Andrew's kindergarten welcome mass!

 Way back in September Andrew had his kindergarten welcome mass.  It's a mass to welcome all the kindergarteners to church along with their 7th grade big buddies.  Andrew was very excited and really enjoys being with his big buddy, John!

Here is the kindergarteners and 7th grade buddies.  Andrew has one of the tallest 7th graders which is good considering my kids are so tall too.

 Father John, MawMaw, Joey, and Andrew.

 Andrew, his buddy John, and his teacher Mrs. Gotsch.  He looks like he is up to something :)

Andrew and his buddy, John!

Great wolf lodge!

 For Labor Day weekend this year, my parents took the kids and I to the Great Wolf Lodge over in Kansas City.  This was our first time at Great Wolf Lodge and the kids had a blast.

We had the room with the bunkbeds and the kids thought this was the best thing ever!

 There was so many fun activities to do around the hotel that we only left once.

 All the kids including their cousin Jacob!

 MawMaw and four of her grandkids.

 The kids working hard on coloring their pillow cases.

 The one time we left the hotel was to go eat lunch at the T Rex restaurant.

 I thought the huge water park in the hotel would have been the best part of staying there, but I was wrong.  The kids could not get enough of the wizard game.  They would run around the hotel for hours playing.  And to make it more dramatic, my mom bought all the kids wizard outfits to wear.

Thanks to MawMaw and PawPaw for a great weekend!

Andrew's 1st dove hunting!

 Chris had talked all year about taking Andrew dove hunting for the first time this year.  Unfortunately Chris passed away before he was able to.  Well Chris' family stepped in and made sure Andrew was still able to go.  Chris' dad took Andrew down to Uncle Roy's house where they have a huge opening day event each year.  Lots of Chris' friends, Chris' brothers, and other family members were all there to make sure Andrew had a great time.

Uncle Roy helping teach Andrew how to shoot his gun PePaw bought for him.

This is one very excited little boy!

Andrew says he got two doves, but I was told otherwise :)  Hunts like his daddy.......hehe!  But I know for a fact that Andrew had one of the best days of his lives and has been talking about it non stop.  I'm so thankful there is so many wonderful people in Andrew's life to help with this experience!!!

A day of fun on a farm!

 After Chris passed away, it was a very hard time for all of us.  To help cheer the kids up and give them something fun to do, Aunt Emily invited the kids over to her uncle's house for a day of fun. 

He has it all....horses, a big pond for fishing, ducks, and lots of room for the kids to run and play.

The kids had a blast. 

Adriana was very excited to ride his horses and was even allowed to ride out in the open on her own.  This makes for a very nervous mom, but a very excited horse loving little girl!

 Andrew even got on and rode the horse for a bit.  But of course he was led on a lead rope, not sure he could handle it if the horse took off on him!

 Then of course there was lots and lots of fishing!!!!

The kids had a wonderful day and I can't thank Uncle Ralph enough for allowing the Weber kids to come and take over his property!!!

First day of school!

 This year the kids had to start school a week late because daddy passed away on the day that was supposed to be their first day of school. 

This is also the big year for Andrew who started kindergarten!!!!

He wasn't very excited about getting his pictures taken this year!

 The sign they left for Andrew on his first day of school!  I love that they do this for the kids!

 Not sure if the school is excited for these Weber kids to be back ;)

Can't belive my little buddy is already starting kindergarten!  So excited for him and can't wait to see everything he learns this first year!

My heart!!!!

God saw you getting tired

A cure was not to be.
So he put his arms around you
And whispered, "Come with Me."

With tearful eyes we watched you
And saw you fade away.
Although we loved you dearly
We could not make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating
Your tender hands at rest.
God took you home to prove to us
He only takes the best.

There is a pain left that I know will never go away.  I have a whole in my heart that will remind me everyday of the pain left behind!  I can only hope in time the pain will ease for me and our beautiful kids.  Chris was the most amazing guy and everyone he met loved him!  I miss you so much Chris!!!!!  It's just not fair!  I hate this!!!!

Love you!!!!

I love you with all my heart Chris!!!!





Daddy's bear!

 While daddy was very sick in the hospital, I decided to take the kids to make a build a bear for him.  I thought this might make the kids and daddy feel a little better. 

First the kids all picked out a bear together.  It was not difficult for them to agree on a bear once they saw the Albert Pujols bear since daddy is such a HUGE cardinals fan.

Then the kids created their own sound for daddy.  They made a personalized one where each of the kids spoke into it telling daddy they hope he gets better soon.

Next came time to stuff the bear and each one of the kids picked out their own heart and put it into the bear.

 Next was bathtime where the kids all worked really well together bathing the new bear.

 And finally time to get the bear dressed.  Again it was another easy choice for the kids to agree on the outfit as they put it into a cardinals outfit :)

 And finally they delivered the bear to daddy at the hospital.  They were all so excited to give it to daddy and it put a smile on daddy's listening to all the kids excitedly talk about how they made it and listening to their voices recorded in the bear.

This bear later was placed into daddy's casket when he was buried so he can always hear the kids voices!

Fourth of July!

 This year for the Fourth of July we were very sad that daddy was unable to go with us because his pain was beginning to get to be more than he could bare. 

We headed down that morning to watch the annual St. Charles parade.  Unfortunately it was raining this year, but it didn't slow the kids down.  They loved running around playing in the rain.  Thankful it was more of a drizzle and wasn't bad.

 

We met up with the kids cousins.....Gabe, Mike, and Angeline.  The six of these kids together are so much fun!  I'm so happy they all get along so well!

After the parade, we went home to spend the day with daddy.  That night we returned to the riverfront with my sister, Kim, and Dan (who was working) and was able to watch the fireworks.  The kids were very excited and loved watching them.  I heard lots of ooooohhhhs and aaaahhhhs from them.  I really wish Chris would have been able to go with us, but I know he was with us in spirit!!!!