Strawberry picking

We finally made it to pick strawberries. Norah had gone weeks ago with girl scouts but those strawberries were quickly eaten and the boys wanted to go. 

Most had already been picked so it was a real hunt for red strawberries but we managed to fill 3 buckets.

And the best part of strawberry picking! 

 

Lavender picking

Last Sunday we went to Williamsburg to go pick lavender with my girl scout coleader.  We left extra early and it was a good thing because we got stopped on the tunnel. 

We were stopped so long we weren't sure if we could make it in time for our alloted time slot (you had to get tickets for a certain time) 

But we turned that frown around by getting out of the car and looking over the side of the bridge.  That was as close as we both got. Its a little scary up there so high.  But she thought it was the coolest thing ever. 

Thankfully we finally made it and actually ran into another girl scout family who were also there. The girls had a great time together picking their lavender, swinging in the hammock, and eating lavender snowcones. 

 

Recital

We had our piano recital last week.  I was so proud of Norah.  Its terrifying to get up in front a 150 people and play.  I was going to play a song but decided to just to a duet with Norah.  Must less stressful that way. 

 

Three more weeks

Three more weeks of school.  It has been a very long year but at the same time flown by. I dont know how the days can seem to last forever but the months go by faster.  We are more than ready for summer.  Norah has taken her tests and could technically be done but since the boys aren't finished we will do school a few more weeks. 

 

Busch

Colin didnt get to go to Busch Gardens for his birthday but he and Brent went the next two weekends.

 

Fifteen

I can't believe he is already fifteen. In 6 months he will get his permit and start learning to drive and in a few years will be headed off to college.  There really is no one like him.  My friend Holly told me how amazing Colin is the other day. How he can easily go from playing with a bunch of 5 years olds to having conversations with adults.  He gets along with everyone and is so loved but us all. 

He made a comment a few months ago how he gets bored at his desk doing all his virtual zooms so he mentioned maybe getting a fish to watch.  So meet Joseph. So far a fish and guinea pig are pets I can handle at the moment. 

The plan had been for weeks if he got his brace off he would take off school and Brent would take him to Bush Gardens.  He was thrilled when his brace came off but then Brent had to work.  And I would've loved to take him to Busch but I can't handle rollercoasters at all. And he insists on sitting in the front row each coaster.  Brent planned to take him on Sunday so he had something to look forward to.

So then I thought to take him to the indoor skydiving place.  Norah loved it and its something Colin has wanted to do.  But the more I thought about it the more I wasn't sure with his arm if he could do it.  I called the orthopedic doctors office and talked to the nurse who then talked to several doctors.  Apparently no one had ever asked that question.  They looked into it and called me back and said technically he could but they wanted him to wear his brace. But if he were to bump against the sides he could break his fingers.  So we decided to give him an IOU and not chance it.  

So Putt-putt it was. We went to a course we had never been and it was bigger and more impressive than the other ones we had done.  Colin said it was better than he was expecting. 

Joel is really good at putt-putt.  Got a few holes in one (which greatly bothered his competitive sister) and had to wait almost every hole for the rest of us. 

Brent met us at the end of putt0-putt and we went out for mexican food. 

I made him a snickers ice cream cake and he had a piece after lunch but we lite candles when everyone was home again for him. 

Its become a tradition on their birthdays where we all go around and say things we like about the birthday person.  Joel said "Colin makes me feel like I can do anything.  He is the one I go to first for everything. He protects me and encourages me."  

Everyone really should have a Colin in their lives.  This boy is pretty amazing. 

May the 4th

We had fun on May 4th, which is now considered star wars day.  

Colin has been counting down to this day because we went back to ortho for what he hoped was his last appointment.  Our neighbor also had an appointment on May 4th for her arm and she tried to get the first appointment but it was already taken and she asked if it was Colin but because of privacy laws they couldn't tell her.  I laughed when she told me but told her it wasn't us. Colin that day wanted to skip French class so we made it for later in the day. 

Its crazy how hairy his broken arms get after being in the cast/brace. 

He was declared brace free. He still wasn't supposed to bear any weight on his arm and it was still healing but he was so excited to be able to sleep without anything on his arm. 

 

Fairy Stone

About a month ago we packed up and went camping at Fairy Stone State park.  We are making our way around the state with our friends staying at different state parks.  We had to postpone our trip a week because of 100% rain and freezing temperatures. The week later it was perfect camping weather. 

We left Friday afternoon and the boys finished school in the car.  That is the good part of virtual schooling. 

Amanda picked Fairy Stone because it was close enough for her Uncle and Aunt and cousins to meet us and for Mom, Dad, and Sarah to come since it was close to all of them.  They all came Sunday night for the afternoon and dinner.  We really liked the park. I think its one of our favorite state parks so far. 

We did a lot of hiking. Colin kept up with his old man cane as he called it but he said it helped. 

This boy hasn't really left the house since December. Between his tongue surgery, quarantine month, and broken arm he spends weeks just at home since he is virtual for school.   He went to Walmart with me yesterday to get a swim suit because we had a swim team pool party to start off memorial day and he didn't have a suit that fit.  He said it was the first time he had been inside a store in months.  He was amazed looking around.  The entire ride home from camping he kept thanking us and saying how good it was. He has been a little depressed lately so I think the camping trip was just at the right time. 

This picture cracks me up because Halia got to the outlook and exclaimed that that was what we hiked all that way for!  Haha I kinda agreed with her. It was pretty but not the view we had thought. 

You cant go to Fairy Stone without searching for fairy stones.  They weren't what we thought but the girls found some they are convinced are real fairy stones so we went with it. I think we found maybe one true fairy stone.  

The walking cane comes in handy to dig for stones. 

And we even celebrated Colin's birthday a little early with everyone. Mama-maa and Ant Ant made cupcakes for Colin. 

Everyone had left and our friends had packed up because of a chance of rain the next morning. We had decided to chance it because it was only showing 40% chance and figured we could take down the tent early in the morning and leave before the heavy storms came. But then the radar finally worked and showed this:

So at 7:30 we quickly broken down our tent and had everything loaded in 45 minutes. We got home a little before 1am but I think we made the right decision.  At 6am I was up and the radar was still showing red and yellow over the camp so it would not have been fun in a tent in those storms. 

And now we are excited to plan our next camping trip.  I think we might try one more this summer but will most likely wait until the fall