storing up...

this kid.  watching a movie instead of napping.  cause he asked so sweetly!!!  

pretty sure he fell asleep like that!

nomming on some food...

trying to catch a smile!

snuggling in my bed- watching a movie.  cause march madness was on tv downstairs!

this boy and the park.  

great grandpa's 90th birthday!

these 3.  and their backpacks.

c now thoroughly enjoys getting his backpack ready in the mornings.  

singing into his mic!

silly movie day with a friend!

storing up all the snuggles from this one.  

i am storing up this time.  it's going too fast.  my last little one not staying so little.  my big ones getting so big so fast!

i was catching up on a few emails while c was eating lunch today.  he got up and started up the stairs. i asked where he was going, and he said, "to bed".  i asked if he wanted me to come snuggle and he said, "no thanks".  i went up a few minutes later and he was sound asleep.  sweet boy!

b, when you put him in bed, pulls his legs up under him, so he's on his knees.  and tucks his arms under his tummy.  when he wakes up, 12 hours later, his little knees are red from sleeping on them all night!  

nora has been sick this weekend.  and just wants me next to her.  oh, i love snuggling her.  she keeps asking to be rubbed with her (ava) lotion.  so, i rub.  feet, belly, legs, face.  and she's so sweet.  she keeps saying, "i don't want to be sick".  "i don't like this".  i love her so much.

j- oh j.  he's a sweet boy.  and really reading now.  it's so fun to watch him.  and he LOVES legos.  and mine craft.  and combining the two.  and he's really getting in to "star wars".  

i love this time of our life.  i want each moment to slow down just slightly.  it's so much fun!

i had to run something in to school the other day.  i was at the nurse's office, and she knows my older two.  i had the two littles, and it was nap time.  and we had been out all morning.  the littles were being really good.  but the nurse looked at me and said, "oh, you have such a fun life".  

i think so often, people feel the need to comment when they see someone with kids.  or someone with two young kids.  (as is so often my life- out with just the two littles.)  and don't get me started on the comments with all four!  i try hard to let it go, but i don't think they hear it sometimes.  i am sure i don't when i say things!  i surely never mean to offend or come across judgmental!  

but... so often, when someone says "oh you have your hands full" (especially when it's just two of them!), i feel so judged.  like they are misbehaving so badly that they just had to comment.  

but in reality, i think they just need to say something.  and i LOVED the nurse's comment.  i walked out feeling so affirmed and loving my kids.  i DO have such a fun life.  and am so blessed.  because of my four and for so many more reasons than that.  

new and different!

this happened....  reaction to his antibiotic!

he didn't want to be put down- so, we went back to the sling!

found this...  the old naval hospital!

the newport bridge.  so pretty.  

snugs with this boy!!!

catching up

my handsome date!

driving with daddy...

have you ever seen a cuter leprechaun?

at his doctor...

my sweet, sleepy baby!

this girl.  so grown up!

cheers...

moms and daughters!

out to lunch...

driving to tea!

together again!

eastons beach.  might be a new fav pic!

lifelong friends!

precious!

my little big girl!

at the breakers!

we must-ache you a question!

more....

brothers!

so, a few weeks ago, carolyn lawarence came (with lori in tow!!!) to speak at our women's tea!  it was the most amazing gift to have her speak!  and to have her and lori for the weekend!!!  what a beautifully, refreshing weekend!  d took care of the kids all weekend, so i could just be a girl!  

growing up...

he could climb on a friends' trampoline!

this boy!

and his sweet snuggles...

and in our trampoline.  all by himself.  i think he enjoyed it!

snuggles before bed!

trying to escape.  i feel that way too, some days!

this girl...  she doesn't walk, she does cartwheels.  and this was her at dinner the other night....  before i told her to get her leg down!

laying with my girl.  i was getting ready to go out!

i found this note the other day...  wonder who it's from????

these kids.  chris has been wondering how you get on the bridge.  i drove him to a place where you could see where the bridge hits land.  it made no sense to him.  today, we were driving over the bridge, so i pointed out the point where we drove from "land" to bridge.  he said, "okay.  (long pause) i think i can live with that."  

and on the subject of that boy.  and his lyme.  on sunday, for the first time in FOUR MONTHS, his tummy and mouth didn't hurt!!!  praise the LORD!  what we are doing is working!!!  truly, i could have cried when he told me!

ps- chris has lyme disease.  he was bit by a tick in october.  and we have tried to rule it out since.  and finally, sought our own tests and doctor.  and she is amazing!  (and far away- an hour.  and pricey!  and our insurance isn't covering her yet- although i am working on it!  but, they do cover the meds we are on...  major answer to prayer!!!)  the first available appointment happened to be a few weeks ago on the day my mom was flying it.  which was perfect, since i had to drive past the airport (45 minutes away) to get to the dr (an hour away).  so she came with.  and it was so good to have her there.

chris had to get MORE blood drawn (hopefully the last for awhile!!!  this was the fourth time in four months!  and he's NOT a fan.  when he realized what we were doing, he started crying.  and continued crying till she was done!).  but the dr was amazing.  and put all my fears at ease.  and answered all our questions.

the next day, i went to the pharmacy to get our prescriptions filled.  i was praying our pharmacy would take them.  and they did.  but i was also bracing myself for the questions about why he was on this protocol.  not everyone sees lyme as a problem, or the need to treat so aggressively.  

but, the pharmacist that called me up could not have been kinder and more helpful!  

it's not been easy every day to get c to take his medicines, but he always does!  and i remember, this is for a short time.  this, too, shall pass!!!

so thankful for a great Physician who is working!

firsts!

sick baby!

first gymnastics meet...

getting her awards.  

first birthday.

big baby boy!!!

getting all his animals in bed with him.  

birthday cookies with friends!

the boys, trying out the winners' block

birthday rice krispie treats...

it's been a fun few weeks.  but busy.  my schedule is getting significantly better!  and i am thankful for that.  but it's been a fun season.  

and fun to watch these kids grow up.  too fast!

baby b is a year.  holy cow.  that year went fast.  and i laid in bed remembering his birth last year.  and daddy leaving 4 days later.  and where we are at this point.  

and nora is competing in gymnastics.  she is having so much fun.  and it's really fun to watch her.  and she does cartwheels constantly.  she doesn't walk.  

james is reading now.  it's fun to watch him learn new words every day!

chris is a different character every day.  vector.  olaf.  marshmallow.  green bowser.  he's hysterical!  and he and james play "pretend" every night.  they have their stuffed animals and they talk to each other.  and they wake up and play.  and dress up.  

this morning, (as with every morning) the boys were told to clean up their room.  james came downstairs really quickly and i asked if his room was clean.  he said, "no, i told chris i would give him candy if he cleaned it up".  

b is trying HARD to walk.  he can get up in to a standing position by himself.  just a little too nervous to take that first step!  after an ear infection, pink eye, antibiotics and then an allergic reaction to the antibiotics, he's finally back to himself after about 2 weeks!  sweet baby boy.  i missed him!