Adventure Park

 Ant Ants in town and she took the boys for their birthdays to the Adventure Park - its a ropes course up in the trees next to the aquarium. 

 Joel climbs everything. Trees, fences, the top of our shed...so our climber one would think would be all over this.  But he was nervous.  But he did it and it was really cool to see him get his confidence as the afternoon went on. 

 Colin was all about this and loved this belated birthday gift.  He would've stayed forever and keep going and going.  He would just fly through all of them and made it look so easy.  And check out those muscles on his arms! 

 

Thanks Ant Ant!  Such a fun afternoon. 

Kindergarten music performance

On Colins birthday we went to see Joels kindergarten performance.  Joel did great. 

Until it got to the finale and they sang Let it Go.  Which was adorable with all the girls belting out.  Joel sang with his head down and looked disgusted for most of the song. 

But we are so proud of Joel. 

Strawberry Patch

 Last summer Joel picked out plants for his garden and begged to get a strawberry plant.  So for less than a dollar he got his strawberry plant.  We told him it wouldn't grow strawberries that summer but he didn't care.  And since then he has been faithfully watering his strawberry plant.  It took over the garden in the fall and now we have an amazing strawberry patch in our own backyard.  We have at least a hundred out there waiting to turn red. 

Joel is not the most patient person so its been a great lesson to him on waiting patiently. And he's cared for these strawberries all year. 

 Checking on his strawberries for any red ones.  We've all been waiting anxiously for the strawberries to be ready. 

The other night at dinner Joel wanted dessert but he didn't eat enough of his dinner.  Colin was on his second helping so was rubbing it in that he would get dessert and Joel just needed to eat more dinner.  So Joel went and got the bowl of ripe strawberries and sat there at the table silently eating them all. In front of us with this huge look of satisfaction on his face. 

But other than that he's been sharing his strawberries with us all. 

open house

 This is what happens the day before an open house when your mother is busy cleaning the inside of the house....

Good thing I hadn't cleaned the bathrooms yet

Family

I just love this picture. These two had us all so worried last week. Especially James.  We went to see grandma and facetimed James while we were there. 

One brain injured family member to the other. 

My favorite part was James asking how grandma was sleeping and her response was "depends on who I'm sleeping with" hahaha she might not know what year it is or where she is but her sense of humor is still there. 

Mother's Day

I always love these questions. Joel thinks I'm only 25

 

But Colin knows I never forget anything 

Nine

This boy turned 9 last week! And I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around that fact. How has half his childhood gone already? In 9 more years he will be considered an adult! 

He's such a great boy. I'm sure he will have his moments but he's so easy going and makes being his parents pretty easy. 

He's kind and respectful and rarely do you have to tell him something twice. 

He is a great helper with his brother and sister. Although he is a quiet instigator and knows just how to push their buttons always with an innocent look on his face and a big grin. But we are on to him most of the time.

Colin reminds me of a combination of his grandpa and uncle opie. He can read something once and always remember it. He's always spouting off random facts and they are always right. He loves to read and I'm having fun exploring new book series with him. Somehow I'm not sure he'd go for Anne of green gables! Ha! But it's fun to get into his world. 

I'm hoping that the next few years slow down but I'm afraid they will fly by just like these last 9 years. It's really true how you blink and they are so much older. But a 9 year old is awesome and so much fun. 

We had his spring pulmonology appointment  the day after his birthday and we got the go ahead to take him off his inhaler for the summer. Three years ago the doctors were running tests to rule out cystic fibrosis because his lungs were so bad. Colin prayed since then for his asthma to go away completely. He's never wavered from believing that. Colin has this belief in God that didn't come from me. I doubt God all the time and instead of teaching Colin, he's the one teaching me all the time. We are trying him off his inhaler this summer and if that goes well will take him off all medicine in the winter and see how that goes. (He takes a pill every night)  Colin is one excited boy and I'm one grateful thankful mother. 

Words from Norah

Norah: do not talk to Joel! He doesn't like you. Only one who likes you is me! 

Norah (after asking why she hit her friend) well...sometimes I hit. Sometimes I don't. That's just the way I am.

Faith

I got this text from a friend yesterday

Colin hadn't told us anything and when I asked him about it he just shrugged like no big deal. I'm so proud of him. 

Joel

Sometimes it's worth being late to meet friends at a park when Captain Rex has to make sure he has all the appropriate gear 

We had our community group picnic in the park a few weeks ago. Joel went around pulling all the wild onions. He begged to bring them home so I let him. Joel then spent the next few days placing them around his strawberry patch. He said the stink will keep birds from eating his strawberries. So far he's been right. So glad I let him bring those stinky onions home.