Saturday Celebration!

A Saturday that finds the Ferris Family in St. Louis and not on the road to Chicagoland, Indiana, or somewhere else is something to be celebrated. Travis and I decided to mark the event with a special dinner. We marinated and roasted cornish hens, made veggies, and a pasta dish. As if that wasn't enough (my cooking on a Sat and not throwing chicken nuggests or frozen pizza into the oven) we pulled out the china, openned a bottle of wine and all 5 of us sat down to one of the nicest dinners we have had in a long time. The best compliment came when both boys said they liked the chicken (cornish hens) as much as they like McDonald's cheeseburgers.The boys sitting with our meal, waiting for Travis to come to the table. Rest assured, they have sparkling juice in their glasses, we wanted them to have something special with their dinner just like us.

Cooper enjoying his yummy dinner.

Nelson really enjoyed his meal! His favorite part was the juice that tasted like pop.

Maddox LOVED the cornish hens, carrots, and pasta.

The cornish hens were enjoyed by all!

So productive!

A door is hung, a 10 month old is stopped from exploring the stairs.

The boys were so helpful today, I don't know how Travis would have managed to shave the door without their help.

Outlet Mall fun

We had a great time shopping. I love outlet malls, there are so many hidden deals and treasures. For example, I was able to buy a t-shirt for $0.65 including tax because of sales and coupons. I went into another store and found a dress shrit for $3.13 including tax, without hesitating, I snatched it up. I can't go to the Starbucks drive-thru for that amount!

The older 2 boys broke some sad news to me, they no longer think shopping is fun. They both said they want to swim, play at the park, or stay with daddy next time.

Maddox gave new meaning to the phrase 'shop til you drop'

Mid-week get away.

I met my mom in Tuscola, IL on Tuesday. We spent the day shopping and then swimming with the boys. Wednesday morning we found an amazing park! It made the shopping much more tolerable for the older 2 boys.


I do exist, I'm just usually behind the camera.

Tire swing fun.

Cooper crossing the rubber draw-bridge.

Weekend fun!

Katie and Josh came down for a long weekend. We had so much fun! The boys loved having new poeple to play with. I loved having my cousin around for 3 days. We went to the Science Center on Sat. That place is so great!!!!

Josh and the boys made an ice cream cake Friday afternoon.

Maddox cuteness

Trying to get to the cars on 40 thru the Science Center bridge.

Look at his new trick!

Maddox so excited to see everything at the Science Center.

Chicago Fire!!!!

Aunt Linda and the boys excited to see the Chicago Fire for the first time.

Travis and the boys, so excited to be at Toyota Park

Newest member of the family

This is "Bumpy" Nelson's newest buddy. He was playing at my parents' house and met the gate on his way into the yard.

Sarge (AKA the minivan), you're killing us!

I went to pull into the subdivision on Sunday morning and heard a pop, smelled rubber, and the van started shaking. Sure enough, my back tire wasn't just flat, it had holes in 4 places. Monday morning was spent at NTB getting 2 new rear tires. GRRR, this van is getting to be a pain in the butt!

What a morning!!!!

I get all three boys and the 2 extra kids I've inhereted for the week into the car and go on my merry way to Daily Vacation Bible School. I go to pull out of our subdivision, the car dies. Resart it, it dies. Restart it again, and go. Get to the first stoplight, it dies, restart it and I'm on my way again. Get 5 blocks from the church, it dies, restart it, it dies, restart it, I'm on my way. I pull into the church the car dies, I start it up, it dies. This happened 5 times! I finally got into a parking spot, get the boys in, get my friend who was dropping off her boys and have come listen to my car and look at the lights on the dash with me. We determine it's the engine light. Not a good light to have flash at you. She calls her car dude, I call our insurance company to get roadside assistance. When the insurance people don't call back I call our car dude. The recepionist volunteered to send a couple mechanics out to me to figure out what the problem is. Two guy come out in less than 20 minutes and diagnose my car. I have some scensor out of wack, they take it off and drive me back to the shop to get it fixed. Keep in mind, I still have Maddox and 2 extra kids. They get my part, install it , and give me same as cash for 90 days and send me on my way. I'm back at the church to get the boys before Bible School is over! I'm fuming over the fact that I haven't heard back from the insurance company. I get all 5 kids home, fed, and Maddox in bed. Take a shower, blow dry my hair, and begin doing laundry. STILL NO CALL BACK! Finally, 5 hrs later, the receptionist calls me back, just to tell me I have roadside emergency services, not roadside assistance. This means, if this happens again, I have to contact a tow truck and then submit paperwork for reimbursment. Looks like I will be reworking my policy, and if they don't do roadside assistance I may be looking for a new car insurance carrier.

On a good note, I found out today the Midas Men (that's my new nickname for all the wonderful mechanics) adore me. The recpetionist told me they would have been to me sooner but were fighting over who got to come help me and bring me to the shop. They all told her I was cute and they all wanted to come help me. Wow, I love it that the mechanics think I'm cute!!!!!

4th of July week

The Ferris Family at the campout.
The older boys loving the trampoline that was on the property we camped on.

Maddox experiencing his first camping trip.

Our day at the waterpark

The cousins smothering Uncle Tim.

Daddy and the boys playing at the water park.

Happy 4th of July

The boys (and Grandpa) worn out after a day of fun and fireworks.

I'm not a very good aim with bean bag toss. Nelson (er, Superman) to the rescue.

The cousins eating dinner at the BBQ.

Crazy Sat. night...

My friend Sarah and I had the "fantastic" idea to do a free (yes free) Parents' Night Out at our church. We thought it would be a good way to drum up some intrest in the community. Overall it went really well. However, there is always that one family that you cringe when you see. We had that family. They had 3 kids, ages 6 and 5. Yep, there were twin boys. Suffice it to say, we were afraid of the boys before they came into the room. We could hear them upstairs giving the greeters a hard time. Those boys were a handful from the minute they walked into the door, until the minute they left.
1. When it was time for dinner and I told them they had to put the bean bags down, they pelted me with them instead, I have bruises to show for it.
2. They refused to eat their pizza, one licked his slice and the other just mushed it all over his plate.
3. When the movie began one asked if he could take his pants off because he "watched movies without pants" and when I said no, decided to pee in his pants. He then said, "my pants are wet, may I take them off now?"
4. During the movie, after I handed twin one paper towels to wipe off his shorts and a plastic bag to sit on, his brother announced to me, "I'm going to kick you." I announced right back to him, "NO you will not kick me."
5. During the duck game one of them says, "this is a 6, I want to pick from that prize bag". Sarah says, "that's a 2, pick from this bag". He continued to argue, finally Sarah said, "fine, it's a 6 , but you are still picking a prize from the 2 bag."

What a night... Of course, since God works in mysterious ways, this is the family that has asked for more information about the church and the Sunday School program. Sarah and I decided, over grande margaritas, after we had shipped all 18 children back to their homes, that her husband and Travis would be taking over the Sunday School class (that we usually teach).

Fun weekend with our extended family

Rest assured, Maddox is still alive, he was napping when all of the pictures this weekend were taken.

Fun at the park before lunch.

Cooper and Ryne doting on Layna after the service.

Layna was baptized Sunday morning. Ryan (Jenna's brother) and I are the godparents. It was such an honor to be a part of their special day.