PAYBACKS!

Please don't call the authorities. This was all done in good fun, with much laughing and giggling by all parties involved!

Baby Ellie is here!

We have another beautiful niece! Baby Ellie has arrived! Katie, Mike, Matt, and Sam welcomed her on July 17th. She Weighed 6 lbs. 10 oz. and was 20.5 inches long. We can't wait to meet her when we take a train ride to visit their family over Labor Day weekend.

Bonjour! Parlez-vous Francais?

Edward, Mallory and I just got back from Montreal, Canada. It was a very relaxing vacation. We slept in late, ate a lot of great food, napped a lot, walked around the city, and enjoyed the amazing weather.

Luckily for us everyone there could speak English as well as French. I was finally able to put my two years of French from high school (13 and 14 years ago when I was a freshman and sophomore) to good use. I had a blast watching Edward try to communicate there. He could hardly understand what the natives were saying when they spoke in English because of their thick accents. He would call me over and whisper, "What's he saying?" when someone was speaking to him. On our last day there, I thought I would order our two donuts in French. I was very proud of myself because I thought I did an excellent job. The cashier smiled great big as she proceeded to check us out. I asked proudly, "Did I say that right?" She replied in a thick accent, "At least you tried."

Mallory snoozed almost the entire time on each leg of the trip. She did great.

This is the Basilique Notre Dame. We tried on two separate occasions to go in for a tour, but there were weddings at both times. Our friends were able to go in and said it was quite spectacular.

This is the Ste-Catherine Cathedral. Those are life-sized statues on the top. We're assuming they were saints.

This was the dome of Ste-Catherine's. This was our hotel, The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth. Our Elizabeth thought that was pretty cool.

I don't know what this building was used for in downtown, but I thought it looked neat.

Part of Vieux Montreal, or Old Montreal

Bon Apetite!

Edward's district manage, Richard, wanted to hold Mallory at the dinner. The whole time he had her I was thinking, "PLEASE don't spit-up on him!!!" Luckily she didn't. However, a lady came up to him and asked if Mallory was his granddaughter. With a taken-back look on his face he told her he was still in his 3o's. OUCH!

Yes. That's right. Those are flowers on our dinner plates.
On the last night of our trips, American Family always hosts a formal dinner followed by some entertainment. As we were walking in to take our seats, our friend Scott said, "Good news guys! We get to eat flowers tonight!"

Scott was actually brave enough to eat a marigold. After swallowing it he said, "Hmm. It pretty much tastes exactly how it looks."

Little Drummer Girl

After the dinner the company provided some fun entertainment. It was a group called the Rhythmics that they brought in from NYC. They were pretty similar to STOMP, creating music and rhythms from everyday objects. The performance was in the Bell Centre where the Canadiens play hockey. It was LOUD!!!!! We were given some earplugs for Mallory. She actually slept through the whole thing. Everyone in the arena was given drumsticks for a little audience participation. Edward couldn't resist getting her involved before the show.

Suson Park

The day before we left for Montreal, we took the kids up to St. Louis to swim in our hotel's pool, to eat at one of their favorite restaurants, Denny's (gag), and to Suson Park. They enjoyed feeding the ducks and watching the other animals.

This was our favorite shot of the day. In the miniature horse barn, we saw five ponies. Drew saw this one standing in the corner, and as serious as can be he said, "That one's been naughty."

Playing HOUSE

Drew pushed Mallory around in the baby doll stroller the other night while I was cooking supper. He kept doing laps around the dinner table where I could keep an eye on them. He was very happy to entertain her while I cooked, and she seemed content to go for a ride.

Life is Good...for Mallory & for Mommy!

Mallory has begun sleeping like a champ, and I couldn't be happier! She usually sleeps for about 6 or 7 hours for the first stretch of the night and then about 2 to 3 hours until she wakes up in the morning. Last night she slept for 8 1/2 hours! Yeah! I can also just lie her down in her bed at night, and she'll coo and talk to herself until she falls asleep. I've never had a child do that for me! Life is good!

A Special Day

Sunday, July 1, 2007 was a very special day for our family. Mallory Ellen Felker was blessed at church. Later in the afternoon, Edward Ross Felker was baptized by his dad. We felt so blessed to have so much love and support from our family and friends on such a special day. We wished everyone we love could have been there to celebrate with us. As Aunt Jan said, we "know you were there in spirit."

Ross and his proud dad

Mallory looked like an angel in her gown! The pictures don't do her justice! A friend from church made the beautiful gown for her.

Ross looks dapper in his new suit!

Sweet dreams!

Uncle Aaron, of course, is the hit of any party according to his adoring fans - the nieces and nephews. When he was done wrestling/playing with the kids he decided he'd take a little nap on the couch in the computer room. The kids would have none of that! So after waking him up by jumping on his gut, he decided he'd hide from them. He covered his entire body with the cushions and fell asleep. You'll notice someone spied him there and put a newspaper on his head.

A Sea of Shirtless Boys

Ross had a sleep over for his 8th birthday. The boys had a great time playing wiffleball, playing the X-box, watching The Sandlot, and other "guy stuff." When it was time for the lights to go out, all of the boys except one, took their shirts off. Elizabeth came in and said, "Ewww! Why are your shirts off?!" Grant, my 9 year old nephew said, "Because we're MEN!!!!!"

Off to the races!

For Ross & Elizabeth's last day of summer school, they got to participate in a turtle race. Some people we go to church with knew we were looking for a turtle, and they found two for us. Elizabeth called her turtle "Fasty" on the first day she had her. After her turtle didn't fare so well in the race she changed the name to Rosie. Ross named his turtle Bob.

Drew had to get in on the action too! Cousin Harrison was kind enough to give him his turtle when he was finished racing him. Drew named the turtle after his best bud, Sterling. His turtle's full name is Sterling Knucklehead Felker. The unsuspecting turtles are going to be set free at the park tomorrow afternoon. It will probably be the best day of their reptilian lives.

June 27, 2007

Mallory is always so happy and playful when she first wakes up in the morning. She has really begun to talk and coo. It's so sweet!

Rub-a-dub-dub!

Bath night is always a lot of fun at our house! It's usually a fight between Drew and Elizabeth as to who gets to take a bath with Mallory.

The Fantastic Four

For Fathers' Day I usually have the kids' portraits taken. This is this year's production. On our big portrait hanging on our wall you can really see the dirt in Drew's toenails. That's how his feet will look all summer!

First Smiles

Mallory has just started flashing big, toothless smiles. She is usually the most likely to smile when she wakes up in the morning and anytime Drew is around. Drew gets her to smile more than the rest of us combined.

Sprinkler Fun

We had a fun BBQ at the Marler's recently to honor Nathan & Laura (Marler) Hesmann's graduation from medical school. The kids appreciated Aunt Cathy's idea of playing in the sprinkler on such a hot day.

Cousin Joey isn't so happy about getting squirted in the face.

Ross, Harrison, Grant, Emmaline, and Drew wait for the water. Notice Drew getting ready to bolt.

Aren't big sisters great?

Elizabeth always has a great time dressing Drew up, and he is always a willing participant. He had no problem getting into the pink and white bunny suit. He reminded me of Ralphie in "A Christmas Story," although he was much happier wearing the costume.

Beach Baby

Of course Mallory is still too little to take a dip in the pool, but she was styling in her strawberry bathing suit to watch Daddy and the big kids go for a swim at aunt Joanie & uncle John's pool.