A Very Troha Birthday at Creve Coeur Lake

In July we helped our friends the Trohas celebrate Cooper's and Louis's birthdays at a party at Creve Coeur Lake. Lately Claire has been demanding to carry her very own present bag to every party, so we must supply her with a gift bag and paper to carry with her.

Claire and Reagan looking very cute sitting side by side!

Logan and Louis playing in the sand.

Lighten up, Louis! It's your party!!

That's better!

Louie, Cooper and Valerie working on getting those presents opened!

It was super hot that day! I wish they let you swim in the lake, but Creve Coeur is too cheap to hire life guards.

Too bad we don't have a little sailboat!

Love,

Mama

Meeting Anna Lily

July 14th was a very exciting day this year. Our good friend Maya got a baby sister that day! Maya's mommy, our awesome pal Lisa, called us very early in the morning to say little Anna Lily was on her way, and we got to keep Maya for a whole day and night! The next day I took the girls to the hospital to meet Maya's brand new sister.

On the way up, the girls stopped for some impromptu posing on the stairs. Claire, I admire your turnout here but your toes need to be pointed and for the love, would you stand up straight!

Much better!

An exciting moment! Lisa looks great! And check out that beautiful new baby!

*love*

On the way back to the car, Maya wanted to hold hands. It was so cute, I had to make a quick grab for my camera!

Oh those girls! I hope you stay friends forever!

Love,

Mama

The July Garden

Well! It has been a tough year for gardening!! I was late (very late!) on all my spring planting because we had a very wet/cool spring this year. Then in July we had a horrible heat wave which really took a toll. Not to mention that the babies I babysat last year turned into little monster toddlers this year, and there went my reliable nap time that I used to get out and do chores in the garden! So I'm afraid my flowers have been very unspectacular this year. Believe me, no one is more disappointed than me!

But, here are some pictures of the garden in its peak, just so I can say I had a little bit of success.

That big fluffy green plant? Is actually a weed. I started off the year thinking it was a perennial of some sort. As soon as I realized it was actually a weed, it had buds on it. So I kept it around to see if it ended up being anything "pretty." The flowers are actually tiny and white. But since it's about the healthiest thing in my garden, I let it live.

Thank goodness for good old reliable day lilies!

Things will be better next year for sure!! For one thing, I've got a new job now. Instead of babysitting 50 hours a week, I got a job working 3 evenings a week at a hospital down the road. I hope it makes things a little easier here at home. We will see!

Love,

Mama