Hakuna Matata!

They LOVED their first off-broadway show. What a huge treat and great bday gift for them. I have wanted to see The Lion King for a long time and it did not disappoint!

Ryan turns SIX

This guy is SO FUN to celebrate and SO EASY.

 His first "friends" party, ever. And 3 weeks after his bday. Oh, the third child ;)

 We weren't the slightest bit surprised that he wanted a pottery party. 

Almost more girls than boys ;) This has never happened with his big brothers!

 The dessert isn't the highlight for him, so I kept it simple and easy! Blue is his favorite color.

 The guests were almost more excited than he was for him to open their gifts. Super cute. 

All are classmates from school.

 Girls make way better cards. Not that I didn't already know this ;)

He painted the puppy. The finger-painted plate was a gift from the store. 

Love these special memories.

I am certain he will always be small in my eyes. I suppose that's how you get stuck being the "baby" forever. I know technically he isn't anymore, but somethings just don't change in a momma's heart. I am ok with that and I am pretty sure he is too. He is my cuddling one, my creative one and MY biggest fan. My introverted/shy-self, learns so much from the way he loves and interacts with people, those he knows and makes known to him. His love of God is endearing and I look forward to all that God has in-store for him. Happy 6th Birthday, Ryan! We love you to the moon and back.

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.

Preschool Pumpkins

We had a surprise guest come with us on Avery's pumpkin field trip. As I was heading out the door, I got a call from the school nurse. Ryan wasn't doing so well. His tummy. He has been SO happy about school for a few weeks but it was hard getting him out the door this morning. He is having some anxiety about certain things in school that he is slowly mentioning. I think it was mostly because he knew I was going with Avery to the pumpkin patch, but he didn't say that in so many words. I declared him a a mental health day and being on a farm was just what his little heart and tummy needed. Thankfully the big boys won't be jealous because they could care less about pumpkin patches now.

Visiting this particular farm makes me almost want to be a farmer. 

Maybe Ryan will own one someday and we can live with his family ;)

 My parents are such good sports. Avery doesn't "appear" to want them with her, but they come anyway. She is lucky her rejections don't keep them away.

I wish trips like this were fun for my girl, but they cause stress. Thankfully it's not that apparent to outsiders, but she and I both know. She wasn't keen on visiting with the animals today, maybe next time. I can't help but smile when someone takes my picture, but there is a lot going on behind that smile. Anxiety has a lot of faces, for her and me. It's not so much about wishing she were different but about wishing I could truly understand. I suppose we are a lot more alike than I think. Both of us have learned to "cope" in the normal day to day, but in new settings we are both learning how to walk forward and sometimes more attached to each other than I'd like ;)

 I did capture a glimmer of a smile.

Last Ones Picked

We learned a lot from our first square foot garden. We are eager to correct our mistakes and try again next spring. Thankfully our garden provided just enough excitement to make 1 very proud farmer. We even had an Eggplant Parmesan dinner, one of our favorite meals.

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.

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.

How Does His Garden Grow?

5 weeks ago

 3 weeks ago- we spied baby beans

 

Last week he ate them right off the vine with absolute delight

  

This weekend I humored him and cooked these. 

We will never have enough "ready" for our whole family.

 Beans might be all our garden produces this season. Watermelon and cantaloupe wasn't the best idea. They are choking out the other plants. Plus our beans are shading the pepper plants. Live. Learn. Try Again.

New Sheriff

This boy loves himself some Vacation Bible School.

The perfect theme for my horse loving boy. 

His Tune

The photo credit goes to Ryan's preschool teacher. How she captured his most precious smile is a mystery to me. I see it every day, but when I take his picture a different smile appears ;)

Have I mentioned he sings A LOT? Not for show, just for himself, although many times we benefit. Sometimes its the perfect song at just the right moment. Like when I was reading an email from a friend who needed prayer because two boys, "like sons to her," had been in a terrible car accident. As tears welled up, I heard him "randomly" singing in the background "soon and very soon we are going to see the King... no more crying there, we are going to see the King."
Our bedtime routine has always included reading books and then singing each child one worship song. As babies it was usually "Jesus Loves Me" and as they got older we transitioned to songs they might hear on Sunday mornings at church.
Most nights by bedtime (which keeps getting later) I am done and my heart is not in the reading and singing, but usually by the second verse my heart is changed. Amazing how that works ;)
Certainly it would be quicker and easier just to kiss them and say good-night. After all we have been doing this 11 years (!). However, Ryan's singing, reminds my heart it's not just for routine. These songs are being pressed into their minds and hearts. I pray the words will forever come quickly to their minds and draw them closer to their Father.

"I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations." Psalm 89:1

Preschool Ends

First Day                                                        Last Day

 Ryan "graduated" in a ceremony Wednesday evening.

First Day                                             Last Day

They have both had a wonderful year at preschool. I am thankful for their little school. Avery will go two mornings in the fall and it will be strange not taking Ryan too.