Just Judah {Soccer Edition}

All three boys played soccer this Spring but Judah is my favorite five year old. And besides, his baby shinguards were constantly sticking out the tops of his socks (because he's Judah) and we lost his brand new cleats even before his first practice (because, well, FOUR KIDS). So by far, he wins MVP and earned a highlights post all his own. 

Really though, he was just so deliciously cute. And surprisingly good! I would even daresay he is more coordinated than his big brothers! He played hard and well and {mostly} with his team and man did he score some goals! But more importantly, he learned to look his coach in the eye, shake hands, and thank him after each game-no small feat for this third son of ours. 

Some of my favorite moments of the season...

-After scoring one of his first goals, he ran immediately to the sidelines to high-five Ben and Abe. 

-His hands down his pants when he didn't know what else to do. 

-Watching him chug Gatorade. 

-Him asking to go play on the playground when it was his quarter to sit on the bench. 

-The team's name, The Thunder Bunnies. 

-At the last game, his coach offered him a certificate, which he politely declined. 

What a joy it is watching this boy grow into the person the Lord created him to be. You are such a treasure to your daddy and me, Judah Boy. 

Our Painted Ladies

It's been quiet on the blog. It's much harder to write now that the weather is warming up. Who wants to trade sitting on the porch or planting flowers for a keyboard and a screen? I'm just sayin.

Quiet on the blog but not quiet in the house. Since mid March, we've had a steady stream of action and visitors, some of which were these guys...or girls. Our Painted Ladies hatched Easter Sunday (what timing, huh?!) and we released them a few days later. The whole endeavor was *extremely* hands on for the kids so quite honestly I was a bit surprised that we still had four butterflies to release in the end. But we did. Even with Lennie Jr. in the picture...score.

 

A Daybook (March Edition)

Outside my window: Sunsets like these. Amazing. Jeremy and I even managed an evening on the front porch this last week. The later sunsets, the warmer weather; Spring is nearly here!

Giving thanks: For friends. Isn't life just so much sweeter when you have dear friends?

In the schoolroom: We have finally {FINALLY!} hit a stride. I remember finding our groove last year about this time too. It's like everyone is on board with what's expected of them. Our days have been smoother, we are jumping in each day with little to no hiccups, interruptions are limited. Praise God. 

From the kitchen: One {two?} words. Whole30. Basically it's thirty days of no dairy, no sugar, no gluten, no legumes, no wine, no fun. But I feel so much better, I kinda don't care. The last 24 days have taught me a lot about how important it is that I take the time to eat well {i.e. stop cramming goldfish over the sink while the kids eat lunch}. I have more energy. My skin is clearer. My jeans are looser. I'll take it. But for now, someone pass the chocolate chip cookies, STAT.

I am creating: Our curriculum list for our new year. How, how, how we can nearly be at the end of this year, I am still not sure. How Judah will be in Kindergarten and the boys in second grade, I am still not sure. How I will teach three kiddos and still manage a pre-schooler, I am still not sure. But my hope and rest isn't in those things but rather in the One who does know. So I'm banking on Him and planning on. 

 I don't ever want to forget: Our snow day of 2015. We woke up on a Saturday morning in February to 16 inches of Narnia snow. The kids were over the moon. Who am I kidding, Jer and I were too! Despite the fact that it was the day of their 7th birthday party, we let it all go, the house, the to-do, the errands, and we made our own sledding hill instead. It was a day filled with so.much.laughter. And coffee. But mostly laughter. And a giant breakfast and the house mess to prove that our day was spent treasuring each other in the outdoors. Too much fun. 

I am working on: Planning a baby shower for my sweet little nephew who is due in June. No words to describe the sister-joy here. 

 I am reading. Shauna Niequist's Bread and Wine. DI-VINE. An absolute joy to read. Also, What Did You Expect by Tedd Tripp. Five star read.  

 Around the house: We are prepping to replace the entire downstairs flooring. GAH! We finally found tile and now we are just waiting for a box of it to come in so we can get a better idea of what a larger sampling might look like in the house. I have no idea what replacing 2700 sq. ft. of flooring looks like for a family of 6. I imagine it will include my right eye twitching, though.

One of my favorite things: Honeycrisp apples. Seriously, have you ever tried one? Open back doors aren't too shabby either. It's like a trophy for winning the winter games where the event is four young children stuck inside for 43 consecutive days due to weather.

A few plans this next week: Waiting for Jer to get back from Mexico. He's doing some work down there at an orphanage that is near and dear to us. The big boys have their PE and cooking class on Friday at the CC and Judah has a soccer meeting on Saturday morning. All three boys start soccer next week! 

The news in Gracie land: Can you say momma's little helper? A few weeks ago, while we were skiing in Wolf Creek, I hit up an antique store and found the most perfect little step for the kitchen. It has been her life line to all the things she was missing in her short life. Now, every time she even hears a drawer open in the kitchen, there she is, on her stool and ready to help. It's equally precious and "what have I done?!"

 Total randomness: I took the kids in to the pedi two weeks ago and Gracie weighed in at 32 1/2 lbs, Judah was 46 1/2, Ben was 44 1/2, and Abe was 52! Big babies!! 

Resurrection Sunday

Easter this year found us celebrating first with our church family and then with a kick-yer-shoes-off afternoon with Jer's side of the family tree. True to form, the boys ate their weight in candy and we all had some good laughs watching the newbie's try to fall in to line with the well seasoned egg hunters. It was quite a sight. But then again so is a four year old wearing a camo hat who's hopped up on 22 miniature boxes of Nerds. 

New to the party this year was my venturing out into the world of matching shirts. {Hasn't every mother dabbled?!} The boys were not fans and even less so of tucking them in. 

Dolly's Easter dress, though?! Swoon. It was a peach smocked chiffon number, reminiscent of The Great Gatsby and bought by her Grammy. I died a thousand deaths. It's a shame the only pictures that made it were of her wrinkled, dirty faced, and waaaaaaay over leaving her headband in. 

 

 

After lunch and egg hunting, we tried our hand at some family pictures. They are just too precious and HI-LAR-I-OUS not to post. As a disclaimer, I guess it should be said that we have 8 kids, seven and younger. The very fact that they are all dressed and in one place and that someone is not crying or throwing up is reason enough to take a picture. But now add in the fact that we still have our Nana (92 in a few weeks) and we just had to.

Our family was next. It's practically tradition. See here and here. 

But then! THEN came Mimi and Pop's turn. Award winning, in my opinion.

Can you say, "Christmas card?"

And last, I'll leave you with some sweet pictures of Judah Boy swinging the babies. He must have pushed them out there for close to a half hour. Bless his heart.