Faith Family of Five: April 2015

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Anxiously counting down...while kicking & screaming a little

The annual countdown is on...again!! And once again I'm bewildered at the fact that we seemed to have arrived at this time of year with lightning speed, faster than any year prior. Do I say that every year? I do, don't I. Sorry. I think there's gotta be some truth to it though. The weeks are long but the days are flying by!! Anyway, as much as I anxiously anticipate this yearly summer trek homeward to MN, in the same breath I sigh heavily at the idea because it also means my littles are not that little any more. In fact, I have one that is sprouting into preteen (GULP) years...double digits here we come.

I don't like it.

I protest.

I might be kickin & screamin a little. Internally anyway.

As crazy as those scatter-brained years were when my shopping cart was full of hardly anything but boxes of diapers and wipes, kids hanging on all sides of it while I tried desperately to sip my coffee as I trail-blazed the aisles so as not to forget anything and beat the clock against a melt-down, I'd like a do-over. For the simple fact that inbetween the over-tiredness and spit-ups and boo-boos and milk spills (oh wait...those still happen....I have boys), there were endless snuggles and slobbery kisses, new discoveries, baffling babbles as they tongue-tied their newfound vocabulary, and toddling was much easier to deal with than teasing. But just as much as I'd take those years back in a heartbeat, I'm also thoroughly enjoying these very years right here in front of us with their newer discoveries and yes, even continued endless hugs and kisses from my young gents. ;) Enjoying them fully despite the days whirling by like a tornado. Conversations that can hold a deeper, richer meaning from time to time. Savoring sweet moments. Reaching back to that purposeful parenting.

Kindergarten ready!!

Coffee date with my mini-man!

So excited to show his brothers his 'goody bag'

Showing his baseball book to Carson!

Yes, that's right. You are seeing these photos correctly. My littlest is Kindergarten bound. He's ready. I'm not. My eldest is middle school bound. And my middlest is over halfway done with his elementary years. I'm not ready for any of it! But I'm embracing it. As best I can at least. This new 'phase' of life (which I'm sure to write about again in the near future...) is something I always knew would come, but I ignored it. I fought it off for as long as possible. But now it's knocking on our doorstep and this is one door that unfortunately, I can't leave locked.

he's got a leg-up on the competition....

Most handsome t-ball guy around! (in this mama's eyes at least...)

CJ up to the little majors league...playing under the lights ;)

Continuing on with the countdown also means things are winding down...and this may have me kickin' & screamin' a little too as we move on from Cubbies to Sparks, and from Sparks to TNT. Mason and Carson both move up a level in Awana....see?? Too much growing-up happening all at once!! Oh my heart.

Mason singing his Cubby song!

Cubby award! He moves up to Sparks now!

Austin getting his Excellence award!

Carson getting his Sparky award! TNT next year!

SO PROUD of our Awana boys!! Memorizing God's Word--kingdom minded!

The "official" start to the Winnemucca Little League baseball season with opening ceremonies on a beautiful Saturday! And then it was off to pictures...and then practice....and then pictures again....and then....well, you get the idea. ;) We're stocking up on sunflower seeds and sunscreen, and should probably keep an umbrella or two nearby as we swing between fields on any given day. This IS Nevada after all....just give those greyish, sunny skies 5 minutes.

Mason walking out with his team--the Seadogs

Carson walking out with the Yankees!

Love these baseball boys!!

Mason up to bat...

...and then heading to home plate!

Carson getting ready

Sawing batta!!

75 degrees and sunny you say?? Perfect for testing those sprinklers! The lawn gets watered while the boys shriek in chilled delight--Win Win!! Sorry for the obscene picture amount with regard to one simplistic, yet thrilling activity, but this mama can't help it when those constant smiles splash on a little joy to those that 'watch'. It's the simple things....

a teeth-chattering smile :)

....and I'm perfectly content with simple.

Friday, April 10, 2015

Spring Break & Easter 2015!

It was a little bit of sun, little bit of sleeping in, little bit of get-togethers with friends, little bit of relaxing, little bit of busy, little bits of frustrations, ~~little bit~~ LOT bit of coffee....but overall a whole lot of fun with my littles!!! Even if, just for a little bit, the hubs and I were doing spring break separately.

pre-church selfie! ;) Missing daddy already....

Can't believe this boy will be turning 10 soon!!!

A warm afternoon = Popsicles!!!

Austin's swing

Andy's 5-day trek to San Francisco with many of the art club students proved to be worth it, in every facet, as it was more than 'just a fun trip'. It brought classroom learning to life. It made textbook pictures of art a reality--seeing famous artworks up close and personal! It was eye-opening. It was a trip that at the most opportune times, provided some of those integral "life" conversations and realizations for quite a number of students. It was 5 days that were definitely filled with, um, adventure on many levels, but more importantly for some, this was a trip that will be looked back upon as a pivotal week.

my good-lookin man in San Fran!

Standing outside the Frank Lloyd Wright building!

"Cupid's Span"--Bay Bridge in the background

The crew ready for a night of Jazz!

The guyz--they got ups!! Especially that middle man...mmmmm

SF Jazz Center

Cartoon Art Museum!

Mr. A & Miss T....they were just a little excited

Legion Of Honor--Rodin's "The Thinker" is the sculpture in the middle background

Historic beards ;)

Checking out a Van Gogh!

A cool moment--Mr. A with his seniors, in front of
a Louise Nevelson sculpture. Bringing art to life!

Golden Gate!

Meanwhile..........

Artist Austin at work!

enjoying the warm spring day!

fun day with our Formby friends!

we lego'd like crazy!

Another "sky on fire" NV sunset!! Thank you Jesus for your beauty!

We enjoyed plenty of "Easter prep" days with egg huntings, treat makings & bakings, Bible story readings, etc.

rice kripsy eggs!

Tasty...but oh the tedious work... ;)

Egg hunt outside!

Carson's runnin....

Mason's smile says it all!

The annual Easter cookie making/decorating/taste-testing time! ;)

love this crazy kiddo

busy creative hands!

Fort fun!!!

another dyeing-egg-session complete!

Resurrection Sunday!!!

"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this'?" John 11:25-26