Swimming & Relaxing - the June Birthday Party

That same day, we all went to Joanie & Tim's house to swim & hang out. Their house is perfect for the kids - pool, playground with grass, and a bouncer! Basically, the kids played for 8 hours & the adults relaxed & periodically fed them. Thanks Joanie & Tim for feeding us all day long!

Rosie & Jo on the bouncer!
Jacob, Anna & Alison swimming like little fish!
Janet & Greg (birthday boy & girl) - I'm missing Tim Decker - it was his birthday too!
My brother Greg & Rosie bouncing! He is still a little boy.

Race for the Cure

70,000 people - that's amazing! I think we are becoming the biggest race in the nation now. Someone told me that, so I hope that fact is correct. My mom is a survivor, and my sister Mary, is the organizer of the event for our family. Mary, thank you! As Rosie said, "It is so great that we do these events together." The grandkids really like being together. They will miss ball games, playdates, parties to come to the family gatherings.

We all come out to celebrate 33 years of my mom being cancer free, and of course, to help find a cure. My mom was only 37 years old when she was diagnosed, and she never once thought she wouldn't beat it. I was very young, and all I remember is Mrs. Brown (see pic below) coming over & taking our sheets off our bed & washing them. I also remember visiting my mom in the hospital, and she had her hair cut really short. She decided it was time for a change, but I remember not recognizing her at first. 6 children, and Joanie & I were under 5 years old. My mother is amazing!

My mom with her best friend, Mrs. Rosemary Brown. Both survivors for more than 20 years!

Mom & Dad with their three daughters (who is that little girl by my legs?)

My silly Dad with his grandkids (sans Adam).

Rosie, Anna, Jo & me

Joanie, Alison & Wil (being shy boy)

Mary & Caty (great pic!)

Greg, Kay & Jacob (Jacob really loves getting his picture taken!)

Janet & Rachel

Joanie & Rachel made the T-shirts for the walk, so all the kids had their names plus their age! Thanks Joanie & Rachel - we loved them!!

Enough said....

It's a jungle out there!

That's the name of the muscial that Rosie & Anna were in at the end of the 1st session of SummerQuest. First of all, 2 weeks flew by! It was super cute, and I was very impressed with Rosie's class. Great singing & darn good acting!

Anna's Play

Anna with her new friends acting as an elephant in their play.
The whole class (Anna is far right).
The kindergarten "elephants" are singing now.....

Rosie's Play

Rosie saying her lines during the play.
Rosie & her whole class singing. Rosie as an "elephant."

I'm so proud of them - most of all Anna because she did not know ANYONE at SummerQuest. She has made friends quickly, and I know it is hard for her. Now, all the girls run up to her when she comes every morning, and I am so happy that she acclimated to this program. She is also swimming so much better and can't wait to show me her backstroke on Saturday at the pool.

Funny things about Jo

I don't want to forget some of these funny things that happen every day with Jo & Rosie & Anna. Jo thinks she is the only one who gets hugs & kisses from Mom & Dad. If I am hugging Rosie or Anna, Jo comes running over & pushes them off me. Of course, this makes Rosie & Anna hug me more to get Jo mad. We think it is funny but it only makes Jo madder.
I just found out at her daycare that she is as stubborn there as at home - not that I'm surprised. If she does not get her way, she lets everyone know. They do the same thing as us - ignore her so she doesn't think that tantrums work.
About a month ago, Jo climbed the ladder to the top bunk of Rosie & Anna's bunk beds! She has it mastered now & does it too fast for me. Once she is on the top bunk, she runs around the bed & laughs her head off. About that same time, Jo was downstairs with me while I was doing laundry. She was happily playing, so I was focused on the laundry & not keeping a close eye on her. Well, I hear Jo saying something to me & I thought "that sounds like she is at the top of the stairs." Sure enough, she climbed the entire stairs & was standing at the top yelling at me.
She is something else - she is my "boy" that I will never have! Ha Ha!
I also have to get a picture of her waving - we call it her Queen Elizabeth wave. Daycare loves it as she waves to everyone if they come in the room or leave the room. Jo definitely has a personality!

I love nights like these.....

We took a ride up to Walgreens & around the neighborhood.
Pete helping Anna ride on 2 wheels - she almost has it! Good try Anna!
Jo & Anna waiting to go - most of the time Jo is trying to get out of the stroller & get down! She is a mover - not the least bit lazy like Anna & Rosie used to be - they loved to be pushed in the stroller! Pretty funny!

I love that we left the dirty dishes on the table & walked out the door. It was a gorgeous evening, too nice to stay inside. We stayed out until 8:15 and then I had to get Jo to bed - it was WAY past her bedtime. We paid for it also - she did not sleep well last night. Oh well.....

Happy Father's Day to my Dad & to Pete!

I love you both very much, and I think that both of you are amazing fathers. I knew I would find a man who was like my father - caring, loving, understanding, dedicated & loves me even with all my quirks. When I think of my dad, I think of someone who researches everything in great detail (that's where I get my detail-orientedness), offers his advice (which is usually very GOOD advice), so very very very very very proud of his family, loves his grandkids, so darn silly (right now I am thinking of him dancing around trying to get the little ones to laugh), loves & respects his wife (my awesome mom) so much, a great soccer player & all-around good athlete, and a devout Catholic. There are so many things to say about my dad and so many good memories. I hope we have many many years ahead of us with him & my mom. I love you Dad!

Pete went on his annual Sigma Phi Epsilon (college fraternity) golf tournament on Saturday, and today we just hung out at home. We actually did chores, but I don't think either of us minded it too much. We are having a delicious bbq meal tonight and plan on taking a family bike ride after dinner. I'm sure it will involve a stop at the local ice creamery!

