The DeMeester Family

An apology

2010-01-04T13:29:00.001-06:00

I have been so terrible about keeping the blog updated. So here comes a massive catch up! (as long as I have some good nappers) Enjoy!

Christmas Morning!

2010-01-01T15:56:00.000-06:00

DeMeester family Christmas

2010-01-01T15:07:00.001-06:00

Ayden loves his Gamma!What would Christmas be without family band?
Look who reluctantly joined in after not playing in almost 16 years!

Everyone was excited to have Aunt "Stuffy" and Uncle Rich
join us this year!

The best picture we could get.
Thanks Evan (aka. Crabby pants!)

Ella and her new bike

Note to manufacturer:Girls like these bikes too. How about
a feminine color choice?

Tribot, the robot that does it all.
Top on Evan's list (behind, of course, the practice
football field that he unfortunately did not receive)

The much anticipated Pat Pat rocket.
Top on Ayden's list this year.

Birch Family Christmas

2009-12-30T14:45:00.002-06:00

We got together at my sister's house again this year. More present opening and yummy food. It wouldn't have been complete with out cake, cupcakes, and singing Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus.

On To Pre-Christmas Preparations

2009-12-24T13:55:00.001-06:00

Getting back to reality with just a week left before Christmas, everyone (even Ella) got right into the spirit. In a short amount of time the ornament gifts for family and the holiday baking were completed.

A Pre-Christmas Getaway

2009-12-20T14:35:00.000-06:00

For our 10th anniversaries we went with our friends, the Dozier's, back to Aruba. (technically theirs was in Sept and ours not until March but it just worked out this way) It is definitely one of my favorite places to be. Last time on the island we were escaping a colicky new baby so our entire time was spent sleeping and laying on the beach. This time we made sure to do those things but also toured, pretty much, the entire island. We rented a jeep and went places that a car and probably a jeep shouldn't go. Another day we rented a car to do some snorkeling. There were so many good restaurants to choose from but my favorite would definitely be our "Anniversary" dinner at Passions. Our table was literally on the waters edge at sunset.

The Fun Back Home

2009-12-20T14:24:00.001-06:00

Don't fool yourselves by feeling sorry for the kids back home. Gamma and Grandpa made sure they had just as much fun as we did. They spent a few days in St Louis playing and making one of Gamma's elaborate gingerbread houses with her. Then it was back to Dubuque for some fun in the snow and pizza/playtime at Jumping Jane's. Evan was excited to play football with Nana in the freezing snow when the spent time at Nana and Papa's house. It was quite apparent we weren't missed too much. In fact, Ella cried when Grandpa handed her back to me as he was leaving!

Birthday's in Branson

2009-11-30T14:22:00.000-06:00

To celebrate my birthday and Ella's 1st birthday we took my family (Mom, Dad, Melissa, Nathan and Kylie minus Kevin) to Branson with us for the weekend. We stayed a Big Cedar enjoying what the resort had to offer. We also went to the Dixie Stampede and the Downtown Branson landing. A lot was packed into a short weekend but we had a great time, even fitting in a visit with Santa. Evan gave me a very unexpected present losting his first tooth on my birthday!

She's One!

2009-11-30T14:20:00.000-06:00

I can't believe Ella's first birthday is already here! She had a great time celebrating in Branson. Aunt Melissa made her a special brownie, marshmallow concoction that you can see was a big hit!! Mommy even got a special birthday treat. (minus the brownie of course!)

The Party Continues.....

2009-11-30T13:53:00.000-06:00

We had another celebration with the DeMeester side of the family when we went back to Dbq for Thanksgiving. Again Ella didn't disappoint when it came to the dessert! She has gotten pretty good at the present opening as well. She will be all practiced up for Christmas.

Halloween 2009

2009-11-01T13:31:00.001-06:00

(Sorry it will not let me change the order of the pictures)

After a very short walk in the neighborhood (with 2 little party pooper boys)
We spent the rest of the time cooking smore's in the driveway while giving out candy.

All bundled up to Trick or treat through the neighborhood
**Side note: Craig says he's in costume as well. He is wearing an Illini sweatshirt and
Calls himself "one of the fruits of the spirit...Patience"
Still waiting for a winning season in either basketball or football.

"Hurry up and take the picture so we can open our package
from Gamma and Grandpa"
All ready to trick or treat at the Business
along Main St. in St. Charles

Ayden goes to the Dentist

2009-10-14T13:21:00.000-05:00

We finally got Ayden in for his first dentist appt. (getting the appt. was not easy!) The first visit is strictly for counting teeth and getting them used to the chair. He was a little nervous but was glad to have his best friend Jane (the boy bear) with him.

Homecoming 2009

2009-10-12T14:23:00.005-05:00

We took the whole family to homecoming this year. We stayed with Angie and Jason. The boys had a blast playing with their cousins. Saturday we went to the game. The weather was not as bad as expected just a little windy. The Illini were unfortunately just as we expected! Evan still sat on the edge of his seat the entire time and knew exactly what was going on! It was so cute to watch! Sleeping beauty through the whole 2nd half

We are not fare weather fans!

Marching Illini minus chief...definately not the same!

mmmm....stadium hotdogs

Labor Day weekend with the DeMeester Family

2009-10-02T14:19:00.000-05:00

Ella "holding up" the Arch.

