Happy Birthday Thomas!

We celebrated Thomas’ birthday Saturday with some church activities, his favorite foods at every meal, a date night out to see XMen (Thanks Ash!) and of course presents!

 

The family at the pizza dinner.  Of course Spencer sees the camera and pulls his super hero faster than light move.  

I made blueberry pancakes and sausage for breakfast, polish sausage and sauerkraut for lunch, and a giant take and bake pizza for dinner.  We are all about the food around here. 

You might remember it from my birthday.  Ah, revenge is sweet.

Actually, he didn’t mind wearing it.   See?

Isn’t he cute?  He’ll do anything to make the kids laugh.  This did it.

Sammie getting a kick out of her dad’s hat.  Not sure what Tyler’s doing…

 

The kids got him some ways to keep cool- a water gun and water balloons.  The hat really ruins the scare factor of this picture though.

 

Thomas getting ready to enjoy his banana split. 

Here’s a close up of that yummy action!

 

Then we broke out the water toys!  Perfect for the hottest day of the year so far. 

Except- we’ve never actually done a water balloon fight and didn’t realize they had to be really big to break open.  We were pelting each other and I’m sure I have a few bruises to show for it.  It took the grass or sharp objects like teeth to get these puppies to bust.  All well.  Maybe next time.

Here’s a few action shots:

Everyone trying to get away from dad.

Run Tyler Run!

Thomas getting ready to pelt someone.  Not kidding- it really hurt!  Spencer liked to squeeze them to make them pop.

This is too funny.  Tyler taking aim from our deck above the unsuspecting heads of his older siblings. 

Sammie helping Spencer get a drink.  She’s so good with him.

Thomas and Spencer broke out the bubbles. 

It was a beautiful day spent as a family enjoying one of our favorite people. 

Tyler’s New Look!

 

His first gape tooth grin! 

Soulard Market and Union Station

We have lived in St. Louis for like 10 years- with one stint in Louisiana where Sammie Jane was born- and have never been to the historic Soulard Market in the very cool south city neighborhood of Soulard. 

Yesterday we changed all of that.  We signed Spencer up for a Touch Point Autism Services respite drop off in south city so we decided to spend some time downtown with Sammie and Tyler.  With the drop off it frees us up to do some things that Spencer just can’t handle because of crowds and noise and transitions. 

We had a fun time at the market.  It was loud and noisy and crowded so I’m glad we didn’t have Spencer with us because we were all on sensory overload as it is! 

But what fun!

I actually didn’t mean to get Thomas in this one.  He walked into the frame!  Totally not paying attention I guess.  :)  Yep, that sign does say since 1779.  It’s so neat to live in a historic city. 

Tyler got his first taste of cotton candy!  The lady who gave it to us took a picture of him for her facebook page.  If anyone runs across it let me know!  She takes pictures of all of the first timers. 

The thing was bigger than his head and caused a lot of people we passed to get out of the way quickly to avoid getting sticky so it helped part the ways of the crowds. 

Everyone thought he was super cute.  He loved the attention. 

First bite! 

Sammie enjoying the day.

 

This little lady was standing on top of the building next door to the market.  We just thought she was funny.  Don’t jump!

Next we went here:  Union Station

 

We did the whispering arch.

It’s such a beautiful hotel.  I’d love to stay there someday.

In the train museum part of the mall.  I had to drag them back from the coin operated machines to get this picture.  Sad to say old train models don’t stack up next to this:

and this:

We ate lunch in the food court, walked around some and then saw these beautiful things outside on the way back to the van. 

(by the way, I had a Stromboli at the pizza place and oh man was it good!  Anyone ever made one before?  Send me the recipe!)

 

A beautiful day

Friday was such a beautiful day here in STL. It’s the weather we have all been waiting for! No rain! Clear skies! Sun! We celebrated by going to a favorite park for a picnic lunch and play time.

They don’t know how to pose for pictures yet while trying to eat. I guess I caught them at a bad time.

I actually got a few good ones of Spencer!

This one is one for the picture frames! I’ll be mailing it out to grandma and grandpa’s soon!

I rewarded him with getting to take a picture of me. (he was screaming about the photo shoot that he didn’t want and this calmed him down lickedy split.)

This boy understands revenge…

He got a good shot of the gazebo's where we ate lunch. Aren’t they beautiful?

Sammie is a much more willing subject for my photo shoots.

Tyler loves it too! Anything to get attention for this kid!

Whenever they get excited about picture taking together I always have to say- “Act like you like each other!” It usually gets them to smile and laugh at how silly mom is and I get a good shot.

I like ones like this one of Tyler where you just get the sweetness.

Thanks guys for humoring your old mom and letting me take your pictures!

Facing the day

Summer school is SO early.  The month of June my kids are all in summer school from 8 AM to noon and boy does morning come quickly when they have to be out the door at 7:30 to catch the bus! 

I found Tyler like this the other day.  His cereal is under there with him.  Just couldn’t face the day yet I guess.

Father’s Day 2011

Sammie, Tyler and I went to Springfield on the Saturday before Father’s day so I could spend some time with my mom at the hospital and so we could take my dad out for Father’s day. 

Thomas’ brother’s family lives in Springfield and it happened to be my nephew’s birthday weekend so the kids got to go hang with him for his birthday party too which was wonderful! 

The only bad part of the trip was the flooding.  Jacksonville exits out of town were all blocked but one and it took us through Beardstown which was about an hour out of our way to get to Springfield. 

This was after traveling 2 hours to get to Jacksonville that morning with the kids.  Needless to say they were pretty maxed out by the time we got to the dinner for my dad, but I got some good pictures of them anyway. 

Actually- Jacksonville is on a boil order for their water and a possible water shortage because of the damage to the water plant during the flooding.  It was so sad to drive by farmers on the side of the road just staring at their flooded fields. 

 

My dad and 1/2 of his grandkids.  This was taken earlier in the day at my aunt and uncles house.

Tyler and Parker causing mischief.

Three out of four Burnett grandchildren.  Spencer stayed home with Dad.  It’s hard to get a clear picture of “Parker Man” because he never stops moving!

Tyler has gotten into the habit of making this face when I take his picture.  Parker had had enough!

We celebrated with Thomas before we left. Sammie had a great time picking out his presents.

 

Sammie couldn’t resist the batman undies.

We also found this fun t-shirt at Target.  Who knew they had such cool stuff?

We got him a bowl of his fav. junk food too, but didn’t show Spencer.  He still found it later and ate most of the chocolate.  All well.

Pretty cute one of Thomas and the kids.  Gizmo is trying to eat Spencer’s cereal bar I think!  They love their dad so much. 

Man there’s nothing like a picture of your family room to make you realize how cluttered it looks!  We’ll just call it lived in.