Doctors

Two boys 

Different doctors appointments

Same day

Same time 

Thankful Brent has a flexible schedule

Joels was planned. Another skin check for his birthmark. He's been complaining lately about it being sensitive so another thing for me to worry about. I always get really anxious for these appointments. Joel was too - he didn't want them to cut him again (take another biopsy) and I'm always hoping they do so we can continue to see what's going on. 

That same morning Colin came down with huge painful lumps on his neck. Called the Peditrician and they wanted to see him right away. 

Colin tested positive for strep. Apparently if you let the infection get so bad your lymph nodes will get really really  swollen. He mentioned weeks ago his throat hurt but besides being a little red didn't seem to bother him too much and he didn't mention it again. Colin is really such an easy going kid. I had strep back in December and I was miserable. 

Joels appointment was great. His birthmark has changed a ton in a few month. The doctor was surprised how fast it's changed this time but she felt good about it and also told me what to google since I told her it freaks me out when I google his birthmark. We have more things to look for in between visits but Joel is all clear until the next visit in a few months.

These two pictures made me laugh. Joel had asked if I was going to take him to school afterwards and I had been vague about it because I was going to keep him home if they scraped or took a biopsy. He tried to figure out how to get a free day at home. I took him to school. 

Colin on the other hand got a few free days at home until he stopped being contagious. He mostly felt fine and by the middle of the week was ready to get back to school. He did like to point out that he won't go a full week of school in February with all the days off and being sick. Not too bad and then we have spring break in March! 

Colin made it back to school in time for his school dance. It was after school and when Brent went to pick him up he sent me this picture 

Colin was sitting and doing his homework. Ha! He did make a new friend - a boy in his class who also stayed for the dance. Apparently the boy told Brent that he was only there because his mother wanted him to experience a dance. Both boys ate candy and drank soda and sat together and did their homework.  So it wasn't a total loss. And now we don't have to sign up Colin for the 5th grade dance. 

 

Young entrepreneurs

The kids had this past Monday and Tuesday off from school. It was nice to sleep in and have lazy mornings. I always struggle with days off and wonder if

 the kids would rather it be packed with lots of activities or if they would rather just be home. Norah is always up for going places but the boys like staying home. And since it's their day off we didn't go anywhere and it ended up the best decision. 

On Monday while we were eating lunch the next door neighbors rang the doorbell and the kids quickly shoved food down and ran out the door. The weather was beautiful - 70s for the first of February and the kids started playing kickball. For three hours. Some of the other moms and I joined in which was a lot of fun. It was a lot of explaining the rules while we played to a lot of the girls and Joel who never played baseball. But from Norah up to the 8th grader - everyone joined in. Joel refused to get tagged out and after a while the kids just let him do his thing. "This game has too many rules!" He kept repeating.  I got Norah out once and she then spent hours giving me a side eye glance whenever she was up to kick. 

Tuesday the kids were out the door and ready to continue kickball. Joel was a totally different person and happily got tagged out and played by the rules. 

After awhile some of the younger kids got bored with kickball and went into our garage and set up an arts and crafts business.

The spent hours coloring and creating 

Joel loved it. Colin and the older kids kept playing kickball. 

They then turned a plastic storage box over, taped a box on top and used bungee cords to attach it to our stroller. They called it their truck and put all their creations inside the box on top. 

Then they went door to door selling their pictures. And came back with $10 cash! We couldn't believe it but these kids are all pretty convincing. They reluctantly stopped when it got dark with the promise that they could do it another day. 

Since then Norah and Joel have spent a lot of time coloring and making more pictures and at the bus stop the kids report the pictures they've drawn at night. Norah came down with an ear infection so we weren't out yesterday and it's been raining since so they haven't been able to take their truck around. But the first nice day they are all ready.  I'd better find more change in the house to buy more pictures from them. 

The problem will come when they try to figure out what to do with the money. 8 kids were apart from the beginning. 

I'm so thankful for this small community we've moved to. It makes ordinary days at home special playing outside in the culdesac.  We did find out one of our favorite neighbors are moving this summer with the navy which makes us really sad. So anyone want to come rent the house across from us for a few years? 

Little mother

Taking care of her baby

Snow

Last week the boys also had a half day but this was unexpected. We were supposed to get snow so the schools let out early. 

This was Norah outside waiting on the boys bus. 

The snow kept coming. Colin had a friend spend the night and they were hoping Connor would get snowed in all weekend. 

Clearly we didn't get enough to get snowed in. Joel shoveled all the snow off the patio into a pile so they could build an Arsenal of snowballs for a neighborhood snowball fight

Imagine her excitement with more snow and a real hill to sled down

Then Sunday we woke up to a few inches - enough to made a snowman before it all melted away. It wasn't the blizzard the rest of the east coast got but the kids were happy.

And now we are hoping for some more snow. At least we got a two hour delay Monday. But now we want a real snow day and a few other two hour delays wouldn't hurt either! 