The family gathered in St Louis for the weekend and we had a great time! We celebrated birthdays, of course, but also visited the Science Center and toured the Arch grounds. We also took time on Saturday to watch the Illini, unfortunately, get creamed by Mizzou (Not one of our favorite moments!) Even though the outcome was easily predicted, we still pulled out the orange and blue!

CPC at the Magic House

2009-09-14T10:08:00.000-05:00

Each year our church rents out The Magic House for a Sunday evening. If you are not familiar with it you need to check it out.

It is a kids heaven with all sorts of neat things to experiment with and play pretend. You can put yourself inside of a bubble, do all sorts of water experiments and play pretend in all sorts of adult situations. Just recently they grew in size to add all sorts of new things to try. From the different branches of the government, construction work sites, playing detective to a 3 story bean stock that you (kids) can climb between the different floors! Its really tough to get the boys out of there. Even Ella had a great time.

Finally

2009-09-10T09:59:00.000-05:00

Ayden is finally in the big boy bed. Most of you know the issues with him and sleeping/bedtime. He is doing great! Still has way too many friends sleeping with him and Taz (our cat) decided to join the crew too.

The Hummer

2009-09-10T09:46:00.000-05:00

Some very gracious neighbors grew out of this toy and offered it to our family. The boys love it! Ayden isn't quite coordinated enough to drive yet but does enjoy being chauffeured around. Evan is a natural! He has it cruising all over the yard. Between two of our trees is a slight dirt pile and they love "off-roding".

The Festival of the Little Hills

2009-08-27T14:04:00.004-05:00

We had never heard of the festival of the Little Hills at the downtown river front in St Charles. After seeing the advertisements we thought we would check it out. It was huge! Arts and craft vendors everywhere, tons of food and kid friendly. The best part for the boys was riding a shuttle school bus to get there. Evan got to show us what it is like for him to ride to school and Ayden got to experience something his big brother does. (Make sure to ask Ayden what happened to him on the ride back to the van!)They both thought they were so cool! The boys enjoyed so much junk food, including their first funnel cake, I was worried about being up all night with sick kids. Thank goodness that wasn't the case!

At the pool

2009-08-22T14:17:00.000-05:00

So the summer has pretty much come to an end. We thought we should probably make it to the water park in the park across the street at least once this year! The logistics of me taking all three just didn't make it very possible during the weekdays. All of our kids love the water and had a great time! similar

Back to Dubuque

2009-08-20T13:00:00.000-05:00

Ayden and Nana with their Blizzard cake.

Ayden is so luck to share his birthday with Nana, Gamma and Nathan
(each just a day or two, before or after)
Sisters

Evan enjoying the birthday treat!

NEXT...

A beautiful evening on the Mississippi courtesy of Grandpa and Gamma

Busted!!

The toys were disappearing to the cabin below.

We actually got to join the boys for once!

(they might be a little spoiled!)

Dinner on the boat

We love playing with Gamma!
How many babies get spoiled like this?

Ayden is 3!

2009-08-14T12:23:00.000-05:00

The day finally came. We had been anticipating it for so long, because HE was so set on potty training on his birthday. I woke him up, singing Happy birthday and we headed straight to the bathroom. It's going really well, only a few accidents. The morning began with balloons, a birthday crown (worn all day!), and the requested french toast. Ayden also made the request of going to the mexican restaurant Chevy's for dinner. They made a big deal of his day and he loved it! His present from all of us was a white board and markers (cheap I know but he loves it and doesn't need anything else!!) Dad and Evan also enjoyed the board!

A Beautiful Afternoon

2009-08-04T10:57:00.005-05:00

On Sunday, Craig and the kids gave me a little rest time and took a walk to our park across the street. The pond is finally done and we have been saving bread to feed to the ducks. Ella really wanted to join in all the fun. (It won't be long!)

The Ladies and Gentleman's Club

2009-08-02T10:31:00.001-05:00

Evan just finished his 2nd full week of school and had a surprise when he came home on Friday. Each week one girl and one boy from all 4 kindergarten classes are chosen to be the Lady and Gentleman for the week. To get that honor they not only have to have perfect behavior, but also go above and beyond for others. They hold a ceremony every Friday to announce the honorees. These are pictures of our celebration. Evan got to "pay" for our treats. Too bad it wasn't his money. :o) Eating on the truck was as big of a deal as the ice cream! (check out the big ice cream drip in picture 2... What a great Daddy!)

The First Day of Kindergarten

2009-07-18T16:04:00.000-05:00

It's offical...Evan is now a kindergartener. In our school district we have year round school. It is 9weeks on, 3weeks off and 6 weeks for summer. The first day of school was July 16th. For the first week we had to truck it up the street to the bus stop. There were 14 other kids waiting for the bus! Knowing that that would get old pretty quickly, especially with the 2 younger siblings in tow, we convinced the bus company to pick him up in front of our house! Its been quite an adjustment being picked up at 8:50a.m. and dropped back off at 4:25p.m. Aside from more than a few cranky moments, he is really liking it!

Boys in Dubuque

2009-07-10T15:01:00.000-05:00

After our busy 4th of July weekend, the boys got an extended stay in Dubuque while Mom, Dad and Ella headed back to St Louis. They were able to spend some extra time with Nana, Papa and Great Gramme, along with a lot of extra boating with Gamma and Grandpa. (Mommy and Daddy were a little jealous.)

