Jonathan's Weekend

Jonathan

Scott with his parents
Jonathan, Grandma, and Aunt Gloria

Scott, Becca, and Ben, Uncle Tom, Leslie, Aunt Karen, and Jason, and Gramps
Jonathan, Brent, Jason, and Nile playing a little hall hockey
Drew and Claire crashed Saturday night after the dinner party

My brother Jonathan left on Tuesday to fly down to Brazil to go on his mission for our church.  We went to St. Louis last weekend to say goodbye.  On Saturday, we met Scott's parents on the way into town to celebrate Scott's birthday with lunch at Red Robin's.  That night we had a family dinner with Jonathan.  My kids had a busy day and enjoyed playing with their cousins Drew and Sophia.  Brent and Drew are quite the pair when they get together.  On Sunday, Jonny bore his testimony and did a great job.  We are really going to miss him for the next two years but know that he is doing what he is supposed to be doing.  When Nile said goodbye, he said Jonny I will see you in 2 years 2 days because he was leaving 2 days after we left to come back to Kansas City.  

Nicholas Sparks Book Signing

Carolyn and Nicholas Sparks

      Me, Shannon, and Kim

My friend Kim talked me in to going to the Nicholas Sparks book signing for his new book "The Lucky One."  I haven't had time to start it yet.  It was a fun night.  We got there in time to get our picture taken with Nicholas and then he talked for awhile about himself and his life and then we got our book signed.  We went out to the Cheesecake Factory afterwards and enjoyed a bite of cheesecake.  It was a sad night because it was our last girl's night out with Kim.  She has moved on to Texas. I am sad because she has been my running partner, friend, and babysitter(we would switch off babysitting during the day).  I will really miss her but we can still keep in touch with the phone.  

Happy Early Birthday to Scott!

Scott went ahead and ordered his birthday present today. (We will be in St. Louis on his birthday this weekend saying goodbye to my brother Jonathan, he leaves on his mission to Brazil next Tuesday.)  He has been talking about this bike every since he saw it in Hilton Head on our family vacation in July.  He is so excited!!  He had to special order it because it is the new 2009 model. (www.feltracing.com)  

Before he went to order his bicycle, he went to try and renew his drivers license.  He had told me a couple of weeks ago that his license expired on his birthday.  After waiting in line in not only once but twice (he went to the license plate center instead of the drivers license center first), the lady with the hairy lip informed him that his license expired October 11, 2009.  I guess when your old your 8's and 9's start to look alike.  

Boys Weekend

Nile up close and personal with Fredbird

Brent, Scott, and Nile on the way to St. Louis

Brent and Nile at the Cardinals Game

Craig, Marc, and Kevin at the game

This past weekend, Scott took Brent and Nile to St. Louis to go to the Cardinals game Saturday night.  They had a fun and busy time.  There was the Kids Club party at Busch Stadium and then the game that night.  The kids had fun with Fredbird and got his autograph.  Brent watched from a distance.  The Cardinals had a good game and fireworks went off a few times for home runs.  They went to the game with Craig, Kevin, Marc, and Jason.  The boys had fun with their uncles and dad.  They went to Ted Drewes after the game to enjoy some ice cream.   It was a rushed weekend because they had to leave early Sunday morning to make it back for the Primary program in church.  Nile sang "Called to Serve" in Portuguese.  Both Claire and Nile had their parts memorized and did a great job singing.  It feels good to have the program over.  

Time Out

Kim, me, and my mom

Claire with her new haircut

My parents waiting in line for Gladys Knight

I went to St. Louis for Time Out for Women this past weekend with my friend Kim and my mom.  Our favorite speaker was Jason Wright.  I am excited to read his book Wednesay Letters. We were also able to go to see Gladys Knight perform with the Saints United Choir.  It was a great experience.  I wish we could have some Sunday meetings with her music.  It was fun to clap and dance with the audience.  There were people in the audience who would talk to the choir by saying, "You tell it sister" and "Amen" and lots of hand raising.  I had a nice break from my children.  I think I can be a better mom when I get little breaks every now and then.  Scott did a great job with the kids.  Nile had hockey try-outs this weekend for his new season.  Scott did that with all three of the kids.  He even took the kids to church by himself, which I think was a first with all three kids.  He said that they did good.  They made me signs on the door for when I came home Sunday night.  Here is a picture of Claire's new haircut.  I took her in to have it all evened out.  

SCOTT'S SHAMELESS PLUG FOR PROFILE WASHER AND DRYER

Scott is so excited about this new washer and dryer that he asked if he could post something on it. New Profile Front Load washer and dryer is out now, washer and dryer talk to each other and the washer programs the dryer based on what its done. The washer has Smart Dispense, which can hold up to six months worth of detergent and pumps in just the right amount for each load. They come in Vermilion Red, Champagne Gold and White.  GE is doing an online drawing through 9/8/08 if you want to try and win a set. 

Visit www.washingmyjeans.com to enter.

Labor Day Weekend

Brent holding a lock of Claire's hair while Claire points to where he cut.

Nile winning at Monopoly.  He has hotels on all of his properties.

This past Labor Day weekend, Scott and I decided to stay in town and get caught up at home.  On Friday night, Scott took Nile and his friend Ed to the skate party at the ice rink so Nile could break in his new ice skates.   They had a fun time.  On Saturday, we cleaned house a little bit and then we went to the pool for the whole afternoon.  It was so nice, we had the pool to ourselves for a couple of hours.   Sunday morning, I ran the nike plus human race 10K in an hour, which was a good time for me.   On Sunday evening, we played monopoly with the kids.  Nile was the big winner.  He had hotels on all of his properties and owned almost the whole board.  He picked us off one at a time.  He was quite the bargainer.  On Monday, we went on a family walk and took the kids to the playground.  Scott and I decided we need to clean out our closet so we were working on that and the kids were playing in the basement.  Half through cleaning, Claire comes up with a big chunk of hair and says Brent cut my hair.  I thought she was joking for a minute until I saw that he had really cut her hair.  We decided to put the cleaning on hold and eat lunch and head to the pool.  The kids needed to let out some energy.  It was quite the weekend.