Yesterday, we had another awesome softball game against Immocalata. Rosie caught a pop fly, and I think she was in shock that she caught it. I wish I had a pic of her face, but alas, I was in coach mode & did not have a camera hanging around my wrist! I am writing it down now, so I won't forget how excited the whole team (& me most of all) were of the out! All those pop flies paid off!!!

Our friends, the Graning's, took care of Jo, while I coached. Taylor is in Anna's class, so then I took her with my 3 girls to the pool. It was a perfect day for the pool plus we were so hot from the game. After the pool, we grabbed San Sai (Japanese Grill) for dinner & brought it to Florissant to celebrate Father's Day with my Dad. We introduced them to San Sai & now they love it as much as us.

It was great to hang with my parents even though my kids were a little over-tired & showed it! It was a nice day & I'm so glad I got to see my dad.

My new goal is to be on time for all birthdays & special days. I'm so tired of running crazy to the store & getting a gift/card & still not being on time.

I hope to post some pics compliments of my dad - Pete took my camera yesterday to his golf tourney, and I forgot to take his big camera with me.

Just a few short years ago.....

Tonight, Rosie & Anna were doing their "dance routine" from last week's camp, and Jo was dancing along. It really is so darn cute - watching a baby move their head & sway back & forth is seriously precious. Anyway, I had a flash back & even though I should be doing some work, I decided to look thru old pics. Look at them - Anna has changed more than Rosie but wow - Jo really reminds me of Anna. I really need more time......

Carollo Picnic

After coming back from the lake, we got ready for the Carollo picnic. We really enjoy seeing everyone as it has been a good 6 months since our last gathering with all the aunts & cousins. We had not seen Becky, Gregg, Steve & Jimmy for a long time either!!! We miss you Becky! Of course we were starving & ate lots of Grandma Carollo's food - typical us - we just brought our appetites. We are such hoosiers! It was hot but cool in the shade.

William feeding Jo a potato chip. He is a head taller than her but only 6 months older!
MMMM - yummy chips!
Grandma Carollo took Jo for a walk so Mommy could sit & talk. Jo found her way back to me pretty quickly! I tried to get a cute pic of Grandma & Jo walking hand in hand but the minute Jo saw my camera, she came running! Do I see Rosie & Anna holding hands? It can't be......

Weekend Fun in the Sun!

What a very fun weekend for us!! We were so excited to be invited to Indian Hills Lake in Cuba, MO. Our friends, the Jones', have a beautiful house on the lake with 2 boats, jet ski, & lots of tubes & so many other fun water stuff! Their daughter Megan is friends with Rosie & their other son, Michael, is in Anna's class. The Gombas' & King's also came along, and we just had too much fun. The kids were beside themselves in the water & on the boats.

We had our normal softball game at noon & then raced to the cars to get to the lake. By the way, another great game of softball! Lots of hitting & some seriously awesome throws & catches to get some outs & beat St. Peters! We are really improving every week. What a great team!

Pete & Anna on the jet ski!
Jo trying to drink my beer! Starting early...
The older kids in the front of the boat - going out for a FAST ride with Mr. Jones!
Jo sitting on the rocks - she was not hesitant at all in the water! She practically dove off the dock right away. She's crazy & not afraid of anything! She also stretched her swimsuit out, so her top half of her suit looks pretty silly here.
What a fun group picture!!

St. Louis Gym Center Summer Camp

Our first summer camp was at the St. Louis Gym Centre. Rosie & Anna really loved it. What a relief - they told me after the first day that they were hesitant about it. I don't think they realized how much tumbling they were going to do - funny how kids think!! On Friday, they had a performance from the week & I got some decent pics (in between running after Jo). She kept running onto the mats to get to Rosie & Anna!!! She is way too mobile now!!

1st Day of camp - Miss Shy Anna & Rosie
They both won awards - Anna for "Best Smile" & Rosie for "Water Balloon Toss" & "Hula Hoop"champ!
Anna doing the dance routine.
Rosie showing off her dance routine with balls.
Rosie just did a back walkover! She is so excited to do finally do a walkover. She does admit it is much easier on the mats than at home in the grass but that comes with time. I am so impressed because I KNOW how hard it is from cheerleading days.... (long long time ago!)

Swimming for the first time...

Here I am in my sexy bathing suit strutting my stuff!
Daddy was throwing me up in the air - I really liked it but this picture doesn't look like it!
Yummy watermelon... That's why my belly is so big - it's full of watermelon!
With my buddy Robert - all the men want to hold me all the time! I'm so darn cute!

Our friends, the Gombas' & the Jones' invited us to the Brentwood Swim Club all weekend. We had a blast & ended Sunday with a party at the pool. Jo swam & wore herself out! Rosie & Anna were pretty tuckered out too. What a great weekend for once - no rain just sun! We have such great friends from St. MM. We are so happy summer is here!

Piano Recital

Rosie playing "The Leaf and the Bird" by June Montgomery at her 1st Piano Recital.

The recital was on Sunday at her piano teacher's house. We were so impressed!! All the kids did really really well. I could not believe how wonderful they all sounded. Rosie did great!! Her teacher, Mary Catherine, said it best "It's hard to see the forest through the trees when you hear them practice day in day out." Their hard work really paid off. Jo clapped for her sister during and after her piece. It was really cute. I think Rosie was nervous, but she said once she started, she wasn't nervous anymore. All those lessons & running her there by 5:30 paid off. Pete is adamant about the kids learning music, and now I understand! I think Rosie is now more excited to play because of the recital. I asked the teacher if we could have 2 recitals a year, and I would be happy to host one at our house. There are only 5 kids, and it was a really nice time. Way to go Rosie - we love you & will continue to sing along when you practice each night (even though I can't carry a tune).