Ayden catches his first fish!
One of the many meals they got to eat on the boat.

Just lounging on the Mississippi talking to Mom.

(Do you think he missed me much?)

4th of July

2009-07-08T15:14:00.003-05:00

Cousins

Aunt Angie and Ella

The weather was perfect for a day on the river. I personally wouldn't know because I was lucky enough to spend the day in bed with a high fever! (Thanks mom for keeping Ella!) Anyway, there was a lot of fun on the jet ski and beach. They even saw a car/boat pull right up on the beach. After taking a little break from the river to hang out in the hot tub; it was right back for the airshow and fireworks. Craig and Ella kept me company at his parents house. It actually turned out really well. They have a great view from inside there house! Evan and Ayden did pretty well without us for the evening. Evan (mr. sensitive ears) watched the show from inside the boat and Ayden (along with cousin Isaiah) fell asleep right after it started.

7 Months

2009-06-26T21:47:00.000-05:00

Another month has gone by! With each day she has gotten her Daddy wrapped tighter and tighter around her little fingers! She has added more words to her list. She can now say hi, night and Ella. We don't hear them near as much as "Dada, Dada, Hi Dada!" Her sleep schedule during the night has been quite active. 2 a.m., 4 a.m. and up by 6:15! With this child I didn't waste my time trying to fix it. We had an appt. with the "sleep lady" and she set up a plan for us that had her sleeping through the night in a week and a half!

Father's Day 2009

2009-06-22T22:54:00.000-05:00

The 3rd annual Father's day camping trip with the Murray's was so much fun! "Camping" for us DeMeester's was a little different this year. We stayed at Big Cedar a resort on Tablerock lake close to Branson. Jen and J.C. are the real campers. Air conditioning and soft beds, that is my kind of camping. We spent a day on the beautiful lake boating. I got the opportunity to water ski again! (I feel like I've been pregnant for the past 6 years!). Evan is much braver this year. He swam alone with his life jacket and even rode with Dad on the tube going 20 mph! Ella's first time in a life jacket for an extended period of time went really well. (Just like her brothers!) On Sunday we took some time at the resort in the kiddy pool and floating down the lazy river. Before leaving we headed to the landing downtown Branson for ice cream and to watch the really cool fountain.

Happy Father's Day Daddy! We love you so much!

6 months already!

2009-05-30T22:08:00.005-05:00

We cannot believe our Ella is 6 months old already! She is rolling around, sitting up and eating quite a few different foods. Our whole house is painfully aware that she has two teeth and many more to come! Aside from the teeth, she is such a joy in our lives. Her favorite and only words are "Papa, Dada and Mama."

A Very Special Mother's Day

2009-05-30T13:51:00.000-05:00

I had a very important Mother's Day this year. Before God, family, friends and our church family at Chesterfield Presbyterian Church we had Evan, Ayden and Ella baptised.

5 months

2009-04-14T13:59:00.000-05:00

Ella is 5 months and I have been a big picture taking slacker this month but I still managed to get a cute one!

Easter 2009

2009-04-13T15:52:00.006-05:00

We spent Easter this year in St Louis. After a crazy morning of finding baskets and getting to church on time, we had lunch at our friends the Dozier's house. Kate made an awesome lunch with her wonderful culinary skills and we were able to hang out with our other good friends, the Moore family. The kids loved playing together and hunting for eggs in the backyard.

Evan's Spy Party

2009-04-13T15:08:00.006-05:00

On Saturday we celebrated Evan's 5th birthday with a spy themed party. We invited his entire preschool class and had 13 at the party. We sent the kids through "spy school". When they arrived they got their secret agent badges and earned stickers for the skills of listening, clue solving and quick eyes along with having their tools. At the end of the party they received goody bags with more "tools"and official certificates of graduation from the DeMeester Spy School

A 2 Year Old With Style

2009-03-20T15:06:00.006-05:00

We were getting ready for church on Sunday morning. I asked Ayden to go get the clothes I had set out for him so Craig could get him dressed. He was gone for awhile and Craig went to check on him. He found Ayden in his closet with a blue pair of cords (he got out of the drawer) and he was trying to get a shirt off the hanger. It was at all what I picked out but matched so well that we let him wear it. He was so proud!

Ella is 4 Months Old!

2009-03-12T14:54:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday Craig!

2009-03-10T14:16:00.000-05:00

I think Evan and Ayden enjoyed Daddy's birthday more than he did this year! They picked out balloons and presents, and decorated their own wrapping paper. They also used cake markers to draw on the cake! The most exciting part for the boys was giving Craig the NCAA football game for the wii. Evan wanted to play it for the rest of the evening!

A Sight I Could Get Used To!

2009-02-09T09:43:00.003-06:00

Multi-Tasking on Laundry Day

2009-01-11T17:17:00.001-06:00

Hanging with Ella

2009-01-11T16:42:00.000-06:00

Christmas DeMeester Style

2009-01-06T09:41:00.018-06:00

(back row) Allison, Ella, Makaela Elijah

(front row)Evan, Ayden, Isaiah

At the DeMeester house we celebrate Christmas the traditional way with big meals and opening presents, but you can't forget soaking in the hottub in freezing temperatures! No Christmas can be complete with out Christmas carols preformed by "The DeMeester Family Band". We have piano players, trombones, a flute, saxaphones, drummer, trumpets (when you have the correct sheet music) and beautiful voices. This year the little guys wanted to be a part so we had a few more singers, guitar players and even a recorder!

