Sunday Night Dinner

There has been a lot of trash talk lately about who has the best bbq...(those involved you know who you are). Just thought I would share this picture of last night's dinner.

"Look at Mom and Smile"

Some catching up...

So yes, I know I've been neglecting the blog; thank you for noticing Honey. July was pretty crazy. Seems like we were traveling nearly every weekend and work for both PJW and I was pretty hecitc. I know we aren't any busier than anyone else, so long story short, all is good at the Werner house! I've been wanting to post this picture since a trip to the "farm" at the end of July. I was shocked when C told Laurie she wanted to ride by herself - clearly a love of horses not inherited from her mother. (she did take two laps by herself!) Ki Ki rode too but had no desire to take a solo ride - or a second lap.

The girls also helped with an AFP mailing we did in July. C was very particular about her work (stamping) - and was very concerned about the quality of K's folding. (K folded donation envelopes) They were actually very helpful; we have been waiting years for this! C refused to stop until she had all her stamps placed perfectly. (ok, well kinda perfectly)

We also went back to the Butterfly House last weekend. What a differnece since our last trip! We actually looked for specific butterflies pictured in our guide, had a little picnic in the nearby park, and at the carousel both girls rode horses-not the bench seat in the sleigh...sigh.

...and maybe I'm reading a bit much into it, but something about this picture makes me very nervous for their teen years...whatcha think?

Election Night Commentary from a "Political Expert"

"No YOU soaking wet!!"

MOM: "Keaton get back inside, its raining, you're soaking wet!" KEATON: "No YOU'RE soaking wet!" This might not mean anything to you all; but pjw and I wanted it documented for historic reference. A glimpse into KiKi's teen years perhaps?

Trash Day.

Who are these people that only have one bag of trash out at the curb on trash day?!

Michigan!

We love Michigan. (we especially love it when it is 107 degrees in St. Louis!) Two weeks ago we took our first family vacation with the girls. I am a little embarrassed to say that pjw and I have been on several vacations without the girls these last 3 years, but this was our first real trip with Chaney and Keaton in tow. Chaney talked about it for weeks, "vacation yet mama?" "How many more sleeps until vacation mama?" Finally the day came and we set out on our 7 hour drive to South Haven, Michigan. Yes, I was dreading this drive, the girls have been known to be bad travlers..BUT, turns out the newly purchased over-the-headrest video screens were well worth the investment-the girls did great! Not one peep from the backseat as long as we had Lady & the Tramp, Rio, Princess in the Frog, etc running on loop. In Michigan we met up with two of PJWs college friends and their families. The Dirksens and the Krases. We had 6 adults and 6 kids. This was our first real experience with group parenting and it is awesome. Between the extra adults and the Dirksen girls (Molly 12, Maddie 9, Mia 5) parenting was easy-peasy! We had a great house just across the street from the beach. We went to the beach every day, cooked in every night, roasted smores in the fire pit and even got off a few fireworks. The girls had a blast. Patrick and I had a blast. Some pictures from the trip...