Climbing

We knew this day would come but not so soon. Evangeline is climbing.
On Saturday, Greg and I had two girls from his summer job at Religion News Service over for dinner. We had spaghetti.

Evangeline was very shy at first, but then realized she had the undivided attention of the girls. She started dancing, running around, bringing them books to read and talking to them. At one point Greg and I were talking to the girls and Evan had relocated to the living room. Then we heard her saying "help" "help" help" in her sweet little voice. I came around the corner and found she had climbed up on top of the piano in attempts to get her books down.

In addition to the piano incident I've found her on the dinning table and our bed. I'm proud of her for her bravery, but scared to death she is going to hurt herself. Even more of a reason to spend some time at the park on a daily basis. She is in desperate need of exercise.

In other news, Evangeline is 32 inches tall and we have her 18 month appointment (although she's almost 20 months old) this next week.

Thankful for summer

We are so glad school is out for the summer. Well at least it sort of is. Greg and I wrapped up our classes and I'm ready to spend time on research and my independent study for the summer. I'm also excited to have a lot of time with Evangeline. She's so sweet, but so busy now-a-days. We've spent the sunny days at several parks around Columbia. She loves being outside and spending time in the back yard. We also have been playing Legos and puzzles in the basement on rainy days.

We have replaced Sammy the frog after Evangeline hid her in the house somewhere and we were not able to relocate her.

Evangeline on the butterfly rocker.

My little coffee Barista (left), going down the slide.

Swimming and snacks in the back yard with Claire.

Cookies from the Farmer's Market. To be fair she also likes broccoli and asparagus.

When it rains we have been playing Legos in the basement.

On the playground at church.

Hanging with my cute girl at the park on the inch worm.

Sweet goofy girl.

Eating more cookies.

Cuddle time with books and her new Sammy the frog.

More time with Claire at the park.

On the "big girl" swings. Hold on tight girls.

First Ice Cream cone of the summer. Split with mommy of course.

Mother's Day and the end of the semester

Here are a few photos from Mother's Day. For mother's day Greg and Evangeline took me for a picnic in downtown Columbia after church. My parents also send a mother's care package with a beautiful Estee Lauder perfume bottle that was hand painted and a great Lily Pulitzer make-up bag.

Picnic with Evangeline in the Back yard

Then we added a blanket and plates : )

Perfume my parents gave me for mother's day.

Spring Time- March, April, early May

Spring has been very busy at Chateau Perreault. We had a visit from the Varner family and a lot of adventures around Columbia and St. Louis. It was also a landmark season for birthdays, I turned 30 in April, my dad turned 60 in April (in Texas), and Evangeline turned 18 months bringing more parenting challenges. Several of our family friends are moving this summer, which makes us sad. But we've been spending a lot of quality time with them. It was really cold this spring. Most days were 50 degrees or colder. That meant that our outside time was limited to the warmer days.

Getting quality time in with Claire at the playground in our neighborhood.

Evan and Claire playing at Claire's house.

James and Evangeline take a trip to Shelter Gardens.

My birthday outfit from Mom and Dad.

Evangeline and the shirt she won from Lately Lily.

Evangeline recently learned how to blow bubbles.

And met some fire fighters.

And went to the University of Missouri Vet School Open House.

Here she is playing with James again at Barnes and Noble.

And Wishing Grandpa Will a happy birthday.

And cuddling with her super hero daddy.

She has really gotten into stickers.

Meeting baby Gabe Varner.

Another thing she loves is the swing.

Evangeline has grown so much. She is saying a number of words and really interested in Potty Training. We hope to start that sometime this summer. She loves being outside. Especially playing on the playground slide and swings. She is learning to love drinking things other than milk and water. She tries to taste almost anything with a straw.

She loves cookies and asks for one when she sees anything that looks like a cookie. She asks to "swing" "slide" "walking." She lets you know when she needs "help," gets "stuck," or wants "more." She also says "please" and "thank you" which makes me so happy.  I love having a polite little girl, even if she is a toddler and uses the word "mine" a lot too. She's also started to say the names of her friends "James," "Claire," "Anne," "Gabe," and her teachers and friends at school.

Heading home from Florida

One more post from our trip to Florida. Here are photos from our trip home. We stopped in Live Oak for dinner with Greg's dad and his wife Rachel and then drove a few more hours. We stayed the night and then drove 12 hours back to Columbia. It was a long trip with a toddler and dog in the car, but we were grateful to be home.

On the swing.

"whoa!"

Hanging with her grandparents. Ready to sleep in the car.

My new favorite photo.

Another stop at Cracker Barrel.

St. Louis Arch. Only two hours left until home.

More photos from Catie and Danny's wedding

Here are a few more photos from Catie and Danny's Wedding that my cousin Rachel took. Rachel is so talented and she's a great photographer. Some of my favorite photos from family gatherings are ones that she took. Sadly, I'm just now getting around to sharing them. I'm really glad because I did not have any of our family from the wedding. Thanks again Rachel.

Evangeline and her grandpa Will.

Our family.

Love this girl.

Angel eyes.

Florida Visit in March, Part 2

We enjoyed park play time and visiting our friends Rose and Scott and their two little ones. Evangeline loves Allison (3) and Luke (1). Evangeline is right between the two of them and loved playing with them in the back yard with bubbles.

 

We also got to see our friends again at Church on Easter Sunday. Evangeline loved the Easter Egg Hunt at the Chapel and looked adorable in her Malley and Co. dress.

Bright sun on Easter Sunday on Palm Beach Island

Evangeline in her dress and the Intra-costal waterway.

Sitting in church before the service.

Easter Egg hunting with Aunt Edge.

Couldn't wait before the wrapper came off. So impatient.

Beautiful friend Rose and her son Luke. Me and Evangeline.

Allison and Luke with their eggs.

Evangeline and Luke.