Christmas with the Birch's

2009-01-06T09:24:00.003-06:00

Uncle Kevin, Kylie and Ella
Ella hanging with Nana

Great Gramme looking great!

Present opening with the Stone family

Christmas Morning

2009-01-06T09:16:00.002-06:00

This is the second year that we were able to spend Christmas morning in our own home. The boys are such fun ages and were so excited! Here they are with some of there favorite gifts. Ella wasn't quite as interested; she spent the morning snoozing in her car seat.

Christmas Baking Time

2008-12-15T09:56:00.003-06:00

I woke up Saturday morning (after my wonderful husband let me sleep in!) and came downstairs to see my family baking the Christmas cookies. Craig usually bakes about three different kinds each year. This year Evan and Ayden wanted in on the fun! Ella was content to just hang out and observing.

My First Bath

2008-12-03T11:15:00.003-06:00

Ella's cord finally fell off and she was ready for her first bath. It started out ok, but then she decided that she was a little chilly and wasn't too happy with what was going on. Notice the relief on her face when it was all done.

Birch Family Thanksgiving

2008-12-03T10:58:00.004-06:00

We spent Thanksgiving Day this year quietly at home. My family came for a quick weekend to celebrate with us. It was the first time my dad, sister and family got to meet Ella. The highlight for Evan and Ayden was swimming in the pool at Aunt Melissa's hotel.

Kylie meets her new cousin.

Cousin Nathan

Nana, Ayden, Melissa and Kylie

Ella with Uncle Kevin

More Ella

2008-12-03T10:38:00.007-06:00

I've been told our blog doesn't have enough Ella pictures. (thanks Angie!) So here are a couple more!

"Mom, I'm trying to sleep!"

Just hanging with Daddy.

Brothers get to meet their new sister

2008-11-13T11:33:00.003-06:00

Evan and Ayden came to the hospital last night and met their new sister. Both of them did great with her and were anxious to hold her.

Melanie and Ella are both doing well. So far Ella's goal is to sleep as much as possible today as we are rarely seeing eyeballs or even hearing a cry.

Thank you for all of the comments, prayers and support!

Introducing our new daughter...

2008-11-12T17:02:00.007-06:00

We are excited to announce the birth of our girl:

Ella Nicole De Meester

She was born at 1:04 today and weighed in at 7 lbs, 10 oz and is 20.25" long.

Melanie and Ella are both recovering and waiting for Ella's 2 big brothers to arrive here shortly.

Here are a couple of pictures of Ella in the nursery. As you can see, daddy is still the one with the least amount of hair in our house. We will post more pictures when we get them!

Veggie Tales Live!

2008-11-01T12:51:00.003-05:00

After we were finished with trick-or-treating, we surprised the boys with tickets to see Veggie Tales. They were so excited! Evan just sat there the whole time taking it all in. Ayden was dancing in the aisle.

Trick-or-Treating

2008-11-01T12:24:00.002-05:00

I love that St. Charles has different kind of option for young kids trick-or-treating. Main Street is closed from 3-5 p.m. on Halloween. All of the shop owners sit outside their businesses and kids can go up and down the street getting candy. Its all finished before it gets dark! The boys really had fun this year. The weather was beautiful. Unfortunately our costume choices didn't work to well in 80 degree weather! It didn't take long for Ayden's cow to come off. When we got up to a store owner we just hung it on his head!

Pumpkin Carving Fun

2008-11-01T11:34:00.008-05:00

Ayden was so into cleaning out the insides of the pumpkin.

Sometimes getting one seed at a time, he was determined to clean it all.

Evan, not so much. He got all grossed out after one scoop like his Mom does.

Craig asked them to draw what they wanted carved into their pumpkins.

This is what Ayden came up with!

The finished products.

CPC Fall Festival

2008-10-20T10:00:00.005-05:00

Last night was our church's fall festival. It was a perfect fall evening! There were so many activities... bon fires, bounce houses, sports on the field, petting zoo and pony rides. (as you can see those were the favorites of the night) We can't forget the chili cook off and no CPC event would be complete with out the cheesy games and songs! We all had a great time hanging with friends.

A Trip to the Fire Station

2008-10-16T09:48:00.002-05:00

Parents as Teachers, an organization in our school district, hosted a tour of the Cottleville Fire Station. The boys were pretty excited about it. They toured through the living quarters, watched a fireman get full dressed in his outfit (slightly scary to them) and of course climb all over the fire truck. At the end of the tour they got to watch a Seasame Street movie on fire safety. They really did have a lot fun although they found it hard to smile in any of the pictures I took!! Very frustrating!

The Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-13T11:57:00.004-05:00

Its pumpkin patch time again. This year we decided to try Dainels near our house. Athough slightly overpriced, we had a lot of fun. The boys loved running through the maze made of hay. (I'm not a big fan of them out of my sight with about 25 different openings they could pop out of!) There were unusual horse swings and a lot of differents slides to go down. The weather was little different for a fall day. Temperatures reached the mid 80's!