Basketball and Ant Ant

Friday the kids had a half day and when they got home I told them we were expecting a delivery at some point that night.  I order off amazon prime all the time so they were wondering what it was but didn't expect Ant Ant at the door.  Their excitement was worth it.  Thanks Ant Ant.  I'm not sure who was more excited - them or me since Brent's been out of town all week.  Its been the longest he's been away for a long time so we were all very very glad to see Ant Ant for the weekend.  Brent is at a dent conference in florida and gets home tonight but its funny to hear the kids today at basketball (since Coach Brent couldn't be there) Joel and Norah kept telling everyone that Daddy was in Florida at a hotel with a big pool since that's what he facetimed them.  I'm pretty sure they think Daddy has been at that pool all week.   

 

 Saturdays now are spent all morning at basketball games.  Colin is loving it and is getting really really good.  Its so fun to watch him out on the court.  He lives and breathes basketball and dreams of being a point guard. 

 Joel could take it or leave it at this point and only time will tell.  Brents coaching both boys this year.  Thursdays Brent and the boys have basketball practice and then they go out to dinner.  Norah and I have a girls night (which is funny that she thinks its different since every day with her is a girls day but we eat dinner in front of the tv and then watch girl movies together) 

 Joel not too serious when he's playing and sometimes you wonder what he's thinking.  But after I downloaded these pictures they reminded me of some of the pictures of Joel during the swim meets and there he was the least focused of all the kids and it worked in his favor.  The other 5 and 6 year olds were worried about dives and split times in relays and their strokes and Joel would just play behind the block and then dive in and win his event.  So whenever he gets serious about a sport he could be unstoppable. 

 Joels  age group has only two teams and they play each other every week.  Its fun to see both teams get better each week and they are so cute to watch. 

"I don't want the ball - pass it to him" hahaha

This is my favorite.  ALL the other kids were into the game and listening to the referee and coaches and then theres Joel.....

Colin is really fun to watch.  When he's on the sideline he's always cheering his teammates on.  And then when he's playing he's really into the game.  He passes when he sees someone open, gets the rebounds, blocks his player, and takes every open chance to shoot a basket. I love watching his fast breakaways. 

And then by the end of Colin's game after a full morning at basketball there's Joel.... haha

 

 

Snow

One day last week I walked Joel to the bus stop and it was lightly snowing. 20 minutes later Colin got on the bus and it was coming down pretty strong.  Norah woke up and was glued to the window for a long time.  

We went outside in the snow to play in the snow for most of the morning.  She was amazed at her footprints in the snow and really wanted to be able to build a snowman. 

She's been asking for more snow ever since.  And considering Chesapeake just changed a half day off to a full day off (reasoning behind it is that we haven't used any snow days yet... but means we will get a good snow in February and will have to make up this new day off - don't need a weather man to predict that) We really just want a lot of two hour delays called the night before so we don't have to wake up so early.  

Colins teacher took the kids outside to play in the snow and then sent us all pictures.  I loved that.  Especially if this is the only snow we get all year at least Colin got to have some fun playing in it.  

New Years

I Over Christmas break Colin and I spent several nights locked up in his room watching a Harry Potter marathon.  We got the movies last christmas and watched a few each night of break and thought this year we would do it all in one night.  We were ready with our caffeine and snacks and lasted until 4am and realized that we were only halfway through the series.  So we finished up New Years Eve and I think next year we will just take one day and start early in the morning because I'm too old to pull so many all nighters.  It was fun though and I cant wait until Joel reads the books so he can join us.  We wont let Brent join either until he reads the books. Which i'm not sure will happen.  Brent isn't a reader.

   

I did spend last weekend in Joels room with special snacks watching several movies with just him. 

After sleeping in on New Years day we went and got our blackeyed peas and collard greens.  Colin wants lots of money so he had 4 huge helpings of collard greens and I think took most of the wealth from the rest of us.  

Its hard to believe its already 2016 and I'm not sure what to expect this year.  Thinking back to last year this time we were dealing with Norahs mrsa and just toying with the idea that we should start looking for a bigger house.  How crazy one year can go.  Last year was so stressful in so many areas that I'm hoping this coming year is more restful.  

Christmas fun

Its hard to believe its almost the middle of January.  I thought I'd post a few pictures of some of the christmas things we went to.  

We went with some friends to a Dickens Christmas at nauticus and had a lot of fun. Colin was really into the scavenger hunt and considering we got weeks of rain it was a great indoor activity for the kids to run around and explore.

And dance.  This was unprompted and really cute.  They had a play on this stage at one point and all the kids sat mesmerized.

we made gingerbread houses.



We went and watched the christmas parade

.

One night we tried to go to the Triple R ranch with the Fosters and it was the only night it was closed.  So after changing plans several times (thanks laura for being so flexible!) we ended up at ice scream and then went to see a really cool house.  The kids loved it and kept talking about that night for weeks) 

And then we do go back to the Triple R ranch and the kids went on a few pony rides.

It was a great christmas season and sad to see it end.

Mud brothers return

A few weeks ago Brent took out a dead tree in our side yard. He said there was a lot of water at the bottom of the hole so the kids quickly turned this 

Into this

I had locked myself in my closet to work on making some felt strawberries for Norah for Christmas. Brent came in to say the kids were playing in the mud so I went out to see after hearing squeals of laughter from the kids. 

A neighbor girl also joined in the fun until we hosed them all off.