St. Louis

Yesterday was a family-fun-filled Saturday in St. Louis! First we went to a kids fair activity in Forrest Park. After the park we had dinner at historic Union Station and then headed downtown for a Cardinals game. We were all wiped out by the end of the day but it was well worth it!

Allen got to meet his favorite cartoon character, Super Why! Unfortunately the giant character scared him silly, so he punched him in the head when I tried to put him on Super Why's lap. Poor guy in the costume! He just laughed. It sounded like an old man in there. I wonder what he'd been through already that day?

Keeping fuzzy-wuzzy's head from being sun burned!

While you're checking out Super-Dad's muscles...check out the stroller I picked up at a garage sale for $35! Mint condition. I love it when rich people sell their stuff! (I also picked up some Children's Place & Carter's PJ's for 10-25 cents! ...a whole garbage bag full of nice clothes for 3$. Can you tell I'm still excited?) I'd like to officially thank my friend, Heather, for turning me on to garage sales. Thank you friend. Saturday morning will never be the same!

Here is the balcony at Union Station where we ate our dinner. It was a perfect evening for outdoor dining. (Allen and Brad were down there checking out the fish.)

Being the indulgent father that he is, Brad helped Allen touch the fish!

We had St. Louis style barbecue for dinner. It was yummy!

We stopped by the famous fudgery where the workers sing while they make the fudge! Allen was really into it and clapped along. We all got fudge samples at the end!

We ended the evening with great seats at Busch Stadium. Brad got the tickets at school for $15. We were surprised when we got there to find padded seats only 14 rows back!
Check out the people behind us going at their snow cones!

Brigham was a hit with his Cardinals onesie.

This is how we all felt by the end of the night. Exhausted! I love how Allen crosses his legs to sleep!

We decided that since our time here is coming to a close we may as well take in as many sights and activities as we can. St. Louis sure is a fun city.

Apple Pie

Today I wanted to create. Something. Anything.
I started with a digital scrapbook. I hadn't made Brigham's baby book yet and I had all of the artistic pictures my talented friend took for me. So I made him a great book. But that won't be here for 2 weeks.
Next. I had some apples from a ward-member's yard. I've never made a pie before...so why not? I acquired a couple recipes and I'm actually prodigiously proud of the outcome!

I started with these...

After an hour and quite a bit of sweat, I got this beautiful, unbaked pie. I had to take a picture in case I burned the beauty and had to start over (not that I would have).

The end result!

Allen thought it was delicious! So did Brad...and well, me too. And our neighbor Dave liked it. Actually, I'm convinced it was tasty. But if you need to know for yourself...come to my house. We have half a pie left and this baby-fat isn't going anywhere if I eat the rest of it this weekend! :)

Cute Kids

Here are the many pictures I promised!

I love Brigham's look here. It's like, "Yeah I'm playing with a toy. What, you think I'm too little?"

And the obsession with Superman continues as Brad made Allen a cape from his blanky. We're trying to find him a cool Superman outfit for Halloween. Has anyone seen one?
And yes, this is how my house looks every evening after "Superman" has been playing all afternoon! It used to embarrass me and I'd try to make sure my house was clean in the background of photographs. Ha! That was before two children. My hat is off to all you amazing Mommies with many children. (I'll be searching the backgrounds of your pictures for the mess...and yes, it will make me feel good!)

I'm just smitten with this baby! I can't imagine anything cuter!

Here is the, "I have something to say and it's gonna be loud!", face.

And the, "My teeth hurt so bad! Maybe if I cram both hands in my mouth it will feel better!", face.

And my personal favorite, "I'm so darn cute and I know it!", face.

The bath time Mohawk. Need I say more? Raise your hand if you're cute!

I stand!

I sit! ...with some help.

How to kiss a girl:

...And when she pulls away? Grab her head and plant one on her! I love it. This is our friend Naomi. Can you feel the passion?!

I just love these random parts of my day. I was making dinner when I spotted G.I. Joe taking a dip in the cheese. I was in a hurry but it stopped me in my tracks and made me laugh. Instead of throwing him toward the heaping pile of toys in the living room, I grabbed the camera. There will be a day when I miss this kind of thing. Better to have it documented...even the little random things. ;)

Bowling! The other night Brad took Allen to a friend's birthday party at a bowling alley. Allen had a blast playing games and hanging out with Dad!

He was quite the little bowler.

My poor little Brigham is in full-teething mode! He hasn't taken to teething toys so sometimes he chews on a rag.

He still prefers his finger though.

Dialog

This Morning's Dialog with Allen:

Allen: "C'mon Mommy!" as he yanks my arm pulling me out of bed. "Lets get some food!"

Groggy walk to the living room.

Mommy: "Okay, time for prayer."

Allen: "I'm busy."

Mommy: "Um...we need to say thank you to Heavenly Father for this beautiful new day..."

Allen: "In da name of Jesus Christ, AMEN!"

Mommy: "Cute, but that wasn't the prayer. Kneel down kid."

Prayer.

Allen: "AMEN! I gotta watch supa-man! Pleeeeeze?!"