We have a new puppy?!

2008-09-22T15:22:00.006-05:00

The past week or so Ayden thinks he is our new puppy. He wants Evan and I to call him Jack (which is the real dog's name). Today the boys have been playing so well outside. I went to check on things and this is what I witnessed. I really hope he doesn't scar for life!

P.S. No, there is nothing around his neck. The leash is hooked to the back of his shirt.

Evan vs. Tomato...The Video

2008-09-22T15:14:00.013-05:00

I finally figured out how to upload video (Now I can't figure out how to make it fit right!) So here is how the whole ordeal went down... If you don't know what I am talking about see previous post)

The new fort, a big success!

2008-09-19T12:29:00.005-05:00

Many of you know we have been having a few issues with Ayden and bedtime. (We've only been having problems since last spring!) After close to 2 hours with a sleep specialist, we came up with a pretty intense plan to get him straightened out. The main part of the very detailed plan was putting Ayden back in the crib and adding a crib tent, calling it his fort. (or "fork" if you ask him) He was able to keep a "few" friends in there with him. It also required us to take turns (specific nights) sleeping on a mattress in Ayden's room. Nancy, the "sleep lady", outlined what Ayden's behavior would be each night and how to interact with him. We are amazed! It was right on and its working!! Last night Craig and I had special dinner after the boys went to bed to celebrate transitioning out of sleeping in his room. While we were finishing up meal preparations, Ayden had a minor relapse. (perfect timing!!) But it was expected, according to the paperwork, and Craig handled it very easily! Of course, through out the process Evan couldn't be left out. Mom made him a pretty cool "fork" for himself.

*I hope I don't jinx the whole situation by posting this*

A 4 year old who thinks his life is over!

2008-09-12T12:29:00.001-05:00

The infamous Tomato!
I don't think I'm going to make it!
Savoring the last of the apples.

Like any good parent we want our kids to eat healthier. I made tacos tonight (Evan's request) and among other things, cut up an apple to go with it. All we ask is that they finish the food on their plate if they want another helping of a certain food. If not, they can be done when they are full. Craig place 1 tiny diced tomato on Evan's plate. When he decided he wanted more apple we reminded him he had to eat his tomato first. That turned into about a 45min ordeal. He screamed and cried and had a few time-outs before he finally got it down. **Remember he doesn' t have to eat it if he decides he doesn't want any seconds of anything else!** He must have really wanted more apples!! I wish I could figure out how to upload video so you could get the full entertaining effect!

Labor Day in Dubuque

2008-09-04T12:29:00.000-05:00

We headed back to Dubuque one last time before the baby comes, and of course jammed as much as humanly possible into the long weekend. Our final time on the river this season was so much fun! It was so nice on Gamma and Grandpa's new boat. We were able to fit Bob and Pam, our family, the Buols and Mocks aboard. Ayden got to ride the jetski for the first time. We had no idea how much he wanted to or how much he would love it!! He talked about it a lot afterwards! Evan got to go camping in Nana and Papa's motor home, while Ayden was able to take a jeep ride with Makaela and cross the Mississippi on a car ferry! We also can't forget the big birthday party and climbing all over Uncle Nick. The next time we see everyone we will have our baby girl with us!

Ayden turns 2!

2008-09-02T14:00:00.001-05:00

We made it! We got Ayden to his 2nd birthday with out stitches or bronken bones! He has had about a month of different celebrations. His biggest ones were in Dubuque. On his actual day we spent it with Nana and Papa Birch. We got to ride in Papa's antique suburban in the Key West parade. A couple weeks later we headed back to celebrate all of the DeMeester Aug/Sept birthdays. (By the way, the goofy look on his face is actually him singing to himself.)

Evan's First Day of School

2008-08-26T14:38:00.001-05:00

The School year has begun already. Evan started his last year of preschool. He goes 2 full days a week and loves it. Ayden wanted to be a part of his big day. He has learned so much already and I am loving the one on one time with Ayden!

Summer Activities

2008-07-18T07:36:00.002-05:00

Evan is having a great time this summer. He started swimming lessons. Its the first lessons he has had without Mom or Dad in the pool with him. As you can see he doesn't mind at all. He has also begun T-ball and actually isn't too bad!
The first few weeks have been practice. The next two are games. Watching four year olds run around the field is one of the cutest things I've seen. I'm sure this is only the beginning of my sitting in the bleachers watching games. Thank goodness the pool and ball fields are in the park across the street!

Its a ...!

2008-07-09T15:01:00.004-05:00

Girl!! We had our 20 week ultrasound on Monday and they said she looks perfect, right on schedule. We are so thankful! I am still a little in shock. Just when I think I'm getting the whole little boy thing down, our daughter is on the way. We are all so excited and feel so blessed. I think Evan is the most excited. He just knew he was going to have a little sister from the start. The boys are now debating on names. If Evan has his way she will be "Muck Dumptruck DeMeester" (From Bob the Builder) and Ayden says "GaGa Dorie DeMeester." (His two favorite stuffed animals). Check back in early November for the name Mommy and Daddy choose!

Colorado

2008-07-06T08:01:00.001-05:00

All 16 members of the DeMeester family headed to Colorado for our family vacation this year. We were able to see so many beautiful things and experience so many attractions in the Breckenridge area. Here are just a few glimpses...

