mother's day

Last Wednesday, our week took quite the unexpected turn when I was doing a push-up and heard and felt a loud pop in my neck.  I knew quickly that something was not right.  Luckily I got into the chiropractor as quick as possible and started on the road to recovery.  For the next 4 days, I was in one spot on the couch, icing and massaging.  Mom couldn't move, so everyone came to me.

As a mother's day gift, as well as a chance to put my feet up and recover without having to take care of anyone, Jason took all the boys to his parents house for the weekend and I was home, completely alone for the first time in.....I don't know!  This was my position for most of the day, interchanging my books and replacing my coffee.

By Sunday, I was feeling A LOT better and so glad to see my car of 5 pull back into the driveway!  It was little different type of Mother's Day, but it was a nice rest and sweet reunion!

Here's a sneak peak at what Father's Day is going to look like...haha!  They're all big enough to wrestle now.

conrad jay - one year old

How quick a year goes by!  Conrad has been such a blessing to our family.  His presence has created a new dynamic and it's easy to see what a good plan God has for our family.  

Conrad is a happy baby, until he's done and then watch out.  He'll eat most things but some of his favorites are fruit and rice.  He doesn't care for cottage cheese or other things with funny textures.  

He still only has one tooth, so he just gnaws his food and does a really good job at it.

He's crawling, pulling up and shuffling around things, but not walking yet.  He doesn't let that stop him from getting into cabinets and drawers.  However, he's timid when it comes to stairs.  He'll just sit at the top of them without making any attempt to go down them.  I keep a close eye though, because that could change any day.

He says, "Mama" "dada" and a form of  "all done."  He may also have words for foods that he eats and his brothers, but their pretty encrypted still.

He's learned pretty early not to try to eat things.  With legos all over our house, I had to be proactive in teaching him about those.  One of his favorite pasttimes is dumping out all the kids plates and bowls on the floor.

He loves to be outside and knows now when his brothers are doing something he's not.  I don't think he's going to be left behind much longer.

Amos was old enough this time around to be such a help with Conrad.  He's definitely the oldest brother and protector.

Silas had a new role with this brother too.  Because of the age gap and a brother between them, Silas has been a sweet friend to Conrad.  He's extra lovey with him and is my first to jump when I ask someone to play with Conrad.

Ivan has been learning his new role of Big brother, instead of baby.  His relationship with Conrad involves the most friction, but the most laughs too!  Little brothers provide lots of opportunites to learn to share and be kind.

In other news, we spent a TON of time outside this past week.  Over the weekend, the area got a LOT of rain and it cooled everything off.  The boys stuck on their rain books and headed back outside to see what could be found.  The softer dirt reveals a lot of "fun" things in their hole.  Mostly trash, but don't tell them that.

Amos wants to be the first person to make an actual transformer.  Here he is working on one of his first prototypes.

This guy gave us a bit of a scare this week.  On Saturday afternoon, I noticed a sore on his finger.  It was really strange because we hadn't noticed him hurting it and it seemed to come out of nowhere.  We couldn't tell if it was a spider bite or some sort of staph or what.  We really still don't know what it is, but after lots of home remedys, the infection has cleared up!  Phew!

One of the highlights from the week was our Nature Day trip to Wildcat Glades!  The morning was perfect and friends are the best to explore with. I see a lot more of this in our future.  The hightlights were spying 5 turtles on a log, watching a squirrel and throwing rocks!

The other highlight was visiting Grammy and Gramps house to celebrate Isaiah's Graduation.  The cousins played like crazy, as they normally do.  And these two were figuring each other out too!  There's going to be a lot more of this in their future.

conrad jay - week 51

It struck me a couple of days ago how close he is to being ONE!?  Good think he's always going to be our baby!  He wasn't feeling good last week, so we got in lots of moments like this...

And these two.  Don't let Amos' mischievous smile fool you, they love each other a lot!

Ivan's face sums up his week... and mine.  Some weeks require more consistency than others!  He's in one of those weeks.

Fridays are our favorites.  They are for pancakes, poetry tea time and movie night!

Isn't this sweet!  Ivan is quite our cuddlier!

And then Saturday brought the CRAZY rain to our area!  

