Per my last blog resolution, I'm going to update more regularly so this time around you get lots of photos and stories about the Birthday marathon that just ended. Ben is now officially 2 and Simon is 5.

We start our album off with a beautiful cabbage patch boy wearing a cabbage leaf hat from our New Year's Day feast. Ain't he cute? We ventured out to a bowling alley in January to relieve our cabin fever and met up with Nana and Papa for some bowling tips. Thank goodness for bumpers in the gutters for me! The boys have really enjoyed playing at bathtime lately, here is one photo of soap beards.

Oma and Opa visited over Ben's birthday and we had a great time at the Science Center, the playground and of course the birthday party. Ben had fun blowing out his candle and learned how to tell people his age, "TOOOOW!"

In between birthdays I found some time to take guitar lessons and Simon captured me practicing one of the 3 chords I now know. It's amazing how many songs you can sing with 3 chords. Then Simon decided to plan dinner one night so we have lots of photos of our sushi train dinner in the basement. Yes, that's sushi riding on the back of the elevated Lego train track built by our very own budding engineer, Simon.

The last of the photos include the many events of Simon's birthday - or birthweek. We began with opening an early gift from Grandma Vicky the weekend before because snow and illness postponed his party. He and Daddy spent 2 days building the K'NEX volcano rollercoaster. Ben and I used the time to build his alphabet puzzle about 100 times (He's a bit obsessed with letters at the moment). Mid-week included a classroom celebration Montessori style, Simon chose friends to orbit the globe around the candle sun for each year of his life while I described his growth each year. I really like this ceremony, it makes me cry every time. Our family birthday party was that evening. Brian and I actually figured out a way to make a "racetrack, cars, #5 birthday cake" from scratch. The boys got a special surprise from Jean when they got their haircut- rockin' colored hairdoos! The week ended with his big birthday present: a ride on the Amtrak train from St. Louis to Washington, MO. It was such a fun time for our whole family, finding gloves on ears as an easy distraction while waiting for the train. When we got home Simon had his favorite friends, Katie and Grace, over for ice cream sunday and his first sleepover.

I'm still recovering from the birthday marathon but spring is in the air and we've been enjoying walks in the park and eating outside while Simon leads Ben around our garden pointing out all of the sprouting plants by name. We hope you all enjoy nature's rebirth too.

Hello to those of you who continue to have faith in me by checking in on this blog to see if I've finally updated photos. I am determined this year to not fall so far behind so that you are not overwhelmed with over 100 photos as I am now ...

So I've finally found some time to sit on my own and catch up on this journal. Unfortunately the only way I could do it was by getting pneumonia and thereby being quarantined in my room with books and laptop. Poor me? No, it's a lovely unexpected vacation. I sure to have a lot to catch up on though.

I guess we left off around Easter when we visited Louisville. The boys had fun down on the farm and Uncle Toby showed off some amazing bubbles for his nephews. We were delighted to receive a visit from Sarah, Huston and Tom and the boys had a blast playing together while I got some good girlfriend time. There are two photos included that show the scene that was filmed four doors down from us this spring. It's for George Clooney's new movie, Up In The Air, but alas he did not appear in this scene so the no priceless photos.

Simon has been having so much fun with his friends lately so you'll see many photos of him holding Aidan or Lucy's hands (he loves the little girls), or his pals from school. There are shots from swim class which he loved and derby party. He was particularly proud of his bug house he built of twigs, leaves, stones and berries in the back yard, there is currently a spider dwelling within and he checks on it everyday with a pleased grin.

Another trip to Louisville happened this month to throw Grandma Vicky a surprise 50th Birthday party. We were successful in surprising her and had a blast hanging out with the extended family again. The boys were thrilled to have a sleepover with Oma and Opa that week while Brian and I helped Dad, Vicky and Toby pack up the farmhouse in preparation for moving. What a job! We definitely came home ready to purge our own house of all the unnecessary junk I have a habit of collecting. However when we arrived home the work had already begun to tear down and rebuild 2 of our chimenys, repair part of the room and install new A/C on the first floor. Now that it is all finished and there is tons of dust to clean I am sick. It is so hard for me to sit still when there is so much to be done. So sweet though that Simon came in today and said, "now mom, when you are done putting Ben down to sleep you need to go rest. I am going to have some alone time and clean up for you. Promise to rest okaay?" My sweet baby!

Highlights for Ben and Simon: Ben is so fast now, almost running everywhere. He has a funny hop that he does to pretend to jump, loves spinning in circles and smacking his bottom to the beat of a song. So musical, he is not really talking much yet but is humming all day long usually holding his microphone, my favourite songs are Doe a Deer from The Sound of Music and the theme song from the Polar Express. Ben LOVES buttons. He is constantly searching out a phone, remote, watch, or any other device that he shouldn't be playing with and literally pushing all my buttons (my belly button will appease him is there is no remote handy).

Simon has embraced his inner explorer, going on treasure hunts, climbing any and every tree available, making up clever inventions (the chicken juicer is my favorite), beginning to read and also totally engrossed in The Boxcar Children Series. We go through one chapter book every 2-3 days. He loves guessing how they will solve the mystery. Simon and Brian also took the big step on Father's Day to remove his training wheels on his bike. He's got great balance and stops well, we just have to figure out how to start such a big bike. Other interests include caring for his sunflowers, beans, tomatoes and zinnias that he planted by seed. Unfortunately our beautiful white pumpkins, squash and zuccini have been infested with worms, that was a valuable lesson but really hard for him. Simon starts swim lessons again in a week and I am hopeful that he'll be swimming underwater by the end of the season.

Wow, that only took me an hour to type. Even my brain is zapped. Gonna go rest now. Hope you enjoy our silly family.

Whew, the Birthday marathon has finally come to an end and here are the highlights. Most importantly, Simon turned 4! It began a week early with a surprise trip to a model train show in St. Charles. Simon was speechless. So many electric trains in one spot, he was even ...

A lot has been going on around here since I last wrote and several of you have made it well know that I have been slacking on updates so here it is. Our most recent excitement has been the first birthday for Benjamin. He turned one last week and we ...