Birthday Week

Yangcai left right before our birthday marathon. Our busy birthday month, did cross my mind when we said "yes" to hosting. I knew it would mean less thought and planning put into some birthdays. Really, is it every convenient to invite a perfect stranger into your home for a month? I am finding that for me being busier with a full house helps keep my priorities straight. Not having time to overthink and over plan can be a blessing :) The days of my fancy party throwing are limited and that's okay.

Owen's birthday was the same day as the Run 4 the Fund, so his birthday breakfast did not include EJ and was pretty basic.

You know you are getting old, when you have only item on your birthday wish list and it is expensive enough to be split by your parents and grandparents. Ha! He has wanted a go-pro for a long time. His hobby right now is "mini hoop" trick shot videos with friends. The first time he wore his chest strap gear a little kid asked him if he was a "you-tuber." We have been laughing about it ever since.

He celebrated with his two (local) best friends with trampoline arena and wings and basketball game watching at a sports bar, with EJ.

We had a mini celebration for Aunt Lissa's birthday which included Owen's name in the candle blowing.

A dear friend brought me flowers a few days after Yangcai left. She is a faithfully praying friend who knows first hand the pains of saying goodbye to a host child. Grateful to be known and loved and prayed for!

 

EJ surprised me with tickets to see Third Day in concert. He knows me SO well :)

When my day came and I was celebrated with a thoughtfully planned meal cooked/grilled by EJ with cheesecake (my favorite) for dessert. Each of my kids celebrate me in subtle ways each a perfect reflection of who they are. Being a mom for 12 years has lowered my bar for my own birthday and I am genuinely ok with that. That hasn't always been the case, I am glad God continues to work on me. Choosing to be thankful in the little things really does make a difference in my heart.

Run 4 the Fund

Avery's preschool (our church) holds a fundraiser for preschool scholarship money. 

1- mile run, 5k, preschool dash and Easter egg hunt.

It's a fun morning with friends and good exercise (too bad I don't run).

 Mason finished the mile in 7:51.7

Ryan finished his FIRST mile race in 8:46.7. Owen and a friend ran alongside of him.

It was a VERY chilly morning.

 Owen ran his FIRST 5k race in a speedy 27:31.3

This one... wish he would stay little forever...gonna miss this.

Mason and his friend ready for egg hunting.

Winter Concert

I am so behind in blogging and most everything else ;)

Owen's first school performance was last week. Not the easiest thing to photograph.

I have the highest regards for a director who can take 50 students, most of whom have never played their assigned instrument and turn them into musicians. Owen really likes his director and is always asking for additional songs to learn. He has managed to combine his love for music and sports and learn some "jock-rock" songs. Marching band music is more his style, wonder if he can dance and play at the same time ;)

Come and Play

Owen took the opportunity (out of his comfort zone- knowing no one, but his band director) to learn and play alongside, The Richmond Symphony. It was a long day for him and a little boring ;) but he the experience was awesome and such a treat for our family to hear.

He rehearsed for 2.5 hrs and then performed for an hr. Our family came for the performance. I can't even fathom putting 750 instruments together for 1 rehearsal and then performing so well. There were musician playing at all levels, the sheet music specifically given based on experience. So cool! In total, he and my parents who drove him and stayed the whole time (thank you!!), were there for 5.5 hours and he missed the Eagles game (oops).

I am not sure how the middle school band will sound next to this amazing performance ;) At least he broke in his shiny, stiff black dress shoes.

Soccer Starts

This past weekend, the older two boys each had a game or two ;)

Mason played goalie for the first time. He was very excited and did really well. He has finally reached the age when the game includes goalies and official size nets.

 He also had time playing offense.

 The handsome coach in the orange is my guy ;) and mason couldn't be more excited.

Owen also played goalie below in the red penny. He doesn't mind playing as long as he has time running on the field too. Unfortunately he was the only goalie there that day and they really needed him in goal. He had a lot of really great stops and his team one by 1 point.

He is not afraid of going after the ball. It's nerve wracking to watch, but it's also pretty cool to watch his determination and passion for the win!

1st Day of School

Mason and Ryan have had a week of school under their belts already. Nothing feels normal yet and our routines are completely out of whack. I am praying some better systems fall into place quickly before we all go crazy. Last year, Owen and Mason were pretty self-sufficient as students as far as making lunches, getting to the bus stop and doing homework. Now I am back to having a kindergartner and it's been a hard adjustment for me, plus emotionally everyone is fragile. I know it will pass...

 

Owen's first week did not go as we planned. He was very sick with a fever Mon-Wed and missed his first 3 days of middle school. He was glad but anxious to start on Friday. Thankfully he was well enough to also attend a middle school retreat with his youth group friends. He definitely feels like a fish out of water and knows very few kids in his classes. A lot of adjustment for him as well.