Translation: Please turn on the Super Man soundtrack so I can fly my airplane all over the living room to the cool music (he's never actually seen Super Man the movie, yet the child is obsessed).

I smiled and couldn't help obliging him. He listed to the 'Main Titles' by John Ottoman 3 times while I made breakfast.

Another beautiful day has begun! I love being a mother.

Tarantula

Deadly Encounter with a Tarantula & Spit-up in my Mouth!
I figured I'd deviate from my usual hundred-pictures-per-post format and share some daily musings.

So yesterday I was happily driving along in my mini-van when I made a quick stop at the YMCA. Upon re-entering my van, I grabbed the shifter to put it into drive when a baby tarantula emerged, crawling strait for my face, over the steering wheel! Once I could finally get my muscles to move I jumped out the door and did a little dance, native to the amazon I'm sure, while screaming like a...hmm, girl is not the right word here. Anyway, after I composed myself, I went to the other side of the van to peer through passenger door at my little friend. It was indeed a baby tarantula (or wolf spider as their known in this bug-infested land of Missouri)! What to do? I bravely took off my shoe...like I was really going to be able to kill it! Five minutes later, after whacking the steering wheel to no avail, I was still standing shoe-less on the pavement while IT ran free all over my steering wheel. Brad was at home with both kids so he couldn't come rescue me. There was only one option left...flag down a burly man! Lucky me, one had just pulled in a few parking spots away! He looked a little weary as I approached him with my story. Was I serious? A spider? He didn't actually say anything-- just walked up to the open driver-side door, grabbed a napkin from inside, cocked his head into the windshield to see behind the steering wheel where IT was hiding, grabbed IT with one swipe, balled it up, and wisely departed WITH the napkin. I gushed my gratitude to his back as he walked away. My hero! Thank you Mr. Spider Killer Man!
Now I can't get in the van without searching the entire dash for baby tarantulas. The memory of this encounter (deadly for IT) still gives me goosebumps.

In related news, Brigham spit up in my mouth today. It was my fault really. I had just fed him and he was all smiles and giggles. I couldn't help myself! I had to hold him over my head as I sang to him a special song I made up (it's called "I love Brigham"). And then it happened. Eww! I'll spare the chunky details in this story. Afterwards, he looked pleased with himself.Anything to make you smile son!

Everyday Pictures

So I don't have much to post, just some cute pictures of my boys. They are growing so fast! I had to put away all of Brigham's 0-3 mos. clothing and all of Allen's 2T things. Crazy.
Other than that...Brad took national board exams last weekend and I went to Time Out For Women. Then on Sunday night we went to a devotional/concert by Gladys Knight. Yes, she's a Mormon! :) Enjoy the photos.

Brigham is becoming very vocal. We love it. Although he did wake Allen up from his nap yesterday with all his cooing!

Here you can see Allen in some of his new 3T gear. He's seriously grown out of everything. Now that the weather is changing he's going to need a lot more.

We took some pictures of the boys after church. Here is Allen's "smile".

And a real smile!

Brigham has such cute expressions!

Allen likes to play with Brigham and his toy. So fun...when he doesn't accidentally step or roll on him!

My smiley boy is teething and always chewing on his finger.

Allen had me take this picture just so he could look at it on the camera screen. He's a funny kid!

Here's Brigham helping Daddy study for boards one morning. Poor Brad was so tired!

That's it for now. We'll try to be a little more exciting for next week. But oh, I just checked the calendar and next weeks not looking so hot either. Maybe I'll read Twilight again. That's a whole other post!

Lately...

We had an eventful last week! We went to the pool for one last hoorah before the season ended, attended a barbecue with all of our Logan friends, and took the boys for a bicycle ride around Creve Coure Lake. Fun times!

Allen is into and on-to everything these days! It's quite a workout to keep up with.

Brad got more of a workout pulling both boys than I did riding solo.

It was really cute to have them ride together in the trailer. Allen was a little squished. I think he'll appreciate the day when Brigham can be strapped in. It won't be long the way that boy is growing!

The lake was beautiful too. Allen threw rocks in the water and chased ducks. It's so fun to watch and just see what he'll do next!

I helped him collect rocks...at a price though. Kisses!

Brigham sported Allen's old BYU hat. I love it!

Here we are at the Barbequ in the Bird's back yard. Their entire back yard is a giant hill with a zip line and a fire pit at the bottom (it's off to the side - you don't actually zip line into the fire).

I love Brigham's expression here! He knows he's a little stud. Check out his sweatbands! Who says you can't accessorize boys?

Here's a little clip of Allen riding the zip line with Daddy!

I didn't think this jacket would fit him yet and it was almost too small! I'm not kidding...I blink and he gains a pound!

I love baby feet! These are Allen's old shoes...and just as cute on Brigham!

Look at that fat little face! He is my sunshine boy! (p.s. Tori looked hot in this picture but she told me not to post her on my blog! :) Next time I will!)

Allen's going to miss the water park. He really had a lot of fun this year. We might not be here for next summer (preceptorship in Utah) so we'll have to find another park. He takes after his namesake and loves the water!

Daddy helped Brigham enjoy the water a little too!