Our old house

I must have had ESP about our old house on Boneta, because I looked on realtor.com for houses in the zip code yesterday (after not looking on there for months) and it had just been listed.
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1714-Boneta-Ave_Richmond-Heights_MO_63117_M86680-41812
I looked through all the pictures and it made me feel very nostalgic, especially when I saw all the stained glass that I had made that is still in the house.  We worked so hard on that house and the garden, but of course that was all before children when we had so much more time.
We put that house on the market almost exactly 9 years ago and sold it for $35,000 more than the asking price is now.  I can remember when real estate was a great investment, obviously those days are gone (for now anyway).
I love that house!!!!

First MUG meet of the season

Ben had his first gymnastics meet of the season. It was pretty small, just 5 or 6 unsanctioned teams from the area, but it was a good start to the year. Here are a few of the level 5 boys waiting to practice on the rings.

I took some pictures of Ben practicing on the rings, but that was about the only thing we could see very well. He is so much better on the rings than last year. I taped his ring routine and it can be seen on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSh-g-ZVNCo&feature=youtu.be

He ended up doing pretty well. He got 1 first, 2 third and 3 second place in the 6 events. He was also 2nd overall, so he got 6 ribbons and a trophy. Good start to the meet season.

Here are the boys that came first, second and third-they were all called Ben!!!!!

Ben quotes

Candy canes are my life
The Egyptians drank lucky water, that's how they found all that gold and cardboard and other stuff....

Conversation in the car

Maggie:  Ben, can you teach me school when we get home?
Ben:  No Maggie, you don't want to pay attention any more
Maggie:  Yes I do, I promise
Ben:  Well, you can complain or scream or hit me for anything
Maggie:  No I won't
Ben:  If you complain, you are going to have to wear a dress to school
Silence....
Ben:  AND tights.  You'll have to wear the clothes you wore to the performance
Maggie:  Uh oh......

Tree cutting-first step towards Christmas

We went to Pea Ridge with Molly, Tim and Anne yesterday. This is our annual trip with them to cut our Christmas trees and it really wouldn't be the Christmas season if we didn't go. It was absolutely beautiful this year, probably the best year we have gone. It was around 60 and sunny, plus the ground was not too wet. I think the rest of the St Louis area had agreed with us that this was probably going to be the best day in December to cut a tree, because the place was absolutely packed!!!!
On top of all the other pluses, the trees were very good this year, there were loads to choose from and I think we got a good tree again this year. This is the one we chose.....

Of course, I have to take pictures on Ben and Maggie by "our tree" in the field!!!

Maggie helped Sam cut the tree, Ben just ran off to find Anne....

who was holding a bunch of greenery for decoration. It used to take Molly ages to find a tree but the last 2 or 3 years, they have found one before we have. Wonder what that says about my decision making abilities!!!!

Ben and his best friend Anne were having a pensive moment of the tractor going back

They had to sit with Santa, of course. Maggie told Santa that she wants to go to another planet for Christmas, guess I'd better call NASA and see what's going on.....

This is the finished result. We are very happy with the tree, it fits in our room perfectly. I love getting the ornaments out and putting them on the tree, there are always so many memories attached to them.

Fun at Tilles Park

I can always get Ben and Maggie to go to Tilles Park with me if I mention feeding the ducks. We had some old bread lying around after Thanksgiving, so we took it up to the lake to see if there were any ducks around. We try very hard to feed the ducks and not the Canada geese (which are becoming a real problem in several places around us)

Of course, we can never miss an opportunity to climb in the trees. They are perfect for climbing in the Winter because there are no leaves to get in your way (and no bugs jumping out at you either!!)
Maggie makes me smile at the way she cannot resist having her picture taken or striking a pose immediately. She denies she's a girl, but she just can't escape it!!!!

Ben is my fearless boy, as ever

I left them in the playground while I was running and came back to find them doing this.......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh_qIpaIDwE
Yes, they are in T shirts the weekend after Thanksgiving in St Louis!!!!!

Sleepwalking

Ben and I were discussing his sleepwalking last week.  He had commented that he didn't seem to do it any more and I said that maybe he had outgrown it.  Last night, he walked into our room, went over to Sam's side of the bed, did a reading presentation for Sam on his pillow, then crawled into bed with him and started snoring.  Guess he hasn't outgrown it yet!!!!