Joshua is ONE

So...I'm the busy (interject bad) mom who hasn't updated the blog in a while. Since our last post our Joshua became a walker, the proud owner of his first tooth, and graduated to the status of one year old. Lots has happened. Chris and I had the chance to celebrate our sweet 'baby' with our dearest friends and family over the Labor Day weekend and can hardly believe how lucky we are to be at this point in our life. Both of us have jobs we love, a beautiful little boy, a home of our own, and friends and family we love dearly. I promise to update with pictures soon. Chris and I pick up those much awaited cake pictures tomorrow. Check back soon!

Home sweet home

Here is our new home
We close July 23rd and hope to move in before the 1st of August.

Living room view from formal room-kitchen to right

Guest room

Kitchen-view from dining room, family room to left

Master bedroom-his and her walk in closet, vaulted ceiling

Master bedroom

Master Bath-twin sinks, sky light, shower, soaker tub

Master Bath- view from the shower

Kitchen-pantry, sliding door out to covered patio, pantry, main level laundry

Fenced yard- covered patio, garden, water fountain

Front of the house

A Barrel of Monkeys

We spent this weekend down in Springfield with our dearest friends Dana, Teresa, and Caden Frederick. Once again we jumped on the opportunity to make a visit when Chris got a notice to appear in court. The timing couldn't have been better-we missed our friends and had Teresa's birthday to celebrate. We had a great time hanging out together and enjoyed watching our boys play together. They are so cute and very busy! While we were in Springfield we also got to catch up with some church friends thanks to a surprise birthday party hosted by Teresa and Dana. We are so lucky to have them in our lives-you can't find two more loving and gracious people!
This weekend Teresa also helped me change our family web page. She is a scrapbooker (a very good one!) and graciously shared her talents to help me revamp our blog. We hope you enjoy watching our monkey grow and the antics go hand in hand with his development!

Home Sweet Home

We have exciting news!!

As of mid July our little family will have a new and VERY permanent address because we are going to be home owners!
Chris and I have been causally searching for a home in the Ballwin/Manchester area since I found out I would be working for Parkway. We really wanted to find a home in the district that I taught so that Joshua could (eventually) come to school with me. We also knew we wanted to take advantage of the great interest rates and take the plunge into home ownership over the summer while I was off from work ( if and when we found the right house).
We are very excited to share our new home with you and promise pictures will be coming soon.

Up, up, and away!

Josh pulled himself to a stand for the first time yesterday...and, let go to assume the hands-free stand for about 3 seconds before Daddy realized that he wasn't holding on to anything and swooped him up. Hooray for our big boy!

Also, Joshua took his first swim in the pool yesterday-I don't have pictures because I was in the pool and Daddy was video taping. Joshua was too cute for words in his tiny swim trunks!

Lastly, I forgot to mention a few weeks back that I DID GET A JOB!!!! I am 'official' as of tomorrow when the board votes on me, but so long as that goes off without a hitch I will be teaching 1/2 day kindergarten at Barretts Elementary in the Parkway School District. I am SO excited to be getting back into the classroom and feel privileged to be a part of such a reputable district. Yahoo!

Memorial Day Weekend

Kyla, the beautiful bride

The Millikin RA Staff

Kyla's Co-RA, Evan

At the reception

Chris and his favorite girls

This weekend was a busy one. We had 3 weddings, a visit Grandma and Papa Sinnokrak, and a blow out (not to worry, we have road hazard protection...yahoo!).
The weekend started out with a Friday evening wedding for one of Chris' police officer friends. The wedding was a blast and I have never felt safer (it was funny to see all the police officers exit the room to remove their 'gear' and prepare for the open bar). Chris and I enjoyed a night out and the opportunity to socialize with his friends off the clock.
Saturday morning we drove up to Chicago for Colin's wedding (a childhood friend of Chris' and a groomsman from our own wedding). On the way we had our blow out-which was pretty comical. You see, the last blow out we had together was in the same spot on the car three years ago on our honeymoon! We've since had new tires, but it was almost as if God was giving us a pre-anniversary smile by taking us back to that moment at the start of our new life together. I guess popped tires are a good omen.
Sunday was Kyla's wedding (a co-RA and friend from both of our Millikin days). The wedding was spectacular and so much fun. By the end of the weekend I was ready to bust from all the love and flowers and music (and cake!). It was great!
Meanwhile, Joshua got a good visit in with his Grandma and Papa Sinnokrak (and cousin Braydan and Uncle Matt too). He decided this weekend to start eating his Gerber Puff Stars whole and is practicing pulling himself up--cruising is just around the corner, I can feel it!

Auntie Elizabeth

A few weeks back my sweet cousin Elizabeth came for a visit all the way from PA. She just wrapped up her first year of college and was ready for a break...little did she know that life at our house is as far from quiet and relaxing as one could possibly imagine. Never the less she seemed to have a fun time. We visited the zoo, subbed in the art room at school, went to Art Hill and the Art Museum downtown, and played and played with busy boy Joshua. In case you are wondering why we spent so much time doing 'artsy' things it was because Elizabeth is the artist of the family. She is studying to become an art teacher and is very talented. We joke she got all the art genes of the family....but really I think she did! Here are a few of the pictures we took while she was here. Enjoy!

Elizabeth and Josh

At the Art Museum

Art Hill, St. Louis

Art Hill and the Art Museum