We climbed around in ancient cave dwellings.

Evan went fishing a few times with Gamma and Grandpa and had some good luck.

They brought them back for dinner but he was all talk when it came to eating it!

The rock formations at "Garden of the Gods" were so cool!

We rented jeeps one day and went exploring on our own. It was so fun!

A 2 1/2 hour train ride up the mountain.

We also were able to tour a candy factory in Denver, See the Seven Falls waterfall, hike and swim in the pool at the resort. The last night was spent watching fireworks over Breckenridge for the Fourth of July. It was a great vacation but we came home pretty exhausted!

Happy Father's Day Daddy!

2008-06-17T15:31:00.004-05:00

This years Father's Day present was a weekend of "real" camping with our friends the Murray's at Table Rock Lake. The boys had a great time eating food cooked on a fire.

Notice the tent in the background; I really did sleep on the ground!

(well on an air mattress on the ground.)

We spent our days boating, something our whole family loves. Craig was able to fish with Evan, ski, wake board, and take both boys out on the tube.

Moving very slowly on a tube is quite a workout on the arm muscles!

Still, he patiently let them ride until they were all done!

*This picture does no justice to how dirty we really were as we packed up to leave!*

The weather was perfect and all of my boys had a great time. I really have to admit, it was not that bad! Actually a good experience.

We love you so much Craig! Thanks for being an Amazing Dad!

Memorial Day Weekend part 1

2008-05-26T14:32:00.000-05:00

The Midwest members of the DeMeester family joined us in St. Louis for a fun and busy weekend. Saturday we went to the City Museum. For people not familiar with it and starting to yawn, I don't know why museum is in the title. It is a crazy old office building full of all sorts of places and spaces of all sizes to crawl in and around. From under the floor (Evan, upper right), to the ceiling and outside many stories in the air. If you are claustrophobic, scared of heights or an overprotective mother, it could be a nightmare! My boys had a blast! They were not scared of anything and their Daddy loved it! Even Ayden was perched outside too many stories up in a metal cage like space! I admit I handled it a lot better than expected.

Memorial Day Weekend part 2

2008-05-26T14:22:00.002-05:00

Sunday between rain, thunder and even hail, the group went to the Zoo. The few hours they were there the weather and crowd were perfect. We are so fortunate to have such a nice and mostly free zoo. Evan never gets tired of visiting and was so excited to carry the map and tell his cousins all of the cool things they would see. Ayden and I hung back at home for a much needed naptime.

Memorial Day Weekend the Finale

2008-05-26T14:04:00.000-05:00

What would a DeMeester family get together be without celebrating the birthdays. This time around it was Evan, Uncle Jason, and Aunt Dawn. Evan was excited and a little confused because his birthday was over a month ago. We also celebrated Mother's Day since Pam unfortunately had to spend the actual day without her children.

Graduation Day

2008-05-18T12:23:00.003-05:00

It's finally official. Craig graduated from the Olin Business School at Washington University here in St. Louis. He now has his MBA. I can't believe its been 3 years! He worked so hard and did a great job of balancing his home, work and school life. The boys and I are so proud of him and very excited to have him around more!

Surprise!

2008-05-10T12:01:00.002-05:00

For those of you who haven't heard yet or haven't noticed the countdown to the right of your screen, we are expecting baby number 3! The days left are very approximate because our babies seem to come earlier and earlier. Right now the baby will probably be scheduled come to in early November. To quote Evan "We are sooo excited but it is going to take FOREVER!"

Visiting Aunt Stephy and Uncle Rich

2008-05-01T10:50:00.003-05:00

We had the opportunity to fly to Florida and spend some time with Steph and Rich. If you ever want a really fun vacation, they are the ones who will hook you up! Steph took time off of work and kept us busy. We did so many things in just 5 days. They took us to the beach (both ocean and intercoastal) on their boat. We got to see so many dolphins along the way! The water was pretty choppy and after soaking Evan came a messy chocolate ice cream cone! (Thanks to Aunt "Stuffy" ice cream became a theme of Evan's trip!) We walked around St. Augustine, and the guys TRIED to get some deep sea fishing in. Evan also got some up close (to close for me!) look at Alligators. He thought that was so cool!

Disney

2008-05-01T08:30:00.001-05:00

What would a trip to Florida be without visiting "The Most Wonderful Place on Earth!" Something I would not even consider attempting with a 1 and 4 year old if we hadn't gotten hooked up with tickets (Thank you Buffy!!!) The boys were most excited about Buzz and Woody and eating at the Pizza Planet. Mater was also a favorite. Both boys did amazingly well all day! Ayden crashed for about an hour in the stroller and Evan was very brave, going quite a few rides with Dad and Aunt Steph.

Evan's Birthday in Chicago

2008-04-17T13:31:00.003-05:00

Evan's 4th birthday was a full day of fun! We started the day at Shed Aquarium, back to the hotel for swimming and then Daddy's friend Alan got married at Navy Pier. Evan thinks we are the coolest parents in the world. His take on the day...Mom and dad took me all the way to Chicago to see some cool fish and I had a very fancy party. We all got dressed up and everyone sang happy birthday to me (actually the bride's dad but our table changed the words) I had the biggest cake, some people cut it for us so I didn't get to see my name. I got to blow out some big candles in little cups. They also had music for all of us to dance to.

