And That's a Wrap...

Just a quick "Hi" at the end of the week and at the end of SCHOOL.  PHEW!

I'm about to host "late nights" for my boys and a friend each.  Which involves pizza, rootbeer, popcorn and theater candy along with a movie and who knows what else.

But - WE DID IT!

Ace Graduated Preschool.

The Boys performed in the school Dance Festival

Ace started Baseball

Kael and Dax wrapped up Baseball

Boone nearly drove me batty at Baseball

And he and his girlfriend ate every crumb in my purse.

Yes, this is what happened at a baseball game when I was taking a picture of his brothers...

Sigh.

Everybody wrapped up school and played like crazy at the neighborhood party

I put together our summer calendar, our summer chore chart, our summer homework plan (pray for me) and I've started drinking.  

Kidding. Kind of. 

But maybe if you have a spare slot in your prayers you can add my name to it?  :)

Just a suggestion.

Happy Summer!

Milestones...

Last night in the dusk of the day, I set out to find my zen by way of the lawn mower.  You guys, I do not kid: I had been hen pecked to nearly an inch of my life and as soon as Ryan showed up with Tacos from the Del for "Taco Tuesday" after another late evening at the ball field, I escaped.

Something about painting those nice straight lines in my yard finds me breathing more deeply and feeling control seep back into my skin.  These May days are no joke.  SO fun to see little programs, and attend award assemblies and listen to songs... and SO long and full of "stuff".

I am so proud of them.  For the way they are growing and learning.  For the "stuff" they're conquering.  But my days are so immersed in the things happening in their lives that sometimes it's hard to find the place where they end and I begin.

Most days I'm so happy about that blurry - busy line.  I am still so aware of all those days I prayed for the things I now have -- For these little handsome gents that make my heart beat wildly.  

But every once in a while, when I have poured all of me into every facet of their day and then I hear them say, "Mom, can we get in the shower with you?  We're cold."  And I find myself in a corner of the shower fighting for a sliver of water stream to rinse my hair....  Whelp, that's when I head out and mow the lawn.  To remind myself that this is a happy season that will be gone all too soon.  That the entanglement of all of us is special and I must lean into it.

Mostly - I just feel lucky.

There isn't a single cell in my body that isn't stamped with love for them.  Overwhelming, joy and happiness that they are mine for the time being... 

I am so lucky that I get to watch them as they wave to me from the auditorium steps.  Or see that medal be hung around their neck as they try unsuccessfully to suppress a proud smile.  Or to witness them coaching and cheering for one another.

It's such a good spot to be in.

We've got another graduate on our hands and a couple who will soon follow in his footsteps.

And guess what?  We done survived half of May already!  :)

Spring Soccer...

Well our calendar looks like some highlighters went crazy during breeding season and there are practices and games penned by color by kiddo.  It's happening.  The craziest month of the year and we're right smack in the middle of spring soccer season and going strong.

Ace is a pretty gifted little athlete and he scores his fair share of goals.

 The tongue is evidence of pure and total concentration.

 And if there was a rule prohibiting excessive celebration he might be kicked off the field.  :)

Having this focus on spring sports surely means some other things will fall on the "half-a$$ed" side of life.  Homework projects - whelp - they're starting to lose their luster.  Dinners at home have been supplemented with dinners at the ballpark and taco tuesday.  And yard work is crammed in there somewhere between our 10 and 12 o'clock games every Saturday.

Kaelster plays defense for his team, the Raptors.

He has such a good coach and he gets to play with his friend, Ashton and cousin, Zane.

I wouldn't change it... these Saturdays spent entertaining our littlest gent at yet another field, and watching soccer games x3, and baseball games x3 and providing end of game treats and drinks... it makes me feel like I'm a boy mom.  A legit Mama of Boys.  :)

 The old "Balloon in the Shirt Game" for the win...

  These months are crazy and we celebrate another season - and another year of growth.  We also look forward to a summer of new adventures together.  And we hope by the end of the calendar year we'll be fully settled into our new home.

Long term goals - short term goals.

 Dax Man is coached by his Daddy-O and the Lava Monsters are kickin' trash and takin' names.

Soccer Saturdays

Baseball Weekdays

Inanimate objects play second fiddle to our little animations.

And we love it.

Tippy Toes...

Our little Boone "Dog"gle...

You know I couldn't resist a pun there....

Is growing up right before our eyes and it's high time I dedicate a post to all things baby before he is seven like two of his brothers.  :)

Truly he is dipping his little toes in the "toddler end" of the pool more and more these days and his vocabulary is growing despite the fact that he can simply point and make a grunt and one of his beloved fan boys chases to get whatever he's pointing at.

But how about that tiny heiny?

Or those tippy toes?

Or that face of concentration as he rummages via the sense of touch, through the bathroom drawer to reach his beloved tooth brush?

My favorite thing about this age is that everything is such a discovery.  This week his balloon popped and we waited and held our breath to see if he would burst into tears.  Little love turned it into a hide and seek game that lasted for a couple of minutes and he searched and searched for that balloon and was downright mystified by it's disappearance.  

He wasn't perturbed, wasn't mad or sad - just truly curious about where it could have gone as he peered into shoes and drawers and behind doors.  

We died laughing.  He is such a little thinker and he loves ALL of life.

He especially loves music and truly cannot resist the urge to bee-bop his little limbs and bounce his booty to the beat of the music.  

He keeps all of us aware of the simple beauties and pleasures in life.

He wants to do errrrrrry-thang his brothers do.  He wanders onto soccer fields, guzzles from water bottles, throws and kicks balls like a boss, and wants nothing to do with baby things except for his "BAE-BEE" which is his blanket he snuggles fiercely with during naps and night times.

Even after being drug from here to there seventeen times a day - he's mostly a trooper.

Except for when he's not.  :)

And when he wants us to stop whatever it is we're doing that he's displeased with he says, 

"BOP!  BOP!" 

And man, he means it.  "STOP!"

If I'm being honest, we even get a grin when he's mad.

Booner Bear - We love you like you like crazy.  You're the best little surprise there ever was.

XO