Kindergarten is finally here!

Nelson and Maddox so excited to see Cooper go to school.

Mommy trying to hold onto her little man for a few more minutes.

Daddy and Cooper messing around waiting for the bus to come.

Getting on the bus! This was his favorite part of the entire day.

Joy in the heat!

Today, and one day last week I loved the hot weather. When Lambert Airport reports 98* Maggie Moos gives out free ice cream for the next 98 minutes. This is all thanks to one of the local radio stations, Y98 FM. The boys and I were able to enjoy it last Wed. Today my mom and I kept the radio on everywhere we went and even in the house. As soon as it reached 98* I started making noise (Nelson and Maddox were napping). Once the boys were up, we jumped in the car and headed over for our free ice cream! As long as it's going to be disgustingly hot, we might as well enjoy some homemade, refreshing, tastey ice cream!

Auntie Hannah visiting!!!!

Hannah was in town for the weekend. She called us Sat afternoon!!! We were so excited to see her. She's been in Iowa doing a missions internship all summer. We were able to meet her and her fellow interns for the afternoon and evening.... Dinner was AMAZING!! It was a very late night since we got to the Old Spaghetti Factory AFTER the Cards game let out, but it was well worth the wait and it gave us all a perfect excuse to chit chat. The boys brought their A game as usual. Maddox hammed it up for everyone and Cooper and Neslon were angels.

Fun with Grandma

Party in the Park Part I

Party in the Park Part II

rent it, watch it, love it!

Stella Dallas...
It was reccomended to me by my dear friend Penny. She was even a gem to loan it to me. Now I have to be a gem and get it off my microwave and put it back in her hot little hands. She and I talk about how we think we fit in, and then discover that we don't. THIS MOVIE KNOWS EXACTLY HOW WE FEEL!!!! The birthday party scene just killed me. I fear that my boys might have to experience that.

Oh happy day!

When my brother in law and sister in law got married just over a yr ago I was given a bottle of Oliver Winery white wine. I had to wait months to drink it since I was pregnant with Maddox at the time. Since then, I have searched for this wine! I was told it was only available in IN so every time we went I would try to look for it. Today while grocery shopping, I found it!!! MO now carries it!!!!!!!! I can't wait to open a bottle and enjoy it. Perhaps I will wait one week, then my mom will be here, she can enjoy it with me. (the center bottle, is the original bottle, I loved the wine so much, I kept the bottle and make a candle holder out of it.)

He has his own toys, I promise.

Maddox has decided that the dogs and their toys are much more fun than his own toys. (He's also decided that their food tastes better than the meals I prepare for him.)

The boys' campout adventure...that wasn't.

Travis got home from work an hour eaerly on Friday. He set up the tent, the boys got all of their earthly posessions and put them into the tent. We had dinner, I left for a meeting and the boys and Travis started their boys' night. Halfway thru my meeting I head a HUGE storm. On the way home, I called Travis. The boys had just gotten settled in the tent when it started raining. Not drizzles, but buckets...a down pour. And, if you know anything about our house, anytime there is a storm, we lose power! I went home to no power!!!!! Thankfully, it was back on within 5 hrs. Usually we are without it for 4 days. The boys were forced to move the campout inside to the living room floor. As of this morning the sleeping bags, stuffed animals, and tent are finally dried out and ready to be put away.

WOO HOO a new project with Lindsay.

I love summers. Lindsay isn't teaching, my boys don't have much of a schedule, and I can take the days as they come. The boys were cooperating this morning and playing quietly together, and I was catching up on some iPod upkeep and enjoying my serenade by Barry (Manilow). The phone rang and it was Linds, we were able to chat for almost 45 minutes. I was able to "shop" with her at Kohls; always a good time. By the way, Linds, I hope the pants screamed loud enough to go home with you.
While on the phone we were talking about cooking. We both really enjoy it, but some days it turns into a necessary evil. For me, cooking is a time to relax and forget that I'm a mom. It's hard to forget some days with Maddox pulling on me and the older 2 boys constanly asking for snacks or when dinner is going to be or what it's going to be. For Linds, it's hard with a husband who comes home at a different time every night and a daily schedule that's not always predictable.
She was asking me about the Cornish Hens that I made for Sat. Celebration last week. I then started asking her about some new seafood dishes she made. We came up with a BRILLIANT idea. A blog we can both author and share our new recipes on. When you have a minute or two, go to http://crazycookingwomen.blogspot.com/ and check out our newest project.

Is he a dog or my 4th boy?

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.