At the end of the night he couldn't stay awake. We plan on going with the coolest parents thing for awhile!

The Zoo

2008-03-30T21:06:00.004-05:00

At the last minute after a cancelled playdate and sick of being stuck at home, I decided to surprise the boys with a trip to the zoo. It was the first day in a while where there was no rain in the forecast. I got the boys up and there (not as easy as you may think) before 10a.m. to get into the childrens part with no admission. It was a lot colder than I anticipated so I was sure we wouldn't be there long. They loved it so much, especially Evan, that we stayed for hours and saw almost the entire zoo!

Our "Other" Boys

2008-03-27T09:29:00.004-05:00

Everyone knows my house is male dominated but some may not know how true that really is. We also have 2 cats and a dog. Taz, T.J and Jack are also boys! (So technically that makes it 6:1!) They really don't get any blog time but I thought this picture of Tazzy and Jack was so cute!

Easter in Dubuque

2008-03-24T19:52:00.000-05:00

Evan and Ayden got into the holiday spirit a little early this year. They carried their baskets around for a few days hiding and finding eggs for each other, taking a moment out to be goofy so mom could take a picture. We spent Easter weekend in Dubuque and apparently missed the snow at home. The Boys did the typical Easter things and Evan also got to celebrate his birthday (that is coming soon) at Nana and Papa's house. Their cousins Elijah and Isaiah were also visiting at Gamma and Grandpa's house. They looked so adorable for church that morning!

Craig's New Toy

2008-03-18T13:40:00.000-05:00

I wanted to surprise Craig with something very impractical and fun for a graduation present. The WII was perfect. When he doesn't have to study anymore he can enjoy playing with the extra time. Unfortunately, I didn't realize what an ordeal it would be to come up with one or all the lying and hiding away money it would take to get it. I blew the surprise and he got it in the middle of March. I have to admit it is extremely addicting! Especially Guitar Hero. (What is having a WII without Guitar Hero!) Craig now needs a bit more persuading to get to his homework, and despite what he thinks.... Evan and I do NOT spend all day playing!

A Very Busy Weekend in Des Moines

2008-03-10T13:58:00.001-05:00

We spent Craig's birthday weekend with his family at the Buol's house.

It is always a lot of fun and always crazy busy. We got to meet their newest family member. (Tiko the bird) Besides celebrating the Jan, Feb and Mar. birthdays we finally got to see Makaela play basketball as #5(which Evan couldn't believe he was watching a real live game in person!) and enjoy another one of Allisons amazing performances in the Play Seussical Jr. (She played Amazing Mayzie) Both girls are very talented. I'm sure Allison would want me to note that her hair was already done for her next performance when she posed for the birthday picture!

A Night with Steven

2008-02-29T20:31:00.000-06:00

Steven Curtis Chapman (our favorite artist!) came in concert. We went with friends Shannon and Matt and had a great time. It was an intimate concert with a whole set of old school requests. He also performed two of my favorite of his new songs, "Cinderella" (Evan's very favorite song), and "One little heart beat at a time". "Cinderella" is a song that remind us all of the important little moments with our children, who grow up too fast. If you are a stay at home mom, you need to hear "One little heartbeat at a time"! Especially when it is one of those days! It is so important to remember our job's are really changing the world.

The First Annual Ski Trip

2008-02-26T15:19:00.000-06:00

We invited some skeptical friends (the Moore and Murray families) for a weekend of skiing in Illinois. We actually have 2 ski resorts in the Dubuqe area. Craig, J.C., and Lisa spent a day skiing while Mitchell, Jen, and I stayed back with the kids, relaxing and enjoying the hot tub. The weekend was also filled with so much delicious food (thanks to my wonderful mother-in-law Pam) and intense game playing.

Xavier

2008-02-01T15:48:00.000-06:00

We had the opportunity to help another foster family out last week. We took Xavier for 4 days while they attended a funeral out of town. Xavier is an 22month old little boy who has cerebal palsy. He is only able to crawl right now and has yet to talk. He has made dramatic progress in his time in foster care and has the determination and beautiful smile to continue to improve. Xavier also has the habit, when upset, of holding his breath, turning blue and passing out for about a minute. It made for an interesting few days and inspite of that we would still love to have him again.

Our New Piano

2008-01-14T14:18:00.000-06:00

After looking for quite a while, we finally found a really nice used piano for our home. Craig is hoping we have a couple of little Mozarts in the family. The minute we got it into the house they began practicing!

Goodbye Katy!

2008-01-06T13:48:00.000-06:00

The time came to say goodbye to Katy. She has lived with our family for 5 months and really has become one of us. Thankfully the goodbye was not as hard as it could have been. Katy is moving into a very good situation with her Mother, who loves her very much. We have also gotten to know her mom over the past month of transitioning and have decided to stay in touch. Our last lunch together we celebrated with "real" wine glasses and a bottle of sparkling grape juice. With every visit to her mom she took some of her things to move into her new room. Even after doing that, she had a huge pile of stuff waiting to be picked up!

