tops of convertibles, old time cars, candy in the streets, Red, White & Blue flags waving from little kids' hands. Yes, it was Americana wrapped up in a little package!

Daddy & Sean

This picture is just too precious to me!

Izzy B, our own Miss America

Aunt Mandy and Baby Addison enjoy the festivities

After the parade, though, Trey and I packed up the boys and headed home, because we have learned over the years that the best place to be on the 4th of July is our house. We must have some pretty rich neighbors, because quite a few of them shoot off hundreds (maybe thousands?) of dollars worth of fireworks, and St. Charles County becomes aglow for hours. If you can stand the thick, sulfur-laden smoke that blankets the air, the best seat in the house is in our driveway, where we hang out with the Blake's for a night of drinking and explosives. Plus, it gave us an excuse to break in that new piece of street right in front of our driveway.

Unfortunately, this year, the rain moved in just as it was getting started, and everyone started shooting everything they had at once, and only the diehards kept going long after it started pouring. But Trey and Sean and I opted to snuggle in on the couch for some popcorn and Sean's new favorite movie, Ice Age. (Yay, no more Annie!)

Sean and his girlfriend, Emma

Here's a little video that I took, right before the rain hit. The video does not quite capture the awesomeness, but you do kind of get the war-zone feel of the evening.

So what did we do Sunday? Not much. Of anything. Oh, Trey got his panties in a wad about getting stuff done, but I smacked him around a bit and told him to do something he rarely does....Relax! We still got quite a bit around-the-house stuff done, but nothing was pressing, we didn't have to go anywhere, and we had the Blake's back over for an incredible BBQ. Man, Trey can cook a rib like nobody's business! And the lemon water and salad helped me push through that food baby I'd started to grow those few days in Hannibal. :-)

Checkout the rest of the photos from the weekend!

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

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!