May favorites

I just did this, didn't I? May was big for us. Mary Clare wrapped up Pre-Kindergarten, we (and my parents) worked like crazy people in the yard, we hit a few graduation parties, we took the train to Kansas City. Nothing but fun for these kids.

[we landscaped]

[we were "highly illegal" at the park]

[Mary Clare created pirate couture during naptime]

[we landscaped the kids' house]

[we went to a church picnic and managed to come home without a fish]

 [Mary Clare nailed it]

[Charlie's teachers nailed it with this photo]

[Charlie nailed me with a potty training fail during Mother's Day mass]

[last day of school]

[all business at our celebratory lunch]

[one and done on their first fishing adventure of the season]

[I took the kids in for a makeover]

[admiring the peonies that the previous owners planted]

 [celebrating Annie's birthday and the start of summer with unlimited snow cones]

[we kicked off clothing optional lunches]

[adult pub crawl fun]

[water wars with dad]

[cava sangria with the canine]

[all aboard for Kansas City]

 [a three cousin salute, with one objector]

[she will haunt your dreams]

Judging by the multitude of photos on my phone and a decided uptick in cocktail shots, I think it's safe to say that summer is here!

Please forgive me, you tough mudder

A few weeks ago, my brother-in-law Brian participated in the Tough Mudder competition with his brother Chris. It is exactly what you think it is. A really tough run and obstacle course with mud. Basically, nothing I would ever want to do. Even the website scares me. Nevertheless, I can appreciate the skill and strength that went into preparing for and participating in such a thing. Mostly because it is so beyond anything I could do.

Unfortunately, I did not publicly appreciate this feat in a timely manner. 

And then I had the audacity to acknowledge my parents' anniversary rather than a recap of Brian's race. Basically, I am the worst sister-in-law ever, and I have some serious work to do if I hope to have a place for my children and I to lay our heads next weekend while we are in Kansas City.

Without further ado, I present to you the rest of the photos and the official stats: 10.9 miles and 26 obstacles in two hours and 43 minutes. Again, completely amazing. 

So here's to Brian (and his brother), two tough mudders, who also have to be some of the funniest mudders I know. Love you both, and congrats again! 

Forty-two years

Happy 42nd anniversary to my amazing parents, who just so happen to be equally amazing—if not amazing-er—grandparents. And they've been married for 42 years. Forty-two years! And they are still smiling!

We are so very lucky to have you as free help for all of our projects and babysitting needs role models.

No, really, we love you. Tons. And oodles upon oodles. And we would even if you didn't always jump in to save the day.

She sleeps

Mary Clare has had a rough week. We noticed last year that she has some seasonal allergy sensitivity, but wowsers. This year there was no question about it — allergies hit her full force. What's interesting is that when we lived on Botanical, we were only one block off of Tower Grove Park, and we would have to keep the windows closed or deal with visible pollen on every interior surface.

We are still surrounded by a plethora of trees, and our cars are certainly coated in pollen, but other than that I haven't noticed it in other areas outside the house, and I have yet to see that telltale green on any of my cleaning cloths. I'm not sure what the difference is, but Mary Clare is suffering, my poor girl. 

She is taking Allegra regularly, we are doing eye drops and I wipe her hands and face every chance I get. Last night night we broke out the big guns with some Benadryl. Her teacher's daughter has severe allergies, so when Mrs. Green recommended we try that, as well as some other things, I didn't hesitate. Chip, on the other hand, was all, "What's the D in the name stand for?" And I'm all, "Who the hell cares? It says 'children's' on it and this poor girl needs a good night's rest! Now, quick, Mary Clare, drink this yummy grape stuff before your daddy tells us it's not safe."

And now you know how things work in our house.

Anyway, I went in later to check on her, and there she was, soundly sleeping thanks to a mother who is unwilling to read labels, but willing to blindly follow the suggestion of another mother. And she looked so sweet, I just had to take a picture. She may be five, she may be finishing up Pre-K in two weeks and she may be growing overnight, but she is still my baby, and I still love watching her sleep. Even when it is a drug-induced sleep.