Downtown Branson

2007-12-31T20:15:00.000-06:00

After two fun filled freezing days in Silverdollar City, the temperatures warmed up slightly and we went to downtown Branson. The downtown is filled with a lot of the stores you would find in a mall. In the courtyard next to the river was a $7.5 million fountain. Every hour the fountain goes off to music. A couple of times a day it even shoots fire.

A Silverdollar Christmas

2007-12-31T14:45:00.000-06:00

The extended DeMeester family spent a few days between Christmas and New Years in Branson. Silverdollar City was a lot of fun. Evan even went on his very first ride! The only down side was the temperatures; they stayed pretty close to the freezing mark!! Being outside all day really wiped the boys out!

Christmas with the Stone's

2007-12-23T17:27:00.000-06:00

Every year my Papa, Mom, her siblings and families get together to celebrate Christmas. Our family has grown so much over the years that we now get together at Four Mounds. Four Mounds is a beautiful retreat center (in Dubuque) with a huge mansion where we all fit. I didn't get very many good pictures but here is the snowy setting, Papa and my parents along with a picture of everyone 18 and under.

Rejected Christmas Pictures

2007-12-19T13:20:00.000-06:00

This year I had some great idea's for a really cute Christmas card. Unfortunately, the boys had a little trouble cooperating. We went in a different direction and they are still pretty cute!

Birch Family Christmas

2007-12-18T21:04:00.000-06:00

This year we celebrated Christmas a little early with my family. Mom made a really good breakfast! The boys loved the toys and time with Nathan and Kylie.

Weekend with Tony

2007-12-03T14:39:00.000-06:00

We were able to spend another weekend with sweet little Tony. She first stayed with us for 10 days when she was only 4 weeks old. At 4 months now it was so fun to see how she has grown!

Dubuque for Thanksgiving

2007-11-26T14:22:00.000-06:00

Our few days in Dubuque for the holiday were packed full of activities. Besides the traditional huge wonderful meals, we watched Santa come down the fourth street elevator (in the freezing cold!), baked a million christmas cookies (ok, we did help a little!), and cheered our neice Allison on as she preformed for the festival of trees.

Halloween 2007

2007-10-31T13:54:00.000-05:00

For Halloween we went trick or treating on Main street in downtown St. Charles. The weather was perfect! Unfortunately the chicken wasn't in the mood to get candy or enjoy his cute outfit. Katy got a special treat; her mom went trick or treating with us.

The Botanical Gardens

2007-10-07T13:26:00.000-05:00

Gamma and Grandpa came to visit and took us to the Botanical Gardens. We got to see a lot of cool things and even got to decorate pumpkins. Ayden spent most of the time hanging out in the stroller observing everyone.

Labor Day in Des Moines

2007-10-02T20:24:00.000-05:00

We had a great weekend at the Buol's. Our weekend started with a parade. We celebrated quite a few birthday's including Katy and Ayden. (once again) The highlight of the weekend was seeing our niece Allison perform last minute in a talent show (she took third!) and sing the national anthem at the Iowa Cubs game. She was amazing! It gave me chills! Katy continues to talk about her new friend Makaela.

Welcoming Katy

2007-10-01T21:40:00.000-05:00

On August 14th Katy came to live with us for a while. She's 5 and she and Evan began acting (fighting) like siblings right from the start. Things have settled down since then and she's fitting in really well. I've kind of enjoyed painting a room pink and having a child with some hair!

Evan's First Day of School

2007-09-04T20:29:00.000-05:00

My big boy started school! He was pretty excited, but maybe not quite as much as Mom. I woke him up with a camera in the face and served him his favorite breakfast. He loves school! When I get emotional I have to remind my self it's only one day a week preschool!

Ayden's1st Birthday

2007-08-26T13:06:00.000-05:00

Ayden celebrated his first birthday with a brunch in Dubuque and an afternoon party in St. Louis. When it came to the "cake" (cinnamon roll and cupcake) he didn't disappoint! Ayden managed to eat them both with very little use of his hands! Evan and Katie were also very helpful in making sure Ayden's new toys were played with immediately.

A night with the Cardinals

2007-08-08T21:06:00.000-05:00

Craig was rewarded at work with tickets to a Cardinal baseball game. Evan, of course, was his date along with our friend Ross. Evan loved riding the metro to the ballpark and spent most of the game watching the big screen instead of what was happening on the field!

Hanging with Sami and Cassie

2007-07-02T13:07:00.000-05:00

Mommy's cousins, Sami and Cassie Brant, spent the week with us. We had a lot of fun going to the park and we even went to the Science Center. They were a big help so Mommy could get a few things done.

Father's Day 2007

2007-07-02T12:09:00.000-05:00

We surprised Daddy on Father's day with a picnic in Busch Wildlife Reserve. His gift was a cooler filled with all sorts of fishing gear. I had all of he and Evan's poles hidden in the van and they spent the afternoon trying to catch fish. (unsuccessful because I refused to by real worms!)

Boating with the Murray's

2007-07-02T11:49:00.002-05:00

J.C. and Jen took us out for an afternoon of boating on the Mississippi river; not too far from our new house! Our world traveling friend, Patrick, was visiting and joined us. It was Ayden's first experience and he loved it! (especially the sand) When we got back, Jen, the baby and Evan were pretty exhausted!

P.S. These are the last pictures taken with our old camera before the lens thingy died. Please excuse the picture quailty.