A post for the month of April

April was quite possibly the fastest month of my life that was literally packed! 

Work was crazy busy.  After school activities were in overdrive.  Family get togethers happened.

So, this post will highlight Easter and GrandmaDean's birthday.

Later posts will highlight sports and school summary....

Easter

Very quick and not professional family picture... We had Riggs for the week.

The outtakes are always comical

My whole family.  

Esme and Bennett playing with bubbles

More bubble action

Hunter even got in on the action and Shepherd was using an ax.

Dying eggs with Queenie

Easter Egg hunt

Winner for possibly the best shot!  GrandmaDean and Bennett :)

A little kickball action

This picture is great... Uncle Zach was out by the way... second after this he fell on Caelum

Miss Eva busted it

Queenie's brainchild that turned oh so cute.  The quote is from one of Laura Story's songs, "Jesus, I surrender all.  Every victory and loss.  Take it all, Take it all, 'Till all I have is open hands.   Each member of the family, dogs included, stamped the door.

Mom and dad, with the grands, by the door

Me, Mom, GrandmaDean, and Great Aunt Frances

Carowinds
He got season passes to Carowinds this year.  He did not do it last year since we were in the middle of moving but the boys convinced me that we would use them enough to justify the cost.  So, trip #1 happened over Easter break.

The Carowinds crew

So glad we went- the Marvelous Mutts were performing over Spring break... frisbee dog

Look at this dog jumping after his toy!  love it!

GrandmaDean's birthday

Everyone, but Steph, was able to come to GrandmaDean's bday celebration!  this year, we walked to the fish camp.  Had a loud, boisterous dinner with 13 adults and 9 kids! 

The group shot... Shelby was being such a stinker.  She would move then once I started the timer and go in place, she would park it right in front of the camera. 
Also, notice, there is a girl beside Nolan!!!!  :)  And, I like her since that is super important.

Just chillin'

Oh Eva.

So, we love our kickball!

GrandmaDean blowing out her sparkling candles.

GrandmaDean with her 9 greats

36 & 60

So, my birthday happened yet again.

My dad's bday and mine are only a few days apart.  Mom mentioned a couple weeks ago that we should throw a dad a small surprise party (with just our family.)  She set me out to organize it.

We all did a great a job keeping it quiet... that is until mom spilled the beans, quite by accident, two days before the get together. If you know my mother, then you know this is typical.  She is not known for her secret-keeping ability!

My dad and almost birthday buddy!  This ice cream cake was to die for!

Queenie, Eva, and Nolan

Diggin' in

Regardless, it was great having the family together for a few hours this Saturday celebrating Mantis (and my) birthday.

The whole crew... Zach and Anna are behind mom and Nolan was outside with the dogs.  So glad GrandmaDean was able to come too!!!!  

As for my actual birthday.  I took the day off work and I did the most glorious thing.  I pretended I was a stay at home mom again.  I did 6 loads of laundry (including changing all sheets), I picked Bennett up from pre-school at 11:30, I went to Wal - Mart.  Mom dropped by with coffee and I read part of a book and just piddled around my house.  It was the absolute best birthday present I could have given myself.

Speaking of presents, my husband is perhaps the worst gift giver ever.  We have just come to joke about it.  He is really bad.  I let him off the hook this year since I went and bought myself a car (AKA taking out a loan---- he havent had a car loan since 2006!--- so this hurts).

My birthday present for the next 4 years!

My sweet boys tried to do sweet things though their father did not take them shopping for me.  Hunter brought me home my favorite dum dum's... butterscotch.
Bennett gave me his St Patty's day necklace and a card with him and me (far right)
Ashton (3 days late) gave me his Reeces pieces he earned at Good News Club (but he also told me he doesnt really like them)
Shepherd made me some very creative pictures - complete with rubber band people sword fighting with push pins. He also made the giraffe picture.
Chad gave me car washing stuff (that I requested).

A picture is truly worth a 1000 words.

My birthday loot

Most importantly, I was loved on and hugged by my sweet fellas.

Our Christmas Break

Christmas break was simply amazing and productive and energizing.  I think I was feeling a bit run down with working and getting the boys where they need to be and keeping the house running and even "vacation."  This seasonal break came at the perfect time. We hung out with friends, saw tons of family, had no practices and hung out together- It was delightful.

Didnt post any pictures of my slightly decorated house but here is my 12 year old tree!!!

With the New Year on us and school starting back up, I at least feel refreshed.

The first week of the break was, as usual, packed with family get togethers.  I honestly did not take many pictures just enough to document.  

Pre Christmas get togethers with Chad's family.

Christmas Eve Eve meet up at Sandee' house

Grandma opening her gift from us.  I found, thanks to mom, these beautiful wind chimes that have the most calming sound.  Each set is handtuned to a different key- these are to E.

Selfie with 3 of the 4.

Papa Hub's newest addition- I call her Jamie- it seems everyone has there own name for her though.

At our house Christmas morning...

Present time- Moses loved his stocking!

Diggin in .

Post Christmas activities at my parent's house.

This was a bit rushed as 3 of Zach's 4 kids had fevers, coughs... they quickly opened presents and then headed home.  Thankfully, they were able to come back to down on the 29th so the kids could all hang out

Queenie looking overwhelmed!  :)

For Christmas, I focused on getting the upstairs den looking good and being a fun space for the boys.  We got a new loveseat and left the rocker up there.  As a gift, we gave the boys a big TV that we will mount in the closet.  I painted the closet the dark iron ore color to make is feel a bit more seamless.  My mom and dad got the boys a Nintendo Switch- to say they love it would be a gross understatement.  Hub and Patsy got them a bunch of the accessories and games.  Finally after 6 months, they are using the upstairs den as I had imagined! 