 We couldn't believe the river that was created on the side of our house.  But that was nothing to what was happen further south of us.  

 Because our church is currently meeting in a tent, we had to cancel services this week because the tent was flooded.  We stayed home and had our own worship service, with guitars and everything.

Conrad was with us and doing his own dance moves.  He's started pulling up to things and shuffling around just a bit.  I don't think he'll be walking by his birthday, but he's making some good progress.

 Jason taught us how God is our refuge!

And our bird feeder is finally attracting birds.  It took about two weeks for the birds to figure out it was there, but now we are seeing all kinds of birds. We've had a lot of fun trying to identify which ones are visitng us.  So fare we've seen cardinals, blue capped chickadees, red headed woodpeckers,

conrad jay - week 50

In case you missed it, Amos found and caught his first snake last week.  We spent Sunday with a family that had caught a snake and since them he's been on the hunt.  I was hopeful that he wasn't quite BIG enough to catch one.  I was wrong.  He came running inside with this little guy and my heart started beating faster.  Will I get use to it???  I banned him outside with it.  He was pretty excited; as were the rest of his brothers.  Sadly, the snake lived a short life with us.  We're going to have to do better with how to keep these things alive.

Later that week, Jason found a dead snake on the road.  Everyone had to come check it out.  Everyone except me and Conrad, that is.  Yuck!  

Beatiful weather means lots of time outside!  This one is out to do it all.  And he has all the bruises, scrapes and bumps to prove it.

Conrad LOVES to swing. 

Speaking of bumps, he got a great one the other day when we were riding bikes at the church parking lot down the street.  He can balance so well on his Strider and got going SOOOO fast.  Then, he lost control and luckily had a helmet on.  His cheek met with his bike and caused a nice bump and bruise.

The other boys were Speed Demons too.  Silas' skills have really taken off too!  He goes so fast and pedals so hard that it's a little humorous seeing him on such a small bike.  I think he's ready for an upgrade.  He's trying his hardest to keep up with Amos, but those little wheels just aren't doing it for him.

There's no keeping up with Amos.  He was whizzing all over that parking lot.

And Conrad and I were chilling with the stroller.  He was spinning his head all around to keep an eye on his brothers.

And this week started with a nice surprise visit from Grammy and Gramps.  They even took us out to eat lunch, which always makes for a better Monday!

conrad jay - week 49

We started our week out with a fun trip to the Corcoran Garden.  Ms. Sarah gave us a lesson on gardens, seeds and what it takes to grow things.  

Then she let us help stir up the dirt in their beds.

Tuesday night we celebrated our 8 year anniversary with Mexican food.  I think this might be becoming an unplanned tradition.  Conrad sure liked it.

And Amos snapped this sweet picture of us after we got home.  

 Mr. Conrad sure likes to be up on the couch.  He thinks it is hysterical to throw himself back on the pillows.  

Jason didn't make it very long on movie night.  But I don't think Ivan seemed to mind.  He loves his Daddy!

Jason was preaching at my parent's church for their Good Friday service, so we all headed there a little early on Friday.  Amelia brought her kids, too, and we had such a blast.  I asked Silas what his favorite part of the weekend was,sure that he would say, the egg hunt, but he said "playing with Cilla!"

Conrad has a new fascination with remotes.  He know they hold the power.  And he knows Gramps will indulge him.

We managed to get all six onto the swing.  And it was a full swing.

 Conrad didn't mind the swinging part very much.

Before the Egg Hunt, the kids took the promised ride in Gramps' truck through Grampa Garrentt's cows.  Conrad and Solomon stayed behind to help hide the eggs.

Conrad was pretty content in his pool, but not Solly.  He's cruising all over the place.

Amos was the first one out once they got back.  He knew what he was looking for.

Easter Sunday at an all boy house, meant bow ties all around!  Amos was the only one who gave much of a fight.  Silas kept his on all day long.  I almost can't stand all the cuteness below.

After celebrating Easter with our church family, we were invited to new friends house to do more celebrating with a BIG lunch and lots of new friends!  It couldn't have been better.

And the boys were quick to start on their Easter present.  I knew a big puzzle would be the perfect challenge for them.

When Dad mows, we like to watch!