A lot's happened since January...

We moved at the beginning of the summer. Not very far from home, but nonetheless, it's been a transition and change.

On moving day, Matthew was diagnosed with mono (after simultaneously having influenza b AND Scarlett fever in April). He got healthy (and then got walking pneumonia in October). Matthew had never been on antibiotics prior to this summer so I guess he's making up for lost time. Also, please note that Matthew does NOT like bubble gum flavored medicine. Just in case that every comes up, now you now.

I digressed quickly there. Whew! We had a wonderful time living in our resort like town, just blocks from a cute downtown, parks and the beach. The kids started school just after Labor Day and love it so that is a huge answer to prayer.

I got to be with Sweet Bean as the art helper. She paper mashed a
bell that will be used at the holiday show during Jingle Bells.

Matthew and his class on his first field trip at the pumpkin farm.

Thea and her class. She's dressed as a "hair comber" for Halloween.

Matthew and his class on Halloween. He's Mario.

"Mario" jumping to hit the question mark during the school parade

Princess Anna, Mario, Luigi, and Curious George

Mommy as a real life Frankenstein just in time for Halloween*

Sweet Bean reading to her brother who adores her. She read for 20 minutes to him,
continually offering for him to get her another book.

Matthew's 6th Birthday Party

Just a bit more on Matthew since we just had his 6 year check-up. He is currently 50 inches (99th percentile) and 50 pounds (70th percentile) with a BMI at the 7th percentile. He's still on track to be 6'4," which I hope doesn't happen until he's at least 8. Matthew is loving, sweet, funny (like legitimately makes all of us laugh), impulsive at times and smart. He loves God (although we're still struggling to find a church since moving), soccer, baseball, Legos, the Wii U/Mario that he got for his birthday, and art. He seems to have a solid group of 4 other boys that he plays with each day.

Thea Bean. She's 4 1/2 and has changed a lot in the last year. She is much less timid; I think you could even say she's quite outgoing. She's sweet, wakes me up most nights, and loves to hear about when she was a baby. She's started reading and is very interested in learning: writing, spelling, math and reading. She's a complete lover of art. She pleasantly surprised us this summer when she quickly met friends everywhere we went and was always asking for a play date (this more fits Matthew's personality).

Peanut/Bubba/Bubs/Nathaniel. He has blown us away with his increased speech the last couple of months. He can count to 12 and loves to be read to and most of all he LOVES to sing. We are really enjoying that fact that he is petite because it "keeps" him a baby longer (meaning we can snuggle him) and as our last baby, we're thankful for that. Monkey see, monkey do is a frequent phrase that's heard when Nathaniel is around the older kids.

As for Mike and I...it's been quite a year. We have each other and have been walking this tumultuous road together. Hand in hand. All the while, finding great joy, peace and happiness with our family. What a blessing our kids are to us.

*I hit my head on our basement stairs banister. The answer is yes, yes it did it hurt very much.

Proud Mama

 This is a "Proud Mama" post.

Today was one of those normal days... that felt extraordinarily wonderful.

Long ago, the kids' hair stylist told me that I would know a kid was ready for a haircut when they started to look like Chris Farley.  This week, Mike told he thought Nathaniel looked like Chris Farley:

Sooooooo haircut appointments were made that day.

He was wonderful.  He sat very still and didn't fuss one bit.  

We then went to get the kids' feet measured to see to it that everyone had appropriately fitting shoes.  

Turns out, Matthew's foot had grown 1 1/2 size (he's now wearing a 13 1/2 for those keeping track at home).  He found the shoes of his dreams!  They were orange (which are hard to find, but are by far his favorite color).  He was ecstatic.  Then, he found out the shoes were in fact light up shoes.  Wow!  Initially, the retailer couldn't find his size, so she brought out three different pairs of shoes; one were blue and orange, another were black light up shoes, and finally a pair of Star Wars shoes.  Matthew decided to try on the blue and orange shoes and really liked him.  That said, he was hopeful the orange light ups would be found.  And they were!  He tried them on and while very excited about them, I could tell something wasn't quite right.  He then had to choose which pair he liked better.  Here's the Proud Mama moment...Matthew, at five years of age, CONTEMPLATED this choice.  He definitely liked the color and features of the light up shoes, but chose the blue and orange shoes because "they feel better."  Matthew is a child who will tell you he wants to go to bed because he's tired, will leave parties because he's ready to go, and will ask for fruits and vegetables for snacks.  He's a wonderful boy and I am so proud of him, especially when he makes such mature choices based on his needs,  

After his shower this afternoon, he put his shoes back on!  How's that for being excited?  So happy with his choice:

Turns out, Nathaniel is a size 5 and we have some hand-me-down shoes that he has been wearing and he will keep wearing.

We almost left the store without measuring Thea's feet because I had measured (read: mis-measured) her feet at home and had bought her new shoes just a few months ago.  Thankfully, we did have her feet measured (I mean, we're all here anyway, right?) because her feet have gone up a full size!  Sweet Bean is now a size 10.  She was so ready for her turn to get her picture taken:

She was NOT pleased with Matthew photobombing so she requested that we take a different picture.  One with just Floppy's face and her shoes.  Oh, Brother.