Closet before

Closet after paint... boys playing on new TV with the Switch.

We also revamped the workout room.  Had to move some things around but love this space now... you know it is good when Shepherd decides it is worth working out!  A mounted smart TV makes running much more appealing.

We have also been quite busy reading some really good boys- that, though, is for another post.  It has been awhile since I have done a book post, so hopefully soon....

They also got walkie talkies, books, clothes, money, and a few toys.  Thankfully, they are moving out of the toy stage.  The only toys I bought this year were 3 mid-size lego boxes!  

The second half of break was so productive.  Mom, Nolan, and I went car shopping.  No, I havent bought anything yet but maybe getting close.  I hate car shopping!  Mom and I also went furniture shopping where we nabbed a couple good deals from a furniture place that is closing.  The inside of my house is really started to feel complete.  Of course I still have many wants (new kitchen and bathroom countertops, kitchen island, but I am really content with the progress we are making.

This was in the furniture store.  Mom bought the couch and I bought the loveseat! 

The oversize chair in the back corner was one of my finds!  We all love and fight over it.  It has made this room so usable!  I actually spilled coffee on it after having it for maybe 18 hours.  Thankfully I went with this color and not the cream so it did not stain!

Moses has deemed it as his dog bed!

My dad came over and gave me 2 full days of helping me do things around the house.  We hung 3 ceiling fans, mounted TVs, medicine cabinet/ mirror, hung shelves and heavier stuff that I wasnt confident to hang.  I bought a new mattress for Hunter's room and moved his old one to Ashtons since Ash decided we didnt want to sleep on the twin top bunk.  So, we moved thing around but everyone is happy with the changes. I was able to put our old queen headboard to use again- in Hunt's room and Shepherd took Hunt's old headboard.  I will post more pics of the boys rooms soon.  I am still hunting for bedding for Ashton's room and Hunter's room.  

Chad and his dad picked up said furniture and cut down 9 trees in the yard.  So, they were also busy.  We hunkered down in the house the last couple days due to the frigid temperature! brrrr.

It is now back to the grindstone.  The boys are just doing sooo good in school.  Like they are seriously all going to be smarter than me.  This is always the hardest stretch--- it feels like the 3rd lap in a mile.  We just need to pace ourselves.  

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and Happy  New Year and sorry that i didnt get Christmas cards out this year.  It is the first time that I missed that deadline.  I still think I may do a New Year's card... maybe!

The Queen

First, it has been so long since I have been on my blog that it did not even save the URL address in my history--- that is sad.  This working thing is no joke.

This post is not to talk about my life or job but to record mom's birthday.  My whole family loves Clemson football, Clemson soccer, Clemson anything.  Zach, Anna, and their kids came down and joined the boys and me and did the Clemson thing with mom and dad on Friday night.  The floats for the Homecoming parade were amazing!  We then watched half of the Clemson soccer game- they lost :(

Queenie with her 8 Solid Orange!

My boys - excuse Ashton, we was mad.

Watching the game the cheap way- from behind the goal.  

Our view of the game = the free way

Mantis and Eva- Hunter is to the left and was making her crack up with a version of peek a boo.

The boy cousins minus Bennett

I then took Owen, Caelum, Esme', and my boys back to our house where we had a big cousin spend the night!  The boys (and girl) were so good.  They had a blast.  They worked out, played football, ran outside, watched a bit of Netflix, and played some Madden on Ashton's phone.  We live right at an hour away from them now so more spend the nights are in order.

It's 11:30 and the club is jumpin jumpin (it was actually only 10:30)

Saturday morning everyone, including Nolan, GrandmaDean, and Aunt Christy (surprise!) came over to my house and we had a good BBQ lunch and watched Clemson beat Wake Forest. 

Singing Happy Birthday

Bennett finally eating lunch once he realizes his girl cousins are getting snacks.

That is a lot of boys on a couch (plus one girl).  9 people and 1 dog.

Shepherd picture- Great pose Nolan (he loves it when I post pics of him like this!)

Thankfully Shepherd came through by snapping a picture of Anna- she somehow managed to avoid all the camera this time.

Oh Esme'... she is so funny.  This was taken right after she said she was going to "milk Moses."  Such a funny child!

We forced some to take some pictures.

You cant say these two are not sisters... they showed up in the same shirt (one solid, one patterned but same brand and style) haha

These 3 are so funny together! 

Every couple of years, I like to get an "originals" picture.

It was such a fun day!

Mom, you are seriously the best!  You work hard but always thing about us and how you can help.  I love you so much.  We really need to take a day off work and just go shopping! 

________________________________________________________________

 And because I want to post these but know they will not get a post of their own.  Zach and Anna have 11*14's of each of their kids between 20-22 months.  They asked if I would snap a couple of Eva since she is now 22 months! 

I have edited these at all... Anna, I will get them edited and send to you but look how beautiful this little girl is. 

Love this one-- need to fix the lighting but she is a doll

She is such a petite thing but you would never know it by how much she eats.  Guys, for dinner on Friday night she ate chicken, rice and peas, 2 pieces of pizza, a doughnut, and a breadstick.... and this is typical!

Melt!

So, though it has been 6 weeks since I blogged, we are still here... truckin' away.  

Thank you family for coming down to celebrate the Queen!  Love you Mom!