April 2018!

Ok, April never started off quite like this before! Easter the first weekend, and my precious boys all in matching outfits. Who would have thought, but I was able to pull it off & find all the sizes I needed to make my day dreams come true. I love dressing these guys up for special occasions, and These outfits for Easter will be forever one of my all time favorites. I mean, silk bow ties in Navy polka dot, chambray flat front shorts, navy suspenders or dark brown leather belts, great neutral button down shirts paired with matching boat shoes. As a boy mom, I don't get the fun of having all the great outfits, but this was a treat. Everybody was a good sport except for Calvin who just didn't like his bow tie, poor fella.

The 80s were a hit for our YL skate night fundraiser.  I loved how cute my girlfriends were in all our hot pink!

James, looking so young and so old all at the same time. I see that toddler's face here, but in the very next frame all I see is the adolescent. I love remembering how little they are and once were.

Having the chance to be a school field trip chaperone is really the best part of elementary school. It is fun to volunteer and be present at the school functions, but getting to spend time with your kid around their classmates is just a glimpse of what their normal days are like.

This chocolate cake is now one of my all time favorites! I bought the recipe card at the magnolia Bakery in Waco, really only because it was so pretty. But I thought, well why not try it out? And holy moly is this cake good! Joanna's Devils Food chocolate chip bundt cake.

I found out my boy James has a Hollywood look alike- it is really a bit uncanny! But, this guy wasn't nearly as cute as James when he was a boy, so there's that. haha!

It's always more fun going to the Doctor's office when you're dressed like a storm trooper. It looks like Hayden has a vomit bag in his hand, otherwise this would have been hilarious I'm sure. Probably why I didn't care if he had a mask on!

Old Life club for Young Life inspired me to buy a grandma costume! I had to laugh at how funny I looked, so why not share with the world!? haha!

More field trip time! I got to go with Hayden's class to the MOSH downtown, and of course he loves posing for pictures with me. A picnic lunch by the river and a trip to the planetarium is always a great time.

My two littles: two years old and nearly five years old. They don't seem so far apart, but yet they are. Calvin still seems so little, and yet David seems so grown up. It is funny how the perspectives are so different. My quiet introverted sweetheart and my wild, extroverted wrestle-man.

Lucky us! We all got to go to Matt's youngest cousin's wedding! Mimi&Grandpa got a picture with all their grandchildren which is always sweet, and we got to dress our boys up in their awesome matching outfits for one more round. Grandpa&Mimi were brave enough to take ALL the kiddos with them to get back in time for bed, while we got to enjoy the wedding reception! How fun for us!

My handsome husband & I!

We took our crew to Grandpa's church on Sunday morning & of course we had to pile them all up one more time to take another picture! Hard to believe it, but David & Nora are only 9 months apart!

I did love when David saw Nora's belly, and said, "you have belly button!? I have a belly button!"

Every time we spend the weekend at Mimi&Grandpa's we head home just like this. All the kids passed out. This NEVER happens! haha! It's exhausting having so much fun.

Senior Night for my fun friend Harlee! What fun to watch her play Flag Football!

We took our YL friends bowling one night just for the change of pace, and it was an absolute blast! We went for 'bad bowling' which is so much more fun than regular bowling!

Calvin wanted a minions birthday party, so that is what he got! Matt had to take the older boys to soccer games in the morning while I stayed home with the younger two and did party prep! It was pouring rainy day, and matt & the boys got absolutely drenched!! I was glad I didn't go!

My five year old got a giant balloon & a minion piñata & his favorite snacks! And of course, some minion inspired popcorn and minion dressed bananas!

I loved my buddy's minion goggles & Mimi did such a great job on the ones for the cake too! Despite the cake having a traumatic trip to Jax from Tampa, Mimi still made it look beautiful for Calvin! He absolutely loved it. Thank you Mimi for always making their birthday cakes so amazing!

Our buddy Calvin going for that piñata! He loved having his classmates come over for his party. He loves it when he gets to have his own turn in the spot light.

We finished up the year for YL club with Tacky Prom! I went all our and made a photo wall & set up a little snack table. I wore my prom dress from 9th grade and made my hair kinda crazy. I wore my cowboy boots & tied up my skirt in a funny knot. It is always fun to go a little wild with these themes & see how the students respond! The Lord truly blessed us in this year of ministry.

OPHS Young Life 2018!! These  were some sweet days.

David coloring at the table in the beautiful morning sunlight.

April warmed up enough to take our first swim of the season in our pool! The view of our backyard is one of my favorites. As we reached another exciting milestone: all the boys could enjoy swimming without as much help from momma IN the pool. I got to do a whole lot more enjoying the view than in years before!

David was anchored to his 'swimmy' for the season, but it was all the freedom & safety that we could both want! Of course it was pretty cold still, which is why NONE  of the kids are actually in the water in these pictures. Water gun fight was all they were game for on this particular day. But you gotta remember the rules: can't shoot anybody who doesn't have a gun. This has spared me (only some) tears of frustration from nearly all of the boys. Water gun fights are simultaneously the best and worst thing ever.

Calvin's birthday finally arrived & we had decorated his gifts in super fun style! I absolutely loved wrapping their gifts in that awesome brown paper and letting them color all over it. I mean I loved coloring all over it! The minions were just the icing on the cake: this boy asked for the moon. A fart gun and a singing minion were the highlights of his gifts from mom&dad. Hilarious!

Happy 5th Birthday you darling boy you!! We absolutely adore your giggles and big smile! You & your dimples & your big brown eyes just melt my heart every day of the week. You are amazing Calving Dean Prose.

Because it's Florida, and we get just as exited as the kids, Hannah&I made a beach trip before it was really warm enough to enjoy it. David spent the entire time showing me sea shells and running too close to the water. Relaxing it wasn't really, but worth the drive? Always.

"Are you in my spot?" "yes! I in your spot mommy!!" David you are the funniest little stinker. 

Some days are just made so much better by the drawings of a boom box that has arms & legs (How does this kid even know what a boom box is!?) Even better: he's saying, "Ho yay!" "Let's do this" James you are my hero.

We bought a new patio table & were too excited about it. We had a few dinners out here over the next few months... It was a great fit other than the sun set was right in our eyes. It sure looked pretty though! If you could zoom in on Hayden's face, it would be worth it. He had been practicing some crazy face that you can see better in the ice cream trough pic. He really nailed it in this one though!

Last YL Club of the year we held at our house in the back yard. We had a 'garage band' & did the "if I were not in YL skit" which was outstanding. We had a huge OP crowd and nearly as many leaders as kids. My boys were on cloud 9 and wanted to play every game. But, even though they didn't get to, their night was made by the surprise ice cream trough! Matt Prose & Kevin Payne made my night with their "Hey Dave! Totally awesome wave!" and "give bessy give! The baby's gotta live!" (Do yourself the favor and go hunt down this video).

It doesn't get any better than this. David was the real winner: he kept getting different kids to pick him up and feed him ice cream, ha! Smart boy.

Lord, you filled our days with so much fun & laughter. We have the great joy of watching these boys grow and learn new things. We get to walk alongside an incredible time of growth and change in the lives of high school students as they choose more and more of their life paths during that age. We have been blessed with a home full of important conversations and home work and plenty of chaos and chores. Lord  the way you fill our life and allow us to give ourselves away is incredible. Please forgive me for doing the work without cheerfulness in my heart on days that are hard and days that are long. Allow me the remembrance of your kindness to me in all you give to encourage my thankfulness and help me rejoice in all I am given to steward. All to your glory Lord. Amen.