Gardens

Joel loves picking his radishes in his garden.  The boys love eating plain radishes.   

 Norah loves hiding in the tomato plants. 

Snow

 Sometimes when you get a box with a lot of styrofoam in it you just have to let the kids get their own "snow cloud" and pretend to be Olaf. 

I'm still finding "snow" all over the house

Naps on swings

She fells asleep napping on the swing with me

The same girl who fights and screams during nap times lately - making for some long afternoons and watching frozen for the millionth  time. Norah your brothers really love you to watch that movie over and over and over for the past few months.

Tomorrow when I'd love a nice long nap she probably won't. And if I try to get her to swing and fall asleep it probably won't work again. 

Kids. You never know what to expect each day. 

Artist

 He still wants to be an artist when he grows up.

Strawberry picking

 We went strawberry picking yesterday afternoon.  Its still a little early this year so we had to really hunt but were able to come home with close to 20lbs. 

 Norah basically ran around after the boys and would hop the rows. 

 Joel found mud.  Surprise surprise :)  Colin said Joel's middle name was mud. 

 Norah wanted Joel next to her 

 "JOEL!!!!"

 He was covered in mud.  Into the bath he went as soon as we got home. 

And now to eat our yummy strawberries.  We made strawberry shortcake last night and will freeze most for smoothies. 

walk

Norah loves to go play in the front yard.  Probably because we usually keep them in the backyard.  And she really loves to walk on the stones around this tree.

She says walk and then will go running through the fence.

And hold up her hand because she never walks by herself.  Brent or I or her brothers hold her hand.

And then around and around she goes.  Again and again. 

Eight

He's finally 8.  When he was 3 he would always say he was 8.  Back then maybe he realized that he could get out of a car seat at 8! But he's excited he no longer needs a booster and that's one growing up thing that makes me excited.  A car without car seats - imagine all the room we will have.  I took a picture Sunday night after church of his last time ever in a car seat.  But putting it next to the picture of his very first time in a car seat and it makes you wonder where the years went.  Seems like we were just bringing him home from the hospital. Time can be very cruel sometimes.  I wish the years could be longer.  Or that the kids didnt grow up so fast. 

When I was pregnant with Colin someone told me that there was something special about the firstborn. And I dont think the first born is more special than the other kids its just that you go through all the "firsts" with them. Kindergarten doesnt seem so scary for Joel because we've done it with Colin. Not saying I wont cry when Joel goes off to school but we know what to expect pretty much at each stage with the rest of the kids. With Colin we are figuring it all out together as we go along. And he's a really great kid to figure out this whole parenting thing with.  Colin is such a great kid.  He is very responsible.  Listens well.  Is very helpful.  Very kind and respectful.  He has such a great attitude about things and rarely complains.  He loves learning and is always telling me different facts about stuff I never heard about it.  He is such an easy going kid and is so much fun to be around.  He's our easiest kid right now to discipline because you just have to tell him once and he listens.  We still joke that he didn't prepare us for Joel or Norah because Colin is such an easy kid.  He was a horrible sleeper for the first 3 years of his life but he's made up for it by being such an easy going kid.  The past 8 years have gone so fast but he's so much fun to be around that it makes us excited about this next year. 

Ma-ma-maa and Grandpa came over Saturday night for dinner and to give Colin his presents.  And mom helped me make some "Creeper Krispees" for Colin to take to school. We made rice krispes to look like minecraft creepers. 

 

On his actual birthday I woke up really early and went to Duck Donuts to bring back Colin's favorite donut. They have opened one in Virginia Beach and we are very excited.  I tried to get home before Colin woke up but he and Joel were up before I got home.  But those donuts are worth getting up early for. 

 Then Joel and Norah and I brought Colin Chick fil A for lunch and the treats for his whole class.  I got a few thumbs up from some of the boys over the creeper krispees as Colin named them. So cute.   And 2nd grade boys are really funny.It was fun eating lunch with him.     

I had to pick up Colin early for his pulmonology appointment which we are going to try decreasing his medication in a month so thats exciting.  She's hopeful to get him off all medicine.  So we're praying this summer he does great on the lower dose.  Colin had said going into the appointment that a great present would be no medicine so we are getting closer. His numbers weren't as great as she wanted to do that.  He's breathing at 79% right now.  Poor thing but the pollen had something to do with his numbers. So after that all passes we'll go again and try the new medication. It doesnt seem to stop him from running around.  Sometimes I wonder how fast he'd really be if he could breath normally.

We were going to go strawberry picking but it started raining on our way home from the dr's so we went to Pungo Pizza and gave Colin a whole bunch of quarters to play in the arcade there. 

Then on the way home we got this video of Norah claiming Colin presents for her own. Silly girl. 

 

I think we are going to have a pool party with a few of his friends this summer.  I might even get away with combining his and Joel's parties but we'll see.  He's guest list keeps getting bigger and changes constantly.

 

But I hope he had a great day.  Colin you are so loved by everyone.  We are so blessed to be your parents. 

 

 

Flowers

 The azaleas are in full bloom finally and each year I'm amazed at how pink our yard turns.  Norah likes to go stand in front of them since I've been trying for days to get some pictures of the kids in front of them. 

 I love how girly she is and how she always accessorizes.  She loves shopping. Joel does not so getting him out the door to go run errands is not always fun.  So she keeps calling ant ant or face timing with ant ant while ant ant is at work asking "ant ant go shopping" and then will go look out the window saying "ant ant coming take Norah shopping"  and I have to tell my disappointed girl that Ant Ant is at work that she will come another day.  Ant Ant is coming soon to take Norah shopping. 

 Norah loves flowers and smelling them and picking them. 

 Sometimes its fun to see the outtakes of pictures before the good ones because I think it shows each kids personality. Norah is adjusting her purse and Colin is determined to stand there and smile so we can hurry up and be done with the pictures.

 Norah didnt want Joel to sit on Daddys lap. She doesnt want Joel to sit on my lap either. Ever.

 Joel loves to give her kisses when she doesnt want them :)  ha! 

  Joel is over it. and once again Norah is trying to get into the boy picture. 


But I managed to get a few good ones.