Aaron is on his way!

Aaron has been in Kuwait for the past 3 months and I've been in IL for the last 2months. Luckily he has been able to call me almost every day for 15 minutes and we've even been able to chat on the webcam for longer when the internet is working for him. (Whoever invented Skype is a genius!) But after our conversation today he was taking all of his stuff to the passenger terminal on base to fly to Germany and then to Baltimore. So he will be back in the states on the night of the 31st and back to AZ on June 1st. However, Brady and I will not be in AZ when he gets there! :( Sad for him. But he leaves again on June 3rd to come meet us here in IL and spend a week with family. So we are very much looking forward to that! I just hope the weather here will be a little nicer than it has been the whole time we've been here. I swear there's been more rain and colder temps than there has ever been this time of year - but maybe I'm just used to the desert now! I can't believe I actually said that I can't wait to get back to the dry hot temperatures in AZ. But at least the sun will be shining-it's been overcast like 90% of the time I've been here-it's kind of depressing.

American Idol

OK, so I admit that I have been a huge American Idol fan ever since the first season and Kelly Clarkson is one of my favorite singers still. So I thought I would post the little duet that both Davids did this year on the finale that I thought was really good. Although the finale overall wasn't as good as years past when they have some of the crazies from the initial auditions receive their "awards". But the songs that the top 12 sing are usually pretty entertaining and it was pretty good this year as far as that part of it was concerned.

"Hero"



I also have to give props to a song David Cook did by U2 for Aaron - U2 is his favorite and I thought David did a good job!

"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"

Brady and Jackson

This last weekend David, Hollie and Jackson came to St. Louis to visit. (David is Aaron's cousin, Hollie is his wife and Jackson is their son) While David went with his friend to the Cardinals game on Saturday, Hollie and I (with the help of Grandpa Gray) took the babies to the zoo. I know, it's another trip to the zoo but the zoo here in St. Louis is fun and it was a nice day! Brady loved the zoo as always and Jackson didn't seem as impressed. In fact, he was so impressed with the zoo that he slept through half of it!
These 2 little 2nd cousins had fun playing with each other as long as they could put their "territorialness" aside (is that even a word?). As long as they could each have the toy or sippy cup that they wanted everything was OK!

Pre Mother's Day Fun at the Mall

What can be a better way to celebrate Mother's Day than shopping? My parents and sister and I and the babies met in Champaign for lunch and shopping for Mother's Day. After lunch we headed to the mall and Grandpa was the babysitter/wagon puller/baby chaser while Grandma and me and Melissa shopped. We had a great time and so did the babies in the wagon and on the play ground too.

Here is a funny video honoring all Moms and the wonderful kids they have to say these things to! Enjoy and Happy Mother's Day!

Trip to the Zoo

This week I watched my little niece Ava while my sister Melissa was out of town. It was quite an adventure considering she and Brady are the same age. I really have come to appreciate parents of twins! She is such a fun little girl though and it was really a fun time having her around for 4 days.
We took the babies to the St Louis Zoo. It took 4 adults to take 4 kids ages 2 and under (Brady, Ava, Abbie and Gracie). But it was a really fun time! They loved the goats at the petting zoo and the elephants and giraffes. Brady and Ava can both do the elephant with their arms as trunks and the giraffe was right up by the fence in front of us eating and they loved that!