I will be very thankful when things feel somewhat routine and normal. Amazing how much I yearn for that, but in the midst of the crazy, God draws us together and we lean more on Him. I am thankful that I can remind my kids (and believe it myself) that God is close to all who call on Him, He has ordained each of our days, who we have for teachers, the friends we see and even the days we are sick are no surprise to Him.

His First Job

When we moved into our neighborhood 10 years ago, we were asked via letter from a neighbor to help pay for the maintenance of the cul-de-sac. Not thinking that much about it and not wanting to ruffle the feathers of 6 new neighbors, we agreed. It's definitely the nicest "island" in our subdivision. I learned this year, that's because every other circle just waits for the county to mow it. Argh!
Each spring when we got the letter, EJ and I just rolled our eyes and chuckled and agreed that neither of us wanted the job, so we don't complain.
Well, the man that asked for money every spring and zoomed his riding mower over it and put down fertilizer every summer, decided he didn't want to be tied down for the job ;) He wanted to be free to travel in his supersized RV with his wife whenever he felt like it.
So who did the neighbors hire? My strapping young man. He hasn't yet decided what to do with his earnings. It's a lot for a boy his age, in my opinion, but he is a saver so I am not too concerned.
Overall, it's been a great experience for him. He has done a good job and the neighbors have commended him. I keep reminding him of the extra muscle he is gaining. I am pretty sure he is game for next summer. The only downside is it's made him a little disgruntled about mowing ours for a meager allowance :( Hmm... lessons there too!

Cubing

“If you are curious, you’ll find the puzzles around you. If you are determined, you will solve them. ”

Erno Rubik (invented the first Rubik's cube in 1974)

This summer, Owen has done just that. What started out as a fun challenge (the 3x3) during the school year, has turned into a slight obsession ;) His collection is growing and the speed to which he can complete them is increasing. He solves the 3x3 in under 40 seconds.

"The beauty of the Rubik’s Cube is that when you look at a scrambled one, you know exactly what you need to do without instruction. Yet without instruction it is almost impossible to solve, making it one of the most infuriating and engaging inventions ever conceived." (author unkown)

Owen has taught himself with tons of research and instruction and memorization of moves. His determination and patience inspires me. He want's to teach me how to do it, but I just can't sit still that long ;) My brain is not wired for algorithms and parities.

 The "Mirror Magic Cube" is his newest, he solved it the first day!

Thankfully he agreed to this photo shoot because I want to remember the summer of 2015 was full of colorful cubes, constant clicking noises, speed cubing, finger tricks and most recently the making of his own "how to video tutorial" coming to youtube soon!

Summer Study

Each summer, I attempt to do a small study with my kids. I pray about what to study and God usually makes it pretty clear what the subject matter should be. In college, a wise woman in my life, took time out of her busy family life to go through this book with me and another friend. I kept it. It's small but has tons of good scripture references about how powerful our words (good or bad) can be.

 

The kids and I are going through it slowly. I am repeating the theme of each chapter over a period of 3-4 days depending on the week. To help it have time to sink in. I don't read the whole book (it was not written for kids). I am using it as a jumping off point and usually only read a few sentences at a time mostly centered around the verse we are focusing on.

There is a certain someone in my crew that likes to color each time. So at least 1 time per theme I find a coloring page online to keep him interested. These are samples. We have covered: being a fountain of life, bragging, complaining, and this week we are studying reckless/careless speech.

 

I wish I could say they sit with eager anticipation each afternoon, but it's not usually like that. We will continue anyway, and I pray that these words sink down in their hearts and take root. Each lesson, is also a reminder of how much we NEED Jesus and the cross because despite our best efforts, we fail ALL the time. I am grateful for the time we have together and I think deep down they are too ;)

Lots of pool time

The pool seems to be a perfect spot for our family this summer. All the kids are happy to go and stay (fairly) happy while we are there. I don't often get to relax in a chair, but someday... all too soon that will happen. At least that's what I tell myself ;)

The past two Sunday evening we have spent together as a family at the pool and I love ending our week on that note! On this particular night, Ryan wasn't feeling good and his throat was getting progressively worse. The next day, we discovered he had Hand Foot and Mouth (!) Boo. He recovered quickly and none of the other kids got it, thankfully!

 Ryan's swimming as really progress this summer. So fun!

She is so proud of the fact that she can "touch the bottom" (in the shallow end) and she repeats that statement at least 50 times while we are driving to and from the pool and during our swim time.

The kiddie pool allows me a break from holding her hands while sitting on the steps of the adult pool.

 She loves the water and I think it's very therapeutic for her.