Swimmers

Summer in St Louis means lots of pool time...

The kids swim six or seven days a week - and sometimes more than once a day.  I wonder why each child has four swim suits, when I would have the just one, and I realize, it's a different world down here. It's hot and steamy - and the pools are fun and accessible.

Leading to some tired children, and sometimes, cranky evenings.

Unmooring

Almost four months. And the children keep growing and changing.

Already Rhys is talking about changing in his electric scooter for a goKart (my mom bought him the scooter). I can't stop their growing.

Then I think, how did my mom carry on without her mom all those years ago?

Soon after my nana died, she got divorced, remarried, divorced and remarried again - and fought Breast Cancer number one. Well, all that was all over about six or seven years - but still, quite a lot of big life decisions being made.

She was without an anchor in many ways at that time. I think if my nana was alive, my mom would have made different choices as she would have had that support from her mother. And I can start to understand more now how bereft and unmoored she really was.

Don't worry - I'm not unmoored...but I am bereft.

Three More Weeks

...until school starts. Really?

Yes, I couldn't believe it either.

Here's the proof! Camp is over! Six weeks in the bank and we are done until 2016. Both kids LOVED  this camp this year and can't wait to go back. I said - yes of course, honey, you can go back. (working mom and dad = summer camp until you go to college...but yes, let it be your choice, children.)

Claudia and Rhys have also been enjoying time in the neighborhood with the friends. From water balloons, to bike riding and the NERF gun wars, it's been pretty fun for all of us.  (Girls with their favorite Mom and Neighbor - MP!).

A girl and her cat

And this why we have a cat. :)

Fourth of July St Louis Style

Another Fourth of July weekend has come and gone.

We love our family traditions...and it's so cute/rewarding/makes my mom heart sing - when the kids refer to things we "always do."

So off we went to the Webster Groves parade for the fourth year in a row.

Despite a slow start to the candy distribution  - it soon became a deluge for the Oldham kids. (Where's the candy, please?!)

Mom and Dad did pretty well this year, too - finding a candy or two that the children were willing to share and to sweeten good ol' Dad up.

Followed by the neighborhood bike parade/race.

Rhys was the oldest one this year! wow.

We then headed off to friends' country club for dinner and fireworks - and swimming! - Ah the life we lead.

Happy Independence Day!