Maya is the "Big Cheese"

In kindergarten, once during the year you get to be the "Big Cheese" - which means it is your special day. Maya's Big Cheese happened to be the day after her birthday. Mike was in town and we took Haley out of her class, so we had the entire family in attendance. That day, a few minutes before we took Maya to school the power went out. It was out the entire time she was at school, so we celebrated her Big Cheese a little bit in the dark.

Her teacher, Miss Debbie, puts the Big Cheese hat on Maya

Maya got to read her favorite book to the class, Fancy Nancy

She also got to make a poster of pictures to show to the class. We put a lot of pictures on that poster!

A close up of the Big Cheese!

Maya turns 6!

Maya had a great birthday this year. In fact, it was a whole week of celebrations. She turned 6 on May 11th. We had a great day. When she got home from school we opened presents and then went to Red Robin for dinner (the kids favorite place when its their birthday). Then we came home, opened more presents and had cake. It snowed and was very cold. It reminded me of the day she was born. It didn't snow, but it was cold and cloudy. Maya claimed several times that day that "nature hated her" because it snowed on her birthday.

Maya got a new outfit, some accessories, and tea party supplies for her American girl doll, Kit.

She also got a few Hello Kitty themed gifts, a camera and watch.

Not pictured is the awesome Cinderella castle play set. It has been a favorite for everyone to play with. Happy Birthday Maya. She sure love you lots!

The Big 3-5

On March 28th, Mike turned 35. We loved having him home with us to celebrate (he's been traveling a lot lately).

A spring visit to St. Louis

We spent the last 2 weeks of April in St. Louis while the girls were "off-track". We had a great time.

We spent a lot of mornings just hanging out in our pajamas (notice Caleb in the background picking his nose!)

The kids helped Grandma in the yard by weeding and cleaning out the pond. They found a dead frog while cleaning out the pond and had a proper burial for it.

The frog before it was buried!

The kids had a grand old time in Grandma and Grandpa's big jacuzzi tub.

We took the whole gang (minus Uncle Ryan) to a Cardinals game. Unfortunately it started raining and we left before it was over. We did get to see a home run with accompanying fireworks though!

(nice dumb look Steven!)

Before the game we went to Dewey's pizza, our very favorite pizza place ever. The kids like to watch them make the pizzas through the window.

Grandma, Auntie Ann, and Uncle Joe

There were lots of storms while we were in St. Louis. There was even a tornado that hit the airport and surrounding areas 1 hour after we picked up Mike. Haley drew a little about the storms on the white board.

We spend one day at the Botanical Gardens, which is one of my favorite things to do in St. Louis.

We also spent a day at Purina Farms. The first thing we saw was a dog show, where dogs do lots of fun tricks. The girls also got to milk a cow.

Everyone tried to swing on the rope. Some where more successful than others.

We also got to pet lots of cute animals.

Another day we spent at Suson Park. We played at the park, fed the ducks, and saw many animals.

It was a jam-packed 2 weeks. We had a great time. Thanks Hardys for showing us such a great time.

A surprise visit from the Grandparents

The first weekend in April we got an unexpected visit from my parents. They had been planning a trip to Japan to visit my uncle (my mom's brother) and his family. But, with the earthquake and tsunami they weren't able to go. So, they were left with time off and no plans. We got them to come visit us before they left on a fabulous beach vacation.

Caleb got lots of cuddle time with Grandpa.

My parents took Maya to dance and Haley to gymnastics and were able to stay and watch. I think the girls enjoyed the individual attention.

Just in case you didn't know, playing with a baby on the floor is exhausting! You may need to take a nap even if the baby is still awake!

Caleb and grandpa also had some good magazine reading time.

Our big outing while my parents were here was to the Botanical Gardens. We had never been and it was a nice day. It was still a little early in the season so we basically only saw daffodils.

Brooke was pretty happy to see Grandma and Grandpa!

Brooke turns 6 months old

I took a few pictures of Brooke on the day she turned 6 months - February 28, 2011. She has been such a great addition to our family. She is smothered with love from her siblings every day. She has also been quite a different baby from her siblings. She is small - about 20th percentile for height and weight, which is very different from her siblings who were usually 90th for height and 50th for weight. She also hates to eat solid food. You sit her in her high chair and she will spit and clench her mouth closed (might explain that 20th percentile!). She is waking up more at night than she did when she was younger (probably because she is hungry!). But, she is the sweetest, cutest, little thing and hands out her smiles pretty easily.

Vail Ski Trip January 2011

We went to Vail, along with my parents and brother Ryan for a ski trip the last week of January. We rented a house and did some relaxing in the hot tub, skiing, and tubing. It was a great time.

Mike pulled this icicle off the roof of the house we rented. There were plenty more like it.

One afternoon we road the gondola up to do some tubing. My mom stayed with Brooke and I was able to go too. There was a human conveyor belt that you rode, along with your inner tube to get to the top of the hill. At one point Caleb, Maya, and their tubes fell off the conveyor belt. Mike was with them but I was farther ahead. So far ahead that I couldn't help, but only laugh at Mike yelling, "STAND UP" to the kids. They were just laying there crying. They had to stop the conveyor belt and help Mike get everyone situated. We can look back and laugh now, but I don't think he let me leave him with the 2 youngest again that day.

Mike and Caleb on the gondola

Maya on the gondola

Haley and Uncle Ryan on the gondola

Me, Brooke, my Mom, and Caleb on the gondola

I didn't do any skiing this year, but they had some super snowy and cold days. I think they really enjoyed their lunch breaks.

Mike and my mom at lunch

Dad and Ryan at lunch

We also celebrated my Dad's 55th birthday at Vail. He doesn't look too thrilled in this picture and neither does Brooke!

One afternoon we also went to Vail for some shopping. Here we are with one of the polar bear ice sculptures.

During some down time, we had fun playing with Dominoes.

Mike put his Eagle Scout to work and built us at least 1 fire everyday. Probably 2. Caleb like to help.

Haley and Maya both did ski school and really loved it.

Here is part of the crew waiting for the bus. We could drive from our house to the resort, but there was a very nice bus system that we took advantage of.

Lastly, maybe our best memory of the trip, the doorway full of snow. This is in the house we rented. It was so amazing to see we opened the door often. It made me quite nervous, I was sure at some point it was going to start pouring into the house!