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. 

Future? Maybe?

So this is happening right now 

We are praying for it to sell fast because keeping it clean with three kids isn't my idea of fun!

It's something we've been talking about for a few years so praying it all works out.  We've outgrown this house and looking for a bigger one. And closer to Brent's job. 

We finally fixed everything in our house and it's slightly depressing to look at houses that need a lot of work and money. This house has come along way in 7 years and it's crazy we've been here that long. We thought two or three tops! Right now just hoping this weekend we sell our house!  Our realtor has high hopes of it selling  fast.  But this isn't our first rodeo with buying/selling a house and just don't want it to take a year like last time. 

It's bittersweet having neighbors tell us how much they hate the for sale sign in our yard. We've loved our next door neighbors and Norah and their daughter are best friends. They go back and forth all day long from house to house. And I'm going to miss our pool. The pool will be really hard to give up this summer.  The boys are still on the swim team - we will just have to drive over for practice instead of our five minute walk. 

So here hoping and praying we get this house sold soon! 

Azaleas

 Our azaleas are in full bloom this week and we are enjoying all the pretty pink.  Norah kept waiting all last week for the flowers to "pop" as she said.  We weren't sure how they would do this year since we got our big tree taken out. They aren't as full as past years they seem to be liking all the extra sun they get. 

 I got the kids outside for some pictures. Joel was not excited at all.
 
 Not sure what was going on here but Colin wasn't amused at Joel.  Funny story: Joel finally pooped in a public bathroom Sunday night and we were so proud.  Hes still working on the poop issue. Then he refused to poop Monday because Sunday night he had a dream that a piranha came up in the toilet and ate him....not sure how dirty the restaurant bathroom was Sunday night...but then I noticed Colin would walk by Joel all afternoon (after hearing about this dream) and quietly whisper "piranha..." Until we put a stop to that. 

 

 Norah tried to hit Joel and he was horrified his sweet innocent little princess would hit him.... HA! not really - she's quite the bully herself

 But I managed to get a decent one.

 Then the boys both kissed Norah.  Brotherly love is sweet at first.

 Then cant turn a bit much

 Please make them stop

Wiping the kisses off.  Joel is very pleased with himself for disgusting his little sister. 

Race pictures

I finally bought my first race picture. They are always awful and the only one I know what doesn't take horrible race pictures is Mary. She looks so graceful and pretty...which reminds me to go look up her shamrock pictures! 

But I bought this one of Colin and I crossing the finish line.  Paid way too much money for this picture and they cut off my elbow but I love it. Not for me but because Colin ran me in and we crossed the finish line together. And even though his head comes up to my shoulders I see his little toddler baby face in this picture of him. He's growing up so fast - wish they could figure out a way to slow time. Although not all time - the hours between daddy getting home and dinner are LONG but the years could be a little longer and not so short.

This is my all time favorite race picture....I almost bought it but it's such a Joel look and the fact he's picking his nose is even better. In the middle of the race. In view of the finish line. Because when you have a boogie in the middle of a race sometimes you have to stop and take it out! 

Wishes

Dandelion wishes....

"I wish....

To be a ninja when I grow up."

Sleep

This girl comes in bed almost every night now. I wake up and she's right next to me. Brent will just go into her bed because you wake our sleeping beauty and the wrath of Norah comes out. Don't feel too bad for Brent... He gets more sleep...until Joel calls out for his snuggle buddy (Brent) and then Joel climbs in Norah's bed with Brent. I usually sleep through most of it until Norah kicks me or insists on sleeping right on top of my pillow. It's always a guessing game where people will end up. 

It's no wonder we went house shopping yesterday and loved a house with the master bedroom on the first floor. Didn't make an offer for other reasons but now we are thinking maybe that should be on our must have list! 

Colin has forbade anyone sleeping in bed with him.  

But then not sure he's sleeping well either curled up like this! 

Easter

We had a full Easter weekend.  We started off with Ant Ant taking the kids back to Ma-Ma-Maa and Grandpas house for an egg hunt while Brent and I worked on house projects. Then we met them all at my parents church for their Easter service and ended the night with dinner at Grandmas house. 

Then on Easter Sunday we went to our service at night with an Easter egg hunt before. 

I have so many hopes and dreams for these three but the one thing I pray is that the grasp hold of our risen savior and never let go 

Norah refused to eat the candy from the Easter bunny in her basket because she says the Easter bunny poops out that candy.... good to know for next year.  The boys got their own bibles in their easter baskets and Colin spent the day off and on reading his bible. 

The easter bunny didn't poop out this candy since she helped stuff our contribution for the egg hunt.  Norah and Camden (or as Norah says cam-man) sat down and ate the good stuff first 

Friends

 The best part about living here is that people who move away always eventually come back or stop through to visit.  So far the Fosters aren't moving back anytime soon but we did love when they spent the afternoon with us. 

 And I'm still praying they move back one day! Its fun to continue to watch all these kids grow up. The boys always pick up where  they left off and Norah couldn't find another girl who loves tutu ballerina princesses as much as Elsie!