Year End Review 2009

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 going to do. For the sake of brevity since you have a lot of photos to sift through I will just list the events from June-December and you'll have to do the match-up. Overall our year has been a whirling, blurry, squealing success. Simon and Ben will soon be turning 5 and 2 respectively but Ben has a head start on his "terrible two's" lately. Brian loves his job and they love him, I love my job and sometimes they love me back, Simon has started learning to read and Ben is a puzzle whiz! Thanks for checking in on our rowdy crew and Happy New Year to you all.

Events in order: Swim class with cousins Henry and Audrey, Enjoying a visit and swinging with Aunt Jessica and Uncle Andrew, Who is that up in the tree (Simon's favorite summer pastime), Twirling to our weekly summer concerts at the music stand in Tower Grove Park, End of Summer hugs with neighbor friends, Simon's first bike race at a park birthday party (crashes, tears, "but I think I was second"), Splashing and playing at the new City Garden Park Downtown STL, Fun with Oma and Opa at the MO Botanical Gardens and Grant's Farm, Pillows in the car for a roadtrip up to a Missouri State Park (and train factory that didn't exist), First day of school with new teacher Ms. Carrie, Hammock time with Katie and Grace at the Lake House, Magnolia Place Block Party and parade, Simon learns to build card castles at Grandma and Grandpa's, Apple Picking at Eckerts Orchard, Pumpkin Carving party with STL friends, LEAF PILE!, Halloween candy spoils with a frog prince and a Witch-Skeleton-Rocket (his idea), Fun with Ben - leaves, light switch power, and Vacuum Man!, Koebbe Jam Sessions, Yeees - that is Brian jumping over Ben (sigh), Fun at the Magic House with bubbles, sand, and Legos, Koebbe Thanksgiving/Christmas included decorating the tree and setting up the train with Papa, cousin bonding with Henry over trains, Greenleaf Singers Madrigals and my newish green dress (I made some changes), THE gingerbread house incident, Simon's Winter Performance at school ( I could actually hear him, I'm so proud!), Jessica and Andrew break the news that another cousin will be arriving this year Yippy, Santa's elves...., Christmas with Nana and Papa over, Ron and Brian both try to assemble the child's assemble clock :), SNOW on Christmas morning!, Holidays with Oma and Opa and the rest of the Graham Clan, Bouncy Slides wheeee!, playing How patient can Mommy be in a restaurant?, proud builders,

Whew, there you have it folks. Half a year in a nutshell.