Watch out Beckham...

...there is a new soccer star in town! Quinn played her first soccer game the other night, and had so much fun! We got beat a million to zero, but her team had a great time. Her coaches are Mark and Josh and her friends Kate and Sara Rodgers are on the team. Big Daddy and Gimmie came, and Tyndale LOVED walking around in the grass with Gimmie. Quinn was hesitant to get near the ball very much (probably a good human instinct...not wanting to get bulldozed!), but I'm sure the more she plays the more confident she will be about it. She was even the goalie a few times! (And yes, a totally different sport, but did you see what number she is? 5! Just like Pujols!)

Quinn's half-birthday

Our big girl is officially 4 1/2!! We celebrated her half-birthday with cupcakes and a tie-die/tattoo craft that she picked out (as you can see in the pictures....ALL over her hands). The tie die shirt turned out really cute...I'll post a picture of her wearing it soon.

Tyndale's new cry

One thing that we have been laughing about for a few weeks now is Tyndale's new "fake cry." (Where do they learn this stuff?) Here is a picture of the face he makes when he is

doing it, and there is an accompanying whine that sounds like "ayahhhh." The funniest part of the whine/wrinkled nose/squinty eye fake cry...is that our always happy boy looks like he is actually smiling! Makes us laugh every time.

why?

You have got to love the innocently questioning mind that comes with a 4 year-old! (actually, 4 and a half today! We celebrated Q's half-birthday with a half cupcake...the top half, with all the frosting...and singing half of happy birthday, and a tie-dye craft that she picked out today) She always asks the funniest questions, and I have to get better about writing them down! Earlier today there was a girl on tv who had a shaved head and she asked..."mama, why is she naked on top?" too funny. Well, that would have been enough for today, but just now as we were brushing teeth and getting ready for bed she asked why boys don't have to wipe after they go potty. Ummmm......what would you say?? I told her to ask daddy, because I didn't know...sorry Brad. He was intent on providing a correct answer, all the while trying to gloss over the whole anatomy thing....so funny, I wish you could have all been here to hear it!

My Baby Deer

Here is a post for my Blue-Boy loving, Daddy imitating, smiling, slobbering, laughing, water splashing, growling, dancing to rap, five-tooth having, sweaty sleeper, sister following, toilet-bowl playing, sand eating, snuggly baby boy. The days go by too fast.

Tyndale...walking!!

Just a few days after his 10 month birthday, Tyndale is learning to walk!

August Beach Trip

We had a wonderful beach vacation in Gulf Shores last week. It was absolutely beautiful, with the temperature in the 80s for most of the week, and only one rainy day. It was paradise! Quinn and Tyndale spent a ton of time on the beach. Quinn caught fish, crabs, mussels, and found beautiful shells. Tyndale mostly tried to eat sand and walk directly into the waves! Quinn and Tyndale both had fun hanging out with their cousins, Violet and James. The rest of the family enjoyed our usual beach activities...swimming, fishing, bocce, hearts, cold beverages and smack talk!

Tyndale and Big Daddy playing on the porch at sunset.


James and Tyndale in their baby pool on the beach. This was just about the only time they were on the beach that they were not ingesting handfuls of sand.

Quinn on one of the many beautiful beach days we enjoyed.

Gimmie-san made us a sushi lunch one day...a feeding frenzy was the result!

Resting after lunch.

Exchange Club Fair

The Exchange Club held it's yearly fair this week to celebrate the kids getting back to school. It was hot, as usual, but just as fun as in years past. We even rode some new rides this year: the tilt-a-whirl, and Quinn's favorite, the roller coaster.

Tyndale's favorite toy

Thought it would be something a little more exciting, huh? Well, just goes to show you that you can have as many baby toys as can fit in your house and THIS is the thing that a baby will not put down!! Seriously, he has it in his hands or mouth ALL the time. Courtesy of Aunt Lindy (as a gift to Quinn to fill up her play kitchen) it is a fake can of rolls...the paper that used to have a cute little picture of rolls on it was probably chewed off by the same little boy that holds this toy so dear. So thank you, Aunt Lindy!

All I really needed to know.....

...I learned in Preschool! Quinn's new teacher came across the hall to get me because she had never seen the sink in her kitchen area used in this way! She said they washed Quinn's hair first, then took turns. Love it!



Here is Quinn's new teacher, Mrs. Theresa. She is wonderful and I know firsthand, because she teaches at my school, Mamie Martin! Quinn had a great first day. She met a gerbil that lives in the 1st grade classroom down the hall, and she got to see Mama a lot! I mentioned before that I am right across the hall, so it should make for a very interesting school year for both of us.

St. Louis Trip

Brad and I on our way to the Cardinal game vs. the Astros. All of the adults had a night out at the ballpark sans little ones and it was so fun! We even captured Mom's rendition of Take Me Out to the Ballgame...hilarious! If I can figure out how to download it from Eric's web storage page, I will put it up here.

Here is the whole gang at the game, minus Dad. The guy taking the picture cut him out for some reason. Maybe he heard Mom's ballgame song, and decided that Dad couldn't possibly be with our crew!

Next stop: Grant's Farm, owned by the Anheuser Busch Company (which was bought by Embev over a year ago, so we are not sure how much longer the new company will hold on to this gem). It opened in 1954, and Dad and I realized that our family has been coming here since before 1973. I have so many good memories of Grant's Farm, and I hope that our kids will too.

Lindy and Tyndale in the Biergarten.

Tyndale hanging with the big guys..note that he is drinking formula instead of the requisite beer. It is Anheuser Busch, after all!

Tyndale and Quinn getting ready for lunch in the Biergarten.




Gee and Quinn looking at the Clydesdales. There were real ones there too...even a few babies!







Brad and I in the Biergarten area.

Here are Quinn, Hadley, and Meme (can you spot her?) on the new carousel at Grant's Farm. The operator was telling me that the dragon was so big and intricate that it alone cost 12,000 dollars.









Quinn feeding the goats. This year one chewed through the back of her shirt!






Quinn and Hadley tending to the goats, grooming and feeding.









The kids making wishes at the fountain in the Biergarten.





Aunt Lindy and Uncle Eric in dowtown StL with Tyndale.

The crew outside of our favorite restaurant, Charlie Gitto's.


Quinn looking at the Arch from our hotel room windows.












Mom and Tyndale enjoying the Cards vs. Astros game.

Hadley, Lauren, Quinn and Emily at the game. Unfortunately, the rally caps were in vain and we lost that game (but had a good time doing it!).

Family picture in front of the Arch.