St. Louis Marathon

 Last Sunday Kevin ran the St. Louis GO! Marathon.  The weather was less than perfect at about 75 degrees.  Well, it was great for spectator, but terrible hot for running.  Anyway, Kevin finished at 3 hours and 7 minutes.  I brought the kids to the finish line to see him, with the help of DTG.  The boys were very proud of him and brought their signs from the last marathon.
 

Waiting near the finish line for daddy.

Here he comes!

What recovery looks like with the boys.

What recovery looks like when Gwyn wants to be with daddy, too.

Kevin made sure that he held his daddy's hand when they walked to get Kevin's gear.

Gwyn wanted to walk too.

Colin wore the medal... like a sash.

Taken around mile 12 by a friend. It is Ridiculously Photogenic Kevin.

Gwyn turned 1!

Colin took this picture of Adeline.

Ryan going crazy with balloons!

Trying to eat a balloon.

When Colin lets you take a picture, he can be so cute!

Picture of Parker, taken by Colin.

The smile quickly turned to frowns.

Best picture of all the kids.

Here are a few things we find adorable.

• She has staked claim to the large blue pillow in our living room. If anyone (usually daddy) lies down on it, she walks over, whining, shaking her hands, and will try to push or move you off. Then she will sit on the pillow for a few minutes. She also likes to sit on it when ever, and she will just lounge.
  
• She likes to have her shirt off when her brothers have their shirt off.
• She is not afraid of the water. She went swimming during Kevin and Colin's swim lessons, and would try to dive in, and walk into the deep end on her own.
• She grabs Kevin and Colin's clothing and will walk around carrying it. Do not try to take it from her.
• She hands me the dust bin every time she sees me sweeping. Then she tries to carry the broom around.
• She screams and squeals very loud for the most random things. Trying to get a blanket that she is also sitting on? Squeal loudly. Want to play with the laptop you are using? Cry like her arm is being ripped off.
• She loves getting her shoes on. She will grab them and then go sit down on the bottom step waiting for help.
  
• She loves baths. She gets into the bathroom as fast as possible and starts to play in the water while the tub is filling.
• She loves to dance. She will dance to the radio, or to music she makes with instruments, or to you just clapping a beat.
  
• Since I have started this list, she has sat on her pillow three times already.
• She is learning to talk, saying words for mom, dad, brothers, Pepper (cat), and a couple more.

That is all I can think of for now! I included some pictures from her birthday party.

Big Helper

One of the boys' responsibilities is to set the table for dinner. I guess Gwyn has watched them do this, since the last two nights she has tried to set the table while I cook dinner. Of course, all she can reach are the kid cups and silverware, but that doesn't stop her from putting it all out.




She also likes to get her own diapers. We ask her to get one when it is time. Usually she comes back with 2 or 3, and the floor is a mess, but it is adorable. (And sometimes she pulls all them out and peaks around the corner to giggle at us while she is doing it.)

Easter 2012

Here are a lot of picture from Easter. There are more of Gwyn because A) she doesn't put her hand in her face to avoid the camera, and B) she is still so little!

Colin enjoying his candy. The boys didn't wait for us to wake up like last year before they collected eggs. But they still waited before they ate anything. :)

The first of a lot of candy.

Gwyn pulled out the grass from her basket.

Our best take at a family picture.

After looking for eggs, we played soccer and enjoyed the weather.

Gwyn smiling at Aunt Pat!

Kevin jumping during the soccer game.

Looking for an egg.

Gwyn and daddy.

Colin took this picture! He actually takes some pretty good pictures! (There were about 8 great ones from Gwyn's birthday party.)

Being the mother of boys, they often get me "flowers".

Trying to get a picture of Colin.

Trying to take a picture of Kevin while he ate the Easter cake.

Burning things with a magnifying glass.

Easter egg hunt!

Both boys hunting for eggs.

We were feeling good. The weather was beautiful. The kids did great, even without any naps all day. (Gwyn might have gotten a small nap, but probably not.) We had fun with both sides of the family. And then we went home to a flooded kitchen.

Water dripping off the light fixture.

All the water spots leaking into the kitchen. The table was soaked, and there were actual puddles on the floor. The rug is now outside drying out. Apparently, we have a leak in the upstairs bathroom. And we have plenty of time to fix it this week! (Seriously, no we do not.)

Yea! Happy Easter!

1st birthdays

Here are pictures of all the kids around their first birthdays!

Squats

I find it adorable when babies squat. Here are pictures of Gwyn last week.

Gwyn is 1!

We can not believe that Gwyn has been here a whole year! She has grown into an independent, adventurous, snuggly little girl. I will include more about her, but for now how about some pictures from her first year.





Also, does anyone else think my kids kind of look like this worm from The Labyrinth?

Circus

We went to the circus Sunday night. I asked the boys what they liked best. Colin said, "The girls." Then Kevin added, "Yeah. The girls there were super pretty. So pretty that I felt like I wanted to marry them."

Yeah, that just happened.

Pictures to follow.