Smarty Pants

Johnny is WELL on his way to knowing his Alphabet. He repeats many of the letters as he watches his DVD + practices his App. Today, I brought out the Melissa + Doug letter puzzle Lola got as a gift from Uncle Dave + Auntie Karen a few years ago...and damn if this kid didn't sit at the kitchen table and put the whole thing together! On his first try! WHAT?!

Our Week in {Instagram}

Getting one last pool day in on Labor Day.

Taking a page from our favorite book, "Brining Up Bebe"+ loving every second of it.

Up + Down the sidewalk via wagon as we wait for Team Stine to arrive.

Popsicles to cool off from our park play.

Jammin' a la Dave Grohl.

Totally obsessed with painting in the bath. Our Mommy is the coolest for letting us make a mess each night.

Seriously. I'm obsessed with her long straight hair. Now I know why my Mom + Dad refused to ever let me cut mine.

Mama gettin' craft-happy with the felt so her little pumpkins can decorate Jack-o-lanterns whenever they want. These guys need some major orthodonics.

Pool Fun

After Johnny's nap this afternoon, we hit the pool. It was cloudy and a little overcast, but the sun peaked out and the temperature was perfect. And because it was Labor Day weekend, it's wasn't too crowded. Just perfect. Nothing is better than the 4 of us together, having fun!

Our kids LOVE the water. 

Shake, Shake, Shake Señora...

So it turns out my super awesome camera also takes HD video. Nice! I knew that when I bought it but I have been so busy snapping pictures with it I have yet to switch over to video mode. Thought we'd give it a shot tonight and it's pretty cool. I can't wait to get it out in natural light!

Here's a little clip of our dancing queen. Dance class starts next Tuesday, just in time. She's dying to get back, as she loves to groove. Another year of Tap + Ballet and then next year she'll do 3 separate classes, focusing on Tap, Ballet + Jazz. She's such a natural.

PS....PLEASE ignore the dirty carpet. Can't wait to have it cleaned while we're in Florida for 2 weeks in November, ugh!

Date Night

A certain 4-year-old crashed our date night this evening and we loved it. Clients of mine recommended Chuck's in Burbank this past week and it was awesome. We feasted on Seafood gumbo, Gourmet Mac'n'Cheese, Brisket, Shrimp Po'boy and an everything chocolate chip cookie. Yum!

Look at this face...How could we say No?!

St. Louis

Earlier this month, we headed down to St. Louis to visit with our DiTore cousins. They just welcomed Baby Margot into the family and we hadn't been down for a visit since just before they were about to welcome Baby Dexter (who is now THREE!) Needless to say it was a long overdue visit.

We had the BEST time. We were only in from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon, but we packed in tons of fun + bonding--Clark, Lola + Dexter, especially. They were like the 3 Amigos. The whole weekend was like one big playdate. They all got along perfectly--not one argument or refusal to share. And that's saying ALOT for their age group, ha!

Baby Margot is so adorable. We loved snuggling her. Clark + Dexter were so sweet + loving--had we not already had an adorable boy of our own, I might have taken one of them home with me! We can't wait to head down for another visit sometime soon. It's an easy drive...you've got to love that! Our Subaru has been good to us...we actually hit 55555 on the odometer on the way down!

Enjoy the pics! We hit the Science Center, Tower Grove Park + the Gateway Arch...

STL {Part 1}

STL {Part 2}

My girl.

1st Day of Pre-K

We sent Lola off to Pre-K this morning! We're so excited for her to begin another year at Noonan Elementary Academy. It's hard to believe she'll be in Kindergarten this time next year. She looks like such a big girl, compared to her first day of Nursery school last fall. We are so proud of our girl and can't wait to see all she accomplishes this year!

Here she is rockin' her NEA tartan jumper, complete with new headband and school shoes from Nonna + Papa. 

 She hid one of her Brave triplets in her backpack.

 Daddy + his loves.

 Her homeroom teacher, Mrs. Laura

 First storytime of the year!

Gentlemen of the Road

Every now and then, a band comes along that just speaks to you. You'll hear a song, and you'll connect with it. But then you find a band, and every word sung, every chord strum, every beat drum...speaks.

Renee shared Mumford & Sons with us earlier this year. Their music is gorgeous. The sound stirs something in the soul and the lyrics speak so much truth. They are not a "christian" band but their poetic lines scream of Catholic imagery. The struggle of the soul for salvation, the grace of forgiveness, the beauty and rawness of love and the truth that we are made in His likeness.

These 4 Gentlemen out of London have gathered quite a following since their debut album was released last September. Those who love them, as was evident from the mix in attendance this weekend, was from all ages and stages. Everyone from people like us with some miles and years on us, to those just embarking on the great journey, kids like my cousin Jessica, who actually quoted the band in her Salutatorian address this past May.

Even though they are quite young of a band, they were happy to share the wealth of the gathering with some of their own favorite bands--they selected 4 cities in the U.S. (one being Montery, CA!), one in Ireland (Galway, where we renewed our vows), England & Australia. They invited everyone to set up camp for the weekend and get into the culture of these smaller towns dotted across the globe, to meet the people, eat their food, buy their wares. It was incredible.

We left the children in the great care of Grammy and headed 2 hours west for the weekend. It was perfect. Made all the better by the great company of friends.

Gentlemen of the Road--Dixon Stopover

Here's a great clip of the show...an AMAZING cover of "The Boxer" and their "Awake My Soul"...

Argh, Matey!

We went and played at our buddy Mateo's house this evening and had a BLAST! We couldn't make it to Mateo's party last month, but his Mommy was sweet enough to save a treat bag for Lola. Guess what the theme was?!

She LOVES pirates as she LOVES Peter Pan.