Funny!

So - it is very cold and rainy here today.(actually it sleeted and snowed a little earlier in the afternoon!) I had to take Kate to the dr. because she woke up yesterday with a fever. I thought for sure it was another ear infection - turns out it is a throat infection! Yuck! Poor thing. She is being a trooper though.
Anways - we were playing in Kate's room this afternoon and Kate decided to change her clothes which then prompted Jackson to join in.





They are so funny!

Melissa

Spring Break

OK - I promised another post this weekend. I am trying to catch up - so here is a post about our Easter and Spring Break.
Easter weekend was cold but fun. We spent the weekend visiting with friends and family. The Easter Bunny left baskets full of goodies for the kids and even managed to leave some eggs for hunting at various places we visited. I'd have to say the best egg hunt was at my cousin Susie's house. It actually started snowing while the kids were hunting eggs! All in all it was a busy but fun weekend.
Kevin left Monday evening to head back home while the kids and I stayed and visited for the week since Jackson was on Spring Break. We spent the week visiting everyone we could fit in. On Wednesday we spent the day with Aunt Sue, Brittany, Brett and Sydney. We went to the Transportation Museum and then had lunch at McDonald's. Jackson also visited with his friends, Elijah, Nick, Alex and Joe. It was an exhausting but fun week. I had so many pictures it was hard to choose which ones to post so I chose pictures of the kids with their cousins. Enjoy!

Melissa
PS - the picture of Jackson with the Easter Bunny is a picture of him with his cousin because Steve was the Easter Bunny at Church! Notice there isn't a pic of Kate with the Easter Bunny. She was terrified of him. She held on for dear life and cried if she was in the same room with him!

Matthew

Hello - I know it has been a long time since I have posted something. I have a lot to post about - but I wanted to start with the most important.
Most if not all of you that read this blog have met my very cute nephew Matthew.
Matthew was born in October and he has Cystic Fibrosis. He is doing awesome and is a very big boy. He almost weighs as much as Kate:)
On May 17th many of us in my family are participating in the Great Strides Walk for Cystic Fibrosis at Tower Grove Park. Each walker is asked to raise money for the very important work that the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation does.
So - if you would like to donate money in honor or Matthew, click on the following link:
Walk for Matthew
It should take you my homepage and there will be a place where you can donate. My goal is $150 but I would love to raise more. There is also a place to register with our team (Bubba's Army) if you would like to walk with us.
I know in Matthew's lifetime they will find a cure.

Thanks -
Melissa

PS - Look for more posts this weekend:)

At the request of my father.....

I am here to update my blog. My dad sent me an email today asking me to update the blog. It has been a little busy around here. The kids and I spent the week after Easter in St. Louis. We had a great time visiting with family and friends. I caught a cold towards the end of the trip so I spent the weekend we got home resting while Kevin spent some "daddy time" with the kids:)
Once Monday hit we had to start getting ready for our neighborhood garage sale which took place Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It was a little nuts trying to get ready for it (I also hosted my book club that Wednesday) but it was a lot of fun and we got rid of a lot of junk. There were four families on our block that participated and because it was the first garage sale of the season (that's why they do it the first weekend on April every year) there were a lot of people who came out. Seriously - on Thursday the sale was from 3PM - 7PM (weird time - but that's how they do things up here) and there were times you couldn't even get down our block because there were so many cars!
It was crazy!
This week brought us back to our normal routines. Swim classes started back up again this week. Jackson is doing a great job. He almost went of the diving board today. He got a little scared when he got to the end. Maybe next time!
We are getting ready for another trip to St. Louis for baby Matthew's baptism on Sunday. We are also going to spend the night with Kevin's brother and sister-in-law in their new house on Friday night. Jackson is excited to have a sleepover with Uncle Keith.
I have to go put the kids down for a nap. I promise I will get back on later today or tomorrow to post some pics and update on the kids. They are so funny lately.

Melissa

Here Comes Peter Cottontail-

OK - well here comes the Dooley Family. Didn't sound so catchy. We are leaving tonight and heading to St. Louis. Right now I am procrastinating - I should be packing. I just realized I hadn't updated the blog in a while.
We are doing good here - Two weekends ago we went to St. Louis to visit with some friends. On Saturday we spent the evening with our friends the Podorski's. Jackson and Kate had a good time playing with Lilly and Elly. We missed Elly's first birthday party the weekend before when we had to cancel our trip because of illness. It was fun to catch up and they are planning a trip up here sometime in April.
On Sunday we had the chance to visit with our friends the Nix Family. It was very exciting because we got to meet their new arrivel - Anna Dola. Anna was born in India and she arrived here in the US about a month ago. She is just a year old and she is absolutely precious. Anna's big brother - Elijah is the same age as Jackson (they are about a month apart). Jackson and Elijah are very much alike and seem to just take off where they left off the last time they saw each other. They had a great time playing together. I wish we saw them more often :(
That had been the first time we had been back in St. Louis since Christmas. That is the longest time we have gone! It was nice to get things accomplished here at home - and we enjoyed a few visitors along the way.
By the way - we love visitors! Anytime you want to come stay for a day or two - please let us know. We would love to have you.
So - I guess I should get back to the packing. I promise I will post some pics after we get back. Kevin is leaving early Monday morning to come back - but I am staying for a few days with the kids since it is Jackson's spring break. I'm really just playing it by ear - but I will probably leave to come back on Thursday morning.
For all of those we don't see this weekend -
Have a Happy Easter!

Melissa

My Little Diva!

I know I said I would post later last weekend - obviously that never happened! Everyone is feeling better except for me! Yes - I caught the sickness, but I think I am on the tail end of it. We will be coming to St. Louis this weekend and are looking forward to seeing everyone. We haven't been to St. Louis since Christmas! That's a long time for us!
Anyways - I just wanted to post a few pics of my little diva. She loves to dress up. She especially loves shoes! It is so funny. She goes around putting on everyones shoes. Her favorites right now are her red shoes and Jackson's boots! She also loves this red coat she has on in the picture. Grandma got it for her and she thinks she is so cool when she has it on.
Enjoy -
Melissa

UGHHH!

We are supposed to be in St. Louis right now - but instead we are home with sick kids and a sick daddy! I am so ready for all of the sickness to be gone!!!! We are going to try to reschedule our trip for next weekend.
I'll try to write a new post later this weekend to update you on what has been going on with us. I have to go tend to the sickies